“He is on pace just like last year,” said his father proudly.

Despite his accomplishments in one year, he has his sights on shooting the Grand Slam.

“I got one-third of the Grand Slam now. Few people have done it, and I want to be one of them.”

Another sub junior who is competing at the PSSA state shoot is Joseph Recla, of Mahanoy Plane, near Frackville. At age 14, this is his first year attending the state shoot.

“On Saturday, I shot my first 100 straight,” he said shyly.

It is his father who has been his coach.

“We are all a shooting family,” the elder Rick Recla spoke up. “I stopped shooting for 20 years and got back into it when Joey turned 12. Now my wife, Kathy and his younger brother, Ian all shoot trap.”

Originally, Joey’s father taught him the basics of safe gun handling for hunting, but that soon evolved into trap shooting at the Keystone Fish and Game Club near Irish Valley.

“The first time Joey shot at clay targets, he got 10 out of 25. He’s been shooting ever since.”

The teen is also on the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Team, practicing twice a week.

He has also been privileged to receive lessons from Kay Ohye, a world famous trapshooter who was also present at the Pennsylvania State Shoot.

“He has taught me not to get frustrated when I miss, to turn with my lower back and not my arms, and watch the clay target before I move the gun.”

However according to Recla, the most important thing he has been taught is to “keep your head. He tells me to stay focused on the now.”

His goal is to one day make it into the PSSA Hall of Fame.

“I enjoy being able to break something without getting in trouble for it,” he said with a slight grin.