Trap Talk From The Back Fence

Episode 152: Autumn Grand 2025 Recap — Zach & Ricky Break It All Down

Air date: November 28, 2025
Hosts: Zach Denini & Richard Marshall Jr. (“Ricky”)

Episode Overview

In this engaging, highly detailed recap of the 2025 Autumn Grand trapshooting tournament in Tucson, Arizona, hosts Zach Denini and Richard Marshall Jr. break down both preliminary and championship weeks. They dive deep into the scores, standout performances, behind-the-scenes stories, and address organizational changes at the shoot. The episode is peppered with tributes to trapshooting legends, personal anecdotes about overcoming adversity, and practical advice for shooters.

The tone is lively, candid, and at times nostalgic, punctuated by moments of humor, healthy ribbing, and gratitude for the community and sponsors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Life on the Road & Fitting Guns

• Ricky’s Travel Clinics: Ricky recounts teaching shooting clinics at different clubs and working with students and pros on customizing and fitting stocks at Winig, emphasizing the importance of proper gun fit.

  • “There’s nothing better than getting down there and getting that stock fitted and the relief of knowing, okay, it fits me.” — Richard Marshall Jr. [03:05]

• Zach’s Gun Fit Realization: Zach shares how learning to detect when a stock didn't fit improved with experience:

  • “Once you get to a certain level, you can really tell if something's right or something's wrong. When I was starting, I didn’t always know.” — Zach Denini [03:15]

Remembering Trapshooting Legend Dan Bonillas

(Emotional and Highlighted Segment: 05:34–16:12)

• Dan Bonillas’ Funeral & Legacy: Zach shares a heartfelt account of attending Dan’s funeral, attended by many prominent shooters.

  • “Everybody was there. … It was full of nostalgia.” — Zach [06:26]
  • “Dan was the best self-promoter in the game through his whole career.” — Ricky [10:16]
  • “You don’t just get a shotgun named after you if you’re not a legend.” — Ricky [06:49]

• Stories and Achievements:

  • Zach describes watching Dan finally win his coveted California Handicap for his “crown five,” recalling Dan’s emotional reaction.
  • Dan’s legendary doubles record is discussed in detail, including his Remington contract era:
    • “In 1997, Dan set the record for doubles average, 99.22 on 10,300 doubles targets.” — Zach [11:58]
    • “He made them [Remington] pay every dollar that he possibly could for that year.” — Zach [12:28]
    • Fun anecdote about Dan’s nonchalant reaction to long singles runs:
      • “‘Ah, that’s pretty good. But I did that much in a day.’” — Zach retelling Dan’s response [15:26]

Autum Grand 2025: Event Recap—Shooter Highlights & Target Setting

Preliminary Week (18:21–34:01+)

• Ricky on Prelim Week:

  • Only shot two events, focused more on teaching, gun fitting, and enjoying the atmosphere.
  • “Targets were good. Brett Dalton and his dad Corey did a wonderful job. … The western target is the way to be on the West Coast.” — Ricky [19:21]

• Standout Shooters Prelim:

  • Singles: Sam Lindecker wins after a 199/200 and 125 straight in the shoot-off.
  • Doubles: Colton Tucker shoots the lone 100.
  • Handicap: Brit Dalton wins with 97 on a “salty” (windy) Sunday.

Championship Week (34:01 onward)

• Main Week Weather & Operations:
  • “The weather was perfect this week at Tucson… The flagpole didn’t step up until Sunday.” — Zach [34:10]
  • Praise for shoot management, coolers with water on every field, and improved scorekeeping.

Championship Event Results & Mini-Features

Doubles Championship:

• Three shooters ran 100: Bob Robertson, Eric Munson, John Mullins.
• Eric Munson emerged as champion, Mullins runner up, Robertson Sub-Vet champ.
• Additional class winners highlighted by Zach.

Singles Championship:

• Eight shooters shot perfect 200s, led by Zach and Mike Grady. Their shoot-off went 10 boxes before Zach took the title.
  • “We both missed on the same post… After that, we were locked in.” — Zach [41:57]
• Memorable shoutouts to runners up and class/category winners.

Handicap Championship:

• Emotional storyline as Cooper Freston overcomes significant vision impairment (from a shooting accident) to tie Trey Wilburn at 97.
  • “Hands down. That’s a stellar score in those conditions.” — Ricky [45:31]
  • Trey, not expecting his score to hold, leaves early, forfeits, and Coop takes the buckle.
  • “He got this big, beautiful buckle. We were really, really proud of him. That’s his first Satellite Grand Title, which is a hard feat…” — Zach [47:55]

High All-Around and High Overall:

• Trey Wilburn: High All-Around (394x400);
• Weston Anderson: High Overall (1077/1100).

Overcoming Adversity — Physical and Mental Resilience

• Ricky and Zach share personal challenges—shooting flat-footed after Zach’s Achilles surgery and Coop’s vision challenges.
  • “If you’ve got some talent, then you’re like, some of it’s taken away… How do you stay mentally tough to push through that?” — Zach [25:03]
  • Practical advice and encouragement for shooters overcoming injuries or health issues.

Technical and Organizational Insights

• Target Setting:

  • Clubs are moving from springs to bands for better, more consistent targets. Shooters responded positively to this change.

• Options (Purse) Drama:

  • Discussion on controversy over removing—and then reinstating—options from the event program.
    • “You have to offer an options package… There was a lot of people that said they would never come back.” — Zach [56:27]
    • “You’ve got to start doing stuff for the shooters. Trophy packages need to step up at these shoots.” — Ricky [55:40]

• Choosing Autumn Grand vs. Spring Grand:

  • Autumn Grand praised for its reliably nice weather; Spring Grand has more points and shooters, but variable weather.

• Praise for Organizers:

  • Shout-out to Leanne Martin for continuing the Martin Lewis purse tradition, honoring her late husband Bill Ceremony.

Community, Memories & Tributes

• Bill Ceremony Tribute:

  • Tribute to the late Bill Ceremony, including stories of his generosity and impact on the trapshooting community.
  • “Bill, Leanne donated a million dollars to the Hall of Fame… We appreciate everything.” — Ricky [64:29]

• Family and Shooter Support:

  • Warm, candid reflections on the close-knit trapshooting community, their support in hard times, and the value of shared traditions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dan Bonillas:

  • “You don’t just get a shotgun named after you if you’re not a legend.” — Ricky [06:49]

• On Shooting Through Adversity:

  • “You just trust your instincts… And it breaks. Oh, I broke it.” — Ricky, on Coop overcoming vision loss [23:12]

• On Gun Fit:

  • “I really think that gunfit is probably the most important part of shooting big scores. Would you agree with that?” — Zach [36:17]

• On Event Organization:

  • “Taking all the options out… There was a lot of people that said they would never come back. And then they reverted—they fixed it and did the right thing.” — Zach [57:08]

• On Community:

  • “They’re great people. They’d help you out any way they can.” — Zach, about the Ceremony family [64:23]

• On Winning:

  • “You can win those other events, but the handicap’s the one that matters.” — Ricky [44:36]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dan Bonillas Tribute: 05:34–16:12
• Coop’s Story (Vision Loss, Winning Handicap): 22:29–25:03, 44:36–47:55
• Prelim Week Recap: 18:21–34:01
• Championship Event Recap: 34:01–55:02
  • Doubles: 38:22–40:08
  • Singles: 40:12–44:36
  • Handicap: 44:36–47:55
  • HOA/HAA: 47:55–51:30
• Trophy/Options Controversy: 55:02–58:31
• Spring vs Autumn Grand Discussion: 58:31–59:59
• Bill Ceremony Tribute: 60:37–64:49

Episode Takeaways

• The 2025 Autumn Grand was smoothly run, with excellent targets, weather, and a strong community feel.
• Triumphs and tributes to legends (Dan Bonillas, Bill Ceremony) colored the week with nostalgia and respect.
• Standout performances by shooters overcoming adversity, such as Coop Freston, exemplify the mental resilience celebrated in trapshooting.
• Event organizers are listening to shooters, reinstating much-wanted program elements and continuing beloved traditions.
• Zach and Ricky’s banter, deep knowledge, and genuine affection for the sport and its people make this episode both informative and heartfelt.

A must-listen for trapshooters as well as anyone interested in the culture, camaraderie, and history of American shooting sports.