By Chad Koenen

Publisher

A Henning High School alum is leaving his mark on the college athletic scene in the sport of trap shooting. 

William Schwartz, who is a 2026 Henning High School graduate and son of Erika and Adam Schwartz, recently finished in third place in his division in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference fall trap season. Schwartz finished with a season average of 24.4 out of a round of 25 and is a freshman at Minnesota State Community and Technical College. 

With so many shooters across the region this past fall the MCAC was split into three divisions with Schwartz finishing in fourth place overall.

The end of season shoot was held at a familiar place for the Henning High School alum as it was held in Alexandria, Minn. Schwartz finished in 10th place in the one day shoot out of 150 people from across multiple states.

During his time in high school, Schwartz advanced to state and won the conference one year with an average of 23.9. Since trap shooting can be done remotely, Schwartz competed at the Henning Rifle Range with a number of his former high school team members this past season. 

“It’s about the same how they run everything, but the competition is definitely better,” he said.

Each week Schwartz’s scores were sent into the conference, with the exception of the end of season shoot in Alexandria, Minn.

Schwartz said he enjoys the sport as it not only allows him to compete as a team, but also as an individual.

“I just enjoy being able to go shoot. I get to shoot on my own time because it is an individual and team sport,” he said. “It’s fun to be able to go shoot with a team and we can do stuff as a team and get awards as a team, but I can still work on myself and get awards on my own.”

In addition to Schwartz, another one of his team members from the M-State Wadena squad shoots in Moorhead, while the rest of the team shoots at the rifle range in Wadena.