Kale Bingaman, left, and Keira Counsell pose with proof of their success after the 2024 Shamrock Shoot in La Grande. The two students were the driving force behind Imbler High School’s new clay shooting team, approaching the school board and obtaining permission for the Panthers to launch its own program.

IMBLER — As the clay shooting season begins for Oregon high schools, La Grande’s loss will be Imbler’s gain.

After Imbler students participated on the La Grande team for a number of years, this season will see Imbler students shooting for a Panther team this season.

“The drive to start an Imbler team came from the kids themselves,” new head coach Jessica Fisher said. “Two students came up with the idea of starting an Imbler team and it just grew from there.”

Fisher said 15 are expected on the team as practice starts March 31 at the La Grande Gun Club.

“The kids are excited to shoot for their own school and we will have kids out that have never shot before up to kids that have been shooting for years,” she said.

Along with a new team, the new coach is a returnee to the area after spending some years away.

“I was a 4-H agent in Umatilla County for a number of years,” Fisher said. “At the time, 4-H was just starting shooting sports as part of the program. I attended a national training and returned to Umatilla County to get the local program started.”

An avid hunter and outdoorswoman, Fisher said the fit with the new program was instant.

“I just fell in love with competitive shooting,” she said.

A change in career plans took Fisher to the National Rifle Association center in New Mexico. While there, Fisher received accreditation as both a shotgun and pistol coach. A decision to return to Eastern Oregon came during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“My nephew is a senior at Imbler and I wanted to be closer to family,” she said. “When Imbler decided to start its own team, I was excited to take on the challenge.”

Fisher said the major emphasis on the new team will be twofold — being safe and having fun.

“Shooting is a lifetime sport and this will just be the start of a love for the sport for many of these kids,” she said. “We have a good mix of both males and females and those with experience to those just trying it out for the first time.”

Though Imbler didn’t compete as a formal team at the recent Shamrock Shoot in La Grande, Fisher had the opportunity to see some of her team’s talent.

“It was cold and windy yet everyone still had a good time,” she said. “It is a good chance to see what we will be starting with when formal practice starts.”

Imbler will join 1,625 teams across the United States, according to 2023 statistics, involving almost 50,000 student athletes on ranges across the nation.

In competition, members of the Imbler team will shoot 100 targets. A minimum of five competitors make up a team score in a designated classification, with the top-five individual scores making up a team score.

In addition to a coach, each team must have a range safety officer at each meet. The team RSO is responsible for ensuring all policies and procedures are followed on the range. A master range officer is also at each shoot to monitor spectator safety.

Shooters receive patches after achieving 25, 50, 75 or 100 straights at each event. In addition to the individual awards, team awards are also presented.