By Greg Myers
One of the biggest concerns in the sport of trapshooting is getting the youth involved.
If the start of the 2011 ATA Grand American is any indication, the future looks bright.
The first two handicap events of the Grand were won by two 13-year-old boys.
Tony Kirk II of Corinth, Mississippi shot an event high 99 in the Parliament Coach Handicap August 3 and edged out one other shooter in a shootoff. Logan Taylor of Russellville, Alabama followed up by winning the Trapshooting USA Handicap with the only perfect 100 August 4.
By winning the handicap events and shooting in at least three others, both Taylor and Kirk have qualified for Bill and Lee Ann Martin’s $100,000 Grand Challenge, which will be held Saturday.
Taylor started trapshooting in 2005 after watching his older brother enjoy the sport and has been coming to the Grand ever since.
“He has won some trophies in the past, but this is the first time he has become champion of an event,” said Logan’s father Donald Taylor. “He was very tickled, and we were all very happy for him. He’s excited to compete for the $100,000.”
Kirk II got into shooting trap because of his dad, and this was his third year competing at the Grand.
“Tony has won shoots at the state and local levels but this was his first major win at the Grand,” said Tony’s father Tony Kirk. “Tony can be up and down just like any other 13-year-old, but when he is focused, he is as good as anyone. Once he realized what he had done, he was in total shock. He has shot better this week than he ever has  before.”
Take what these two young shooters did to start the Grand, add over 1,000 shooters that who part in the ATA’s youth program AIM, and the future looks pretty promising for the sport of trapshooting.
Logan is the son of Donald and Tina Taylor of Russellville, Alabama. Tony is the son of Tony and Lori Kirk of Corinth, Mississippi.