18 year-old Buckeye state woman has affinity to shoot

The Newark Advocate is reporting that being in a sport that most people don't expect a woman to be involved in is what drives Amanda Gail.

Gail, an 18-year-old Granville resident who was home-schooled, competes in the Scholastic Clay Target Program, which is for youths up to 12th grade.

From the story:

"I went and tried it about two years ago, and I loved it," Gail said. "I can't imagine not trap shooting.

"Doing something most people wouldn't expect a girl to do is something that really gets the competitive juices flowing in me; plus it's a lot of fun."

Gail recently helped the Centerburg Youth Shooting Sports team win the Ohio Trap State Championship in the Varsity Division.

She was the only woman on the five-member team. The team connected on 897 out of 1,000 targets to win the state championship by two targets.

"It's a very competitive sport, and it takes a lot of time and practice," Gail said. "Just like all sports, if you want to be really good and competitive, you have to put a lot of time into it."

Gail practices twice per week at several places, including in Delaware, the Centerburg Conservation Club and the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo.

Gail recently got a new gun, and in the process, she's had to adjust, slowing her progress. But in the long run, she knows it will be for the best.

"I'm still making adjustments, and that's been a little tough," Gail said. "But this gun fits me better, and each day, I'm getting more and more used to it."

When Gail isn't practicing her shooting, she is doing gun mounts.

"I do about 100 gun mounts every day to help build up my muscles," Gail said. "You have to do that because it helps you get a better feeling for your gun, which is very important."

The Advocate reports that this is Gail's last year in the SCTP. In 2007, she will move on to the Amateur Trap Shooting Association and will compete as an individual.

While many of the trap shooters have aspirations of competing at the collegiate level or even qualifying for the Olympics, Gail has other thoughts.

"I would really like to be able to coach ... that would be my ultimate goal," she said. "I love working with kids and would love to get more girls in involved in the sport."

Only two of her 29 teammates are girls.

"Hopefully that will change in the future," Gail said.