Sophomore Andrew Mulso crushed his first career perfect round of 25 for MHS CTL in League Week 3 Competition.
MHS CTL Press Release
Steady scores across the board, and a season high three perfect rounds, kept the Marshall High School Clay Target League(MHS CTL) team rolling in League Week 3 of statewide competition. Senior Captain Samuel Dieken started the week off with the team’s first round of 25, his second of the year, and was followed quickly by Sophomores Isaac Callens and Andrew Mulso who also logged rounds of 25 on Monday night’s shoot. Near perfect in both rounds, Freshman Tannyr Curry led the pack with two rounds of 24, for a total of 48. Top shooters for MHS CTL in League Week 3 were:
First Last R1 R2 Tot
Tannyr Curry 24 24 48
Samuel Dieken 22 25 47
Andrew Mulso 22 25 47
Karter DeSmet 23 24 47
Isaac Callens 25 21 46
Nick Atcher 22 24 46
Ryan VanMoer 24 22 46
Jared Antony 21 24 45
John Callens 22 23 45
Brock Schultz 24 21 45
“We’ve got great captains in Samuel and John [Callens],” said Coach Nick Simonson, “and hardworking underclassmen feed off their examples; they’re focused, ready and rolling when they get on stand, and that attitude and the success that follows is contagious,” he concluded.
MHS CTL still sits in fourth place overall in Conference 2 of Class 9A, home to the largest and most competitive teams in the league. Senior Ryan VanMoer, with a season average of 23.67 and Freshman Karter DeSmet with an average of 23.5 are both ranked in the top 100 shooters in the state, across all nine classes and more than 11,400 participants. Overall team totals jumped by a full target from the previous week’s competition, with a team average of 35.8. 42 shooters logged at least one round of 20 in League Week 3, a season high for that statistic as well.
MHS CTL is coached by a staff of 13 volunteers, and supported by a number of parents who help instruct, score and supervise 80 youth. The program is funded by generous donations from a number of local conservation and sportsmen’s groups and area businesses including: Lyon County Pheasants Forever, Redwood River Sportsmen’s Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Minnesota Trappers Association, Quality Deer Management Association, Marshall Radio, Lockwood Motors, ABRA Auto Body & Glass, Friends of the NRA, Gustafson C&C Course, Don & Gena Atcher.
For more information on the team and to keep up with MHS CTL, visit their official Facebook Page: facebook.com/mhsctl
LCPF Past President Nick Simonson in the bluestem of Elmer Weltz WMA along the Lyon County line in November of 2016 (PF Photo)
By Nick Simonson
It has truly been an honor to serve Lyon County Pheasants Forever as President these last six years. In that time, I have had the chance to direct a group of leaders from all walks of life who have cared as much, if not more than I, about the outdoors, conservation, the hunting heritage and the next generation we will pass those things on to. As I reflected on this time over the past few days, one statement kept coming to mind, over and over again. As I left a CTL shoot night, or drove by a WMA, or set my boots into the running water of the Redwood River, the words came to me simply, repeatedly and resoundingly: “We are Forever.”
Members of the Marshall High School CTL team in 2015. LCPF helped create the MHS team, and fund three others in 2013 and 2014. (LCPF Photo)
Every day, every month, in hunting season and out of it, we changed Lyon County and the surrounding area for the better in a way that will bear the fruits of our efforts Forever. We pulled buried pieces of barn metal from under a foot of dirt and coiled rusted barbwire for removal from a future WMA site. We watched young hunters take their first shots in the field, helped build four clay target teams consisting of 160-plus area youth, where just a few years ago there were none, and we taught kids to create their own lures, follow nature’s cues and catch fish with their homemade flies, jigs and spinners. In the process, tying their lives and enjoyment to the grasses, the water, the soils and the habitat of this region. They may not have realized it then, and maybe not even now, but we’ve bettered their lives, Forever.
In my time as President of Lyon County Pheasants Forever (LCPF), we accomplished these things and so many more that will continue on. We set aside over 1,100 acres of land for wildlife habitat, public access and preservation of the hunting heritage for those who don’t have the luxury of their own acres, or for those who come to visit and see what Southwest Minnesota is all about. We united various sportsman’s clubs and branches of conservation groups across this region in an effort to honor the legacy of locally-raised and renowned wildlife artist James Meger. We have stood strong in the face of those in St. Paul and Washington D.C. who would attempt to undermine the strong conservation ethic of this area and undo the years of work we have put in with a penstroke or a yea vote, and let them know with a resounding voice that sportsmen, conservationists and environmentalists vote as well and decide their employment each November and will continue to do so, Forever.
Partnering with agencies like area Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Department of Natural Resources and the Fish and Wildlife Service, we have restored and set aside prairie pothole sloughs for waterfowl habitat, water retention, and flood control. We have worked tirelessly with conservation-minded landowners to improve habitat, prevent siltation and chemical runoff into the region’s watersheds, providing habitat for wildlife beyond pheasants, including butterflies, bees and other pollinators that are so desperately needed to continue the agricultural cycle each year, but are dwindling in number with each passing season.
Through partnerships with other PF Chapters and the Redwood River Sportsman’s Club, LCPF has introduced hundreds of kids from across the state – from Duluth, to Eagan to Ghent – to the adventures of pheasant hunting through the chapter’s mentor hunt. (LCPF Photo)
We have found solutions to problems, provided ways to make conservation affordable and even profitable to landowners and have combated the misinformation of those who see only dollar signs in the dirt as the bottom line. Standing up and sacrificing hunting access and even what may have been considered friendships as part of our conservation ideals with absolutely no regrets, knowing that the long-term well being of our society and our natural resources is far more important than being able to pass by a posted sign through the concealment of our membership in the Habitat Organization. Those sacrifices were well worth it, and the bewilderment in their eyes and voices in reaction to our steadiness and commitment, will resonate with them Forever.
When you look at all these things we have accomplished together as volunteers – sacrificing our time, our own hunting hours, and sweat equity for the greater good – in this blink of an eye of six years, you shouldn’t see just flushing pheasants. You should see the next generation, and the one after that, growing up never having to look back and say “I wish they would have had trapshooting in high school when I was a kid” or “I wish I had a chance to go hunting with someone” or “I hope I have a place to take my kids in the field” or “I didn’t think our drinking water would end up like Flint’s.”
They won’t say those things, because we did these things. We took a stand, we made the effort, and together, we made a difference that changed not only landscapes, but also lives, and protected them all, Forever.
But six years is not “Forever.” The price for the longevity of these incredible victories and opportunities is vigilance. The need in the coming years of Forever will be for the continued stomp of boots on the ground, of fundraising efforts, of writing and calling legislators, of reaching across the fence to advance habitat, sustain wildlife, improve society, protect resources and
Together we have left a legacy that will live on Forever, but only through vigilance, hard work, and your contribution will those efforts grow, and the successes continue. (PF Photo)
increase opportunities for the next generation to experience it all. It is my firm belief that you will help continue this tradition, you will take your spot on the front lines of conservation and be the continuation of Forever, whether you’ve sat around the old laminate table on the first Wednesday of each month with me over these past six years or are only now just thinking of getting involved.
“We” does not happen without you. “We” does not happen without an incredible group of leaders getting together, leveraging a total greater than the sum of its parts, and finding a way, even when things look bleakest.
You have to be part of this. It is my parting hope that you will be, and the “we” of LCPF and the nationwide organization continues on the rising crest of these accomplishments and builds into so many more in the coming Forever.
Thank you for the incredible opportunities you have allowed me to be part of and play a leadership role in. I will treasure my time in Lyon County and the surrounding area as some of my fondest memories, and will continue to return to hunt the places we worked so hard to protect and preserve, and the ones that you will most certainly add to the legacy we will continue.
Sincerely yours, Forever,
Nick Simonson, Past President
Sophomore Ben Leek led all MHS CTL shooters with a total of 49, coming on a first round of 24 and a clutch perfect second round of 25
In League Week 2, shooters for the Marshall High School Clay Target League Team (MHS CTL) continued on their steady pace, posting impressive scores up and down the roster despite having Monday night’s shoot moved due to a weather system that dumped 6 to 10 inches of snow on the region. Following the warm up on Tuesday, Sophomore Ben Leek rode a hot streak on rounds of 24 and a perfect 25 to lead the team with a total of 49. Freshman Kaden Strate logged his second perfect round of the season after a round of 23 for a total of 48, and Senior Ryan VanMoer posted a pair of 24s for a top-three finish. VanMoer remains in the top 25 shooters (out of 11,400) across all classes in the state with a 24.25 average.
Top performers for MHS CTL in League Week 2 were:
First Last R1 R2 Tot
Ben Leek 24 25 49
Kaden Strate 23 25 48
Ryan VanMoer 24 24 48
Tannyr Curry 23 24 47
Cody Kesteloot 23 23 46
Karter DeSmet 23 22 45
Samuel Dieken 22 23 45
John Callens 21 23 44
Ryan Landmark 21 23 44
“Ben has been knocking at the door for some time now,” said Coach Nick Simonson, “this was a breakthrough performance and proof that his continued practice is paying off; his dedication to the team and heightened focus is evident,” he concluded.
Average totals for the team remained at 34.8, on par with the previous two sessions, but this week, 45 shooters logged at least one round of 20, up 10 from League Week 1. The team gained nearly 2,000 points in the overall standings, and while still sitting in fourth place overall, is knocking on the top three in Conference 2 of Class 9A, the class hosting the largest teams in all of Minnesota.
MHS CTL is coached by a staff of 13 volunteers, and supported by a number of parents who help instruct, score and supervise 80 youth. The program is funded by generous donations from a number of local conservation and sportsmen’s groups and area businesses including: Lyon County Pheasants Forever, Redwood River Sportsmen’s Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Minnesota Trappers Association, Quality Deer Management Association, Marshall Radio, Lockwood Motors, ABRA Auto Body & Glass, Friends of the NRA, Gustafson C&C Course and Don & Gena Atcher.
For more information on the team and to keep up with MHS CTL, visit their official Facebook Page: facebook.com/mhsctl
Junior Tessa Coudron guns down a second round of 24 for a top 10 finish in League Week 1 of CTL Competition.
MHS CTL: Gunning for the Top in League Week 1
The Marshall High School Clay Target League Team (MHS CTL) started its first competition week off with three perfect rounds coming from Senior Ryan VanMoer, Junior Cody Kesteloot and Freshman Karter DeSmet, with VanMoer and Desmet tallying totals of 49 to lead the way in League Week 1. Kesteloot was joined by Sophomore Nick Atcher with a total of 47. Junior Tessa Coudron put up rounds of 21 and 24 to secure a top ten finish for the week with a total of 45, and the highest round and total in the history of the four-year program for a female shooter.
Top performers for MHS CTL in League Week 1 were:
First Last R1 R2 Tot Karter DeSmet 25 24 49 Ryan VanMoer 25 24 49 Nick Atcher 23 24 47 Cody Kesteloot 22 25 47 Tessa Coudron 21 24 45 Eric Leach 24 21 45 Wyatt Martin 21 24 45 Derrick VanOverbeke 22 23 45
“The fact we are seeing scores like 47, 48 and 49 leading our group of 80 shooters in recent weeks is testament to the team’s growth and our participants’ determination to get better,” said coach Nick Simonson, “to crack the top 10 for the team is going to take higher and higher totals as the team improves as a whole,” he concluded.
Average totals for the team remained at 34.8, on par with the week before, but the modal score rose to 41, with 35 shooters logging at least one round of 20. Year over year, the team is up 2.7 targets from the first week of competition in 2016 and finds itself sitting in fourth place in Conference 2 of Class 9A at the start of the 2017 season. DeSmet, VanMoer and Coudron find themselves in the top 25 overall for their genders in the early goings of the season.
MHS CTL is coached by a staff of 13 volunteers, and supported by a number of parents who help instruct, score and supervise 80 youth. The program is funded by generous donations from a number of local conservation and sportsmen’s groups and area businesses including: Lyon County Pheasants Forever, Redwood River Sportsmen’s Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Minnesota Trappers Association, Quality Deer Management Association, Marshall Radio, Lockwood Motors, ABRA Auto Body & Glass, Friends of the NRA, Gustafson C&C Course, Don & Gena Atcher.
For more information on the team and to keep up with MHS CTL, visit their official Facebook Page: facebook.com/mhsctl
Freshman Kaden Strate led the way for MHS CTL with a perfect 25 and a follow-up round of 24 for a team-season-high of 49.
The Marshall High School Clay Target League Team (MHS CTL) found favorable conditions to showcase their developing skills in the Reserve Week of the 2017 season, and Freshman Kaden Strate set the tone for the final preparatory week of the season with a perfect 25 followed by a round of 24 for a total of 49.
“Kaden has been a hard-working shooter over the past two seasons and his commitment shows in performances like that,” said Coach Nick Simonson.
Freshman Karter DeSmet followed his classmate with a total of 47 to finish second in Reserve Week shooting; Senior Captain John Callens went 24-22 for a top three finish. Six other shooters tallied totals of 45 to round out the week’s top scores. Overall the team averaged 34.8, raising their mean total by .8 targets over the previous week. League competition begins for MHS CTL the week of Apr. 23.
Top performers for MHS CTL in the Reserve Week were:
First Last R1 R2 Tot
Kaden Strate 25 24 49
Karter DeSmet 24 23 47
John Callens 24 22 46
Nick Atcher 21 24 45
Tannyr Curry 22 23 45
Carson Douglas 22 23 45
Ben Leek 24 21 45
Ryan VanMoer 23 22 45
Derrick VanOverbeke 22 23 45
Classes and conferences were announced by the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League (mnclaytarget.com) on Monday, and MHS CTL will compete in Conference 2 of Class 9A, where schools with the most participants are slated for 2017. MHS CTL will shoot at the State Championship in Alexandria on June 20. This year, over 11,400 students on 343 teams are competing across the state. That total exceeds the number of student athletes participating in hockey, and trails football by only a few hundred participants, making CTL the second most popular high school sport in Minnesota.
“We’ve seen this incredible growth not only at MHS and other Lyon County-area schools but also across the state,” said Simonson, “it’s an exciting time for shooting sports and an incredible opportunity for youth to get involved in this life-long activity,” he concluded.
MHS CTL is coached by a staff of 13 volunteers, and supported by a number of parents who help instruct, score and supervise 80 youth. The program is funded by generous donations from a number of local conservation and sportsmen’s groups and area businesses including: Lyon County Pheasants Forever, Redwood River Sportsmen’s Club, National Wild Turkey Federation, Minnesota Trappers Association, Quality Deer Management Association, Marshall Radio, Lockwood Motors, ABRA Auto Body & Glass, Friends of the NRA, Gustafson C&C Course, Don & Gena Atcher.
For more information on the team and to keep up with MHS CTL, visit their official Facebook Page: facebook.com/mhsctl
Lyon County Pheasants Forever 