While Anderson has hundreds of students that play school sports, there are also a large number of athletes who do not compete as Trojans. Kayla Kane is a notable example, a senior who competes in sporting clays. This is a sport where the player shoots at clay targets that can be thrown from any direction, receiving one point for every target hit. A round consists of 100 targets, and the aim is to hit as many as possible.
“I have been shooting for 5 years now,” Kane says. “I got into the sport through my dad who had heard of it. I wasn’t playing any sports at the time and asked my parents if I could play a sport where they didn’t chase me when I had the ball.” After attending a few local competitions, she decided shooting clays was for her and now travels nationally for competitions. In Texas, Kane routinely competes in the San Antonio and Houston rodeos, which are exclusively for shooters ages 8-18. Winners get the honor of receiving the same belt buckle the bull riders win, despite competing in a different event from the traditional rodeo sports (barrel racing, pole bending, bronc riding, etc). Kane has won two scholarships from competing at these rodeos, at $10,000 apiece.
This young athlete is nationally and globally ranked. Kane is currently sitting in 6th place in the nation for sporting clays; last season, she placed 4th in the world for all females! “I am the youngest among the top ten and am proud to represent youth competitors,” she says. Kane plans to compete once again in the world championships, which will take place in London this year.
