Chase Lindner and Logan LeBlanc aim high each time they enter competition.
And, in their case, they literally aim.
LeBlanc is a freshman at Aledo High School and Lindner is a junior at Springtown High. School. Both are members of the Aledo Clay Busters rifle shooting team. They are also among the best in the nation at their craft.
Each represented the team in a pair of elite events in Marengo, Ohio, this summer, the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championship and the International Olympic Style Clay Shooting Event.
Lindner competed in the Senior/Varsity division and LeBlanc was in the Intermediate-Advanced division. Each posted a couple of top-20 finishes in their respective events, competing against others from across the United States
In addition, LeBlanc won his division in the International Olympic Style competition. This allowed him to advance to the finals, competing against shooters from middle school to college, where he finished sixth.
“These summer competitions I attended have been amazing since the year I first joined the team (four years ago),” LeBlanc said.
Lindner also had a strong showing at the State Championship in June in San Antonio. His sporting clays scores at this competition qualified him to make the All-State team for Texas.
That team comprised the top five scores from state. They advanced to nationals and finished third.
“I love shooting in these big events because of the experience you get competing in high stress scenarios and shooting against some of the best shooters in the country,” said Lindner, who is entering his third year of competing.
Both first picked up a rifle at a young age and felt an immediate connection.
“I’ve always loved shooting and hunting ever since I was little when my grandma got me into it, so when I heard I was able to join a team and shoot competitively, I was super excited,” Lindner said.
Hunting also led LeBlanc into the sport.
“I mainly started shooting to bring in more birds during the hunting seasons,” LeBlanc said. “Ever since I found out that Aledo had a team, I joined in sixth grade.”
And both plan to continue competing as long as they can, perhaps even for their country.
“I definitely plan to continue my shooting career into college. I’m hoping to be the best shooter I possibly can,” Lindner said. “If the opportunity came, I would absolutely love to try out for the Olympics one day.”
LeBlanc, likewise, has plans to compete in college — and on the international stage.
“My main goal is to make it to the Olympics someday,” he said. “Even though it may take a while, I have set my eyes on representing the United States in the competitive shooting side.”
The team has been around for more than two decades. The members compete in the Texas Scholastic Clay Target Program DFW South league with other teams south of Interstates 20/30 from Tyler to Midland/Odessa.
Once league competition is completed, a DFW championship is held among the North, West, East, and South leagues, followed by state and national championships.
“Our main focus is on the season/league, but we won’t say no to other events,” Clay Busters coach James LeBlanc said. “It averages about two to three times participating competitively a month.”
The team also competes in various other events, including local fundraisers, and even Junior Olympics.
Coach LeBlanc said this year’s team is expected to have around 25 members from Aledo and surrounding areas.
Concerning the upcoming season, he said, “New season, new members, new coaches, new venues. There are a lot of hurdles to overcome this year, as with any.
“I think once we find our groove with all of the above, the team will settle in nicely and continue with being very competitive in all events they participate in.”
“The team as a whole represented ACB great. Chase and Logan, specifically, had a great showing at the state championship in an all-around sense, as well as competing at the national championship,” Coach LeBlanc said.
“Hills and valleys as with anything, but their training and dedication to the sport shined through when dealing with tough and difficult targets,” he said.
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