From hitting baseballs and golf balls to hitting targets, Brayden Carbajal enjoys the spirit of competition.

The recent graduate of Belle Fourche was competing in the skeet portion of the South Dakota High School Clay Target State Tournament on Friday afternoon at the Aberdeen Gun Club. Carbajal also partcipated in baseball, golf and soccer in addition to clay target shooting during high school and competed in state tournaments in each one.

He said there are certain characteristics that carry over from one sport to the other.

“For baseball, it’s a whole mental game, trying to compete against you and the pitcher,” Carbajal said. “In golf, I have to compete against myself, hit good shots the whole time and keep my head. The same in trap, you have to keep your head and you have to stay focused, and stay in it.”

So what about soccer?

“Oh, that’s more of a team sport,” he said. “You just have to compete and work your hardest the whole time.”

Carbajal said he enjoys one activity a bit more than the others.

“Probably the shooting,” he said, “the atmosphere, it’s like a family out here. I love it.”

Carbajal is part of the Belle Fourche Bronc Bird Busters, a clay target team that hits their targets when they show up at state tournaments.

“We have competed every single year,” Carbajal said. “We’ve won at least one state title every year.”

One of the aspects Carbajal enjoys about shooting is the competition, and not just against others.

“I like the competition aspect, and I love trying to beat yourself every single time,” Carbajal said. “You want to try to get better every single time.”

A big part of shooting is mental, according to Carbajal.

“You have to stay focused, and keep your head in the game,” Carbajal said, “at the same time you have to be on-point and ready to shoot in a second.”

The state tournament, which includes in-person shooting, is much different than the regular season which is just virtual competition. That makes a big difference, according to Carbajal.

“It’s very stressful,” Carbajal said. “When I shot my first round my heart was pumping out of my chest. Once that got over, I was fine.”

WELKER BACK IN NEW ROLE

A familar face was at the State Tournament on Friday, but in a different role than in the past.

Former state champion Katie Welker has transitioned from standout shooter to assistant coach with the Winner-Colome squad.

“The big difference is not being able to shoot,” Welker said of her new position. “I love coming up here and supporting these kids, but not being able to shoot is really hard for me, especially as much as I love it.”

Welker was among the most decorated female shooters in state history, having won the girls’ season championship four straight years, high overall twice, one state tournament title, and one runner-up finish. She made an immediate impact at Concordia University in Nebraska this past season. In addition to nailing 100 straight singles, she went to nationals and placed second in women’s double trap in Division IV, and made the All-American team for Division IV trap.

“I was one of only two or three females to make any All-American team,” Welker said.

Welker was pleased with how her first year went at the collegiate level.

“Everyone told me going into college you’re going to struggle at first because you’re away from home. You’re around new people. I knew that I would be OK, but I also didn’t expect an All-American award,” Welker said. “Actually going into nationals I was ranked number one female in trap for Division IV. My parents didn’t tell me just because they didn’t want it to mess with me, and it didn’t, but it was a huge honor to receive it, especially as a freshman female.”

Now she is trying to impart some instruction to her previous teammates. What is the best advice that she can give to the high school shooters?

“I would just say practice. Practice makes perfect,” Welker said. “The more you shoot, the easier it’s going to come to you and the more fun you’ll have.”

There is one other piece of advice that Welker has told her former teammates: be prepared to deal with the warm conditions during the state tourney.

“I was just here last year competing, but I definitely do realize now the importance of staying hydrated, taking care of yourself; that way you can perform to the best of your abilities,” Welker said. “I do tell my kids, I say, ‘Hey, get in the shade, drink some water.'”

The tournament continues today and concludes on Sunday.