Trap Talk From The Back Fence

Episode 156 – Weston Anderson: 2025 Autumn Grand HOA Champion & Junior All-American
Date: December 26, 2025
Hosts: Zach Nannini & Richard Marshall Jr.
Guest: Weston Anderson

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, hosts Zach and Ricky sit down with rising trapshooting star Weston Anderson, the 2025 Autumn Grand HOA Champion and Junior All-American. The conversation covers Weston’s rapid ascent in the sport, his approach to practice and mental toughness, equipment choices, the challenges of balancing ambitions with youth, and his vision for the future. Laced with humor and camaraderie, the episode offers valuable insights for both aspiring and seasoned shooters.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weston’s Background & Rapid Rise

• Hometown & Origins:

  • Weston comes from Nyssa, Oregon (famously, the New York Sheep Shearing Association town—"and it ain't in New York" [01:30]).
  • Started trapshooting at age 10; began competing ATA at 13.
  • Now, at 17, he’s won multiple Oregon state titles and achieved Sub-Junior and Junior All-American status.

• Grand Slam & Major Achievements:

  • Captured the Western Zone Singles by beating John Mullins in a shoot-off.
  • Recently won the Autumn Grand HOA Championship; only shooting ATA for about four years.
  • Completed his Grand Slam, with the final doubles leg at Vernal, Utah, on a windy day (03:04–03:32).

• On Rapid Progression:

  “How the hell do you start at 13 and get so good so fast?...You made the All American team your first year shooting ATA, made the state team the first year…the top two, top three in your category in the country." – Zach (08:31)

  • Weston credits lots of practice, traveling early to large shoots for steep learning experiences, and guidance from seasoned club coaches (09:20–10:50).

2. Building Skills: Practice & Mindset

• Practice Philosophy:

  • Focuses on consistency, hitting the center of the target, and using extra full chokes in practice to reveal weaknesses (16:10–16:56).
  • Shoots mostly handicap and doubles in practice; believes mastering handicap smooths out singles as well.

  “If you practice a lot of handicap, get your movement right for handicap and you’re smooth for handicap, you’ll be smooth for singles.” – Weston (16:53)

• Choke Preferences:

  • Shoots modified for singles, full for handicap; finds full chokes keep him precise and discourage "spray and pray" shooting (17:20–19:37).

  “If you're shooting like super fast…your pattern can still have holes in it.” – Ricky (18:39) “I want to get better, not just make it easier.” – Weston (19:36)

• Equipment Experiments:

  • Switched recently from a custom-stock Kohler shotgun to a K80 Trap Special.
  • Built his own custom stock by hand—literally whittled it to fit, showing his hands-on, DIY approach (27:38–29:34).

  “Pretty much just whittling on it, truthfully, till it was comfortable…and mount it and shoot it for like three or four weeks…” – Weston (28:00)

• Gun Fit Importance:

  • Hosts and Weston stress the critical nature of custom gun fit for breaking big scores (31:13).

  “I think Gunfit is the most important thing.” – Ricky (31:27)

3. Mental Traits & Overcoming Challenges

• Competitiveness:

  • Played baseball as a kid—attributes his hand-eye coordination and focus to both sports (11:29–12:02).
  • Describes early transition to high-level travel shooting as “pushing himself out of his comfort zone,” which rapidly accelerated his development (09:55–11:05).

• Dealing with Slumps:

  • For young shooters facing early success, warns against quitting when the inevitable slump hits—“There is a light at the end of the tunnel” (72:43).
  • Hosts reinforce the theme of resilience and sustained effort through ups and downs.

  “This is a sport where, you know, you’re only as good as your last event. And you could last shot, last shot, right?” – Zach (74:03)

4. Life Outside the Trap Line

• Hunting and Outdoor Life:

  • Weston is an avid outdoor sportsman—pheasant, chukar, quail, antelope, elk, and deer hunting (08:04).
  • Loves fishing on the Snake River; helps with the family’s farm business.

• Coaching and Community:

  • Coaches at his local club and helps new shooters, both young and old, break their first 25-straight (45:00–45:30).

  “Even some of the new older shooters…[she] just broke her first 25, so that was pretty cool.” – Weston (45:24)

5. Equipment Deep Dive

• Guns and Setups:

  • Custom K80 Trap Special (now), formerly Kohler with homebuilt stock.
  • Standard blue receiver for uniqueness ("I wanted something that not everybody and their dog had." [33:28])
  • 34" unsingle, 32" O/U barrel lengths—extra length suits his 6'4" build.

• Ammo Choices:

  • Remington STS for singles/doubles; Double A Super Handicap for handicap.
  • Struggles to source heavy handicap loads locally due to sporting clays preference in the area (38:29–39:29).

  “An important thing…I learned as well [is] if you do switch ammo, practice with it like you just got a new gun…” (39:43)

• Gun Setup:

  • 80/20 point of impact on all events for natural swing, particularly in unpredictable wind (35:49–37:24).

6. Tournament Scheduling, College, and Future Goals

• Travel & Team Building:

  • Travels with his mom to major shoots; dad joins when able (58:04).
  • Girlfriend, also a top shooter, partners up at events.

• Shoots Planned:

  • Spring Grand, Southern Grand (Florida), Vernal Western Grand, possibly Pennsylvania and Ohio State Shoots, ATA Grand (67:25–68:10).

• Education, Career, and Life Beyond Shooting:

  • Finishing homeschool early; college a possibility but undecided (46:46–47:32).
  • Interested in business/accounting, possibly to run his own future venture.

  "College seems to be not in the mindset at the very moment. But I’m not close to it." – Weston (46:46) “Some of the richest people I know didn’t go to college.” – Zach (52:02)

• Shooting Goals:

  • Gunning for Junior All-American Team Captain and AAA-27-AAA pin status, with tough competition ahead from peer Wyatt (59:17–59:39).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Outgrowing T-ball:

  “I did T ball for a really long time, and then I got too big, but my age wasn’t right, so I was too big but too young…” – Weston (11:33–12:01)

• On Being Misjudged for Age:

  “He kind of walks around and Barrett looks up and he looks way up there and he says, ‘You mean I gotta shoot against him?’” – Zach, on shoot-off with then-15-year-old, 6’2” Weston (13:44)

• Weston's Approach to Shooting

  “Making sure your gun fits the same whether you gain 25 pounds or lost 25 pounds…then it’s just natural and you can be precise because it’s just naturally you’re swinging to that target.” – Weston (21:37)

• Advice for New Shooters:

  “Younger shooters…will shoot good the first time they ever go out and then they struggle…and then they’re like, well, I don’t know if I want to do this anymore…just stay in it and don’t give up because there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” – Weston (72:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Weston’s Introduction & Early Career: 01:16–04:40
• Practice Philosophy & Coaching: 09:20–10:50
• Memorable Shoot-off/Outgrowing T-ball: 13:44–12:02
• Gun Fit & Equipment Discussion: 27:38–31:27
• Ammo, Practice, and Consistency: 38:29–40:26
• Tournament Scheduling, College & Future Plans: 46:46–47:32, 67:25–68:10
• Advice to Young Shooters: 72:35–74:20

Closing Takeaways

• Focus on Quality, Not Quantity: Consistent, targeted practice on weaknesses with the right equipment (and proper gun fit) is more important than just rounds downrange.
• Mental Resilience is Key: Both Weston and the hosts emphasize perseverance through inevitable slumps—success is built on what happens between the wins.
• Community Matters: Weston’s story is a testament to the power of mentorship and supportive club environments.
• The Next Generation: Weston is as committed to helping new shooters as he is to pursuing his titles—a promising ambassador for the sport.
• Looking Ahead: As he plans for bigger goals and potential college teams, Weston’s work ethic, humility, and adaptability suggest the best is yet to come.

Acknowledgements

Weston gives thanks to:

• Meridian Shields (ID)
• Shameless Game Totes
• 80 Below Sporting Oil
• His parents (“Dad supplies the money, so the key’s the key bailing.” [74:29])
• His girlfriend, Alexis

For listeners, this episode offers a compelling portrait of trapshooting success achieved through hard work, smart practice, and grit—plus a lot of laughs along the way.