Emily Klein, Hunter Gehrke bring home state trapshooting titles

CEDAR FALLS - The 140th state trapshooting was full of record breakers.

At the Iowa State Trapshoot tournament last month, Emily Klein of Iowa City won the women's division as a junior.

She started trapshooting when she was a freshman in high school.

'I started watching my dad and then I wanted to try,” Klein said. 'I love it.”

With her first win at the state level, Klein feels like there is more to come.

'I have bigger goals,” Klein said. 'I'm going to be shooting for Champions of Champions, which I will compete against every state champion of every state.”

Klein feels it's pretty crazy winning state as junior but can't wait for what's next.

Hunter Gehrke of Solon won the men's division, also as a junior. Gehrke won the state junior last year, as well.

'It felt really good to win, I couldn't have done it without the support I have gotten from everybody that has helped me out in my trap career so far,” Gehrke said.

Gehrke has been trapshooting since he was in 8th grade. He loves seeing others learn about gun safety control and wants to keep informing people about gun safety.

'It's nice to see all the junior shooters learning safe gun education,” Gehrke said. 'It's great to be able to in the great state of Iowa.”

After winning his second state crown, Gehrke feels he can do even more.

'I have a lot of goals and when I make a goal I set a higher one,” Gehrke said. 'I want to have fun and I want everybody I am shooting with to have fun.”

Gehrke wants trapshooting to be enjoyable and safe, but said the main goal is to have fun.

Treven Stallman of Ely shot a perfect score and won a division as well.