Pella Christian Clay Target Team Heads to Nationals with Strong Community Support

The Roozenboom brothers — Dylan, Dawson, and Daxton along with their parents. (submitted photo)

OSKALOOSA — The Roozenboom brothers — Dylan, Dawson, and Daxton — are part of a group of 22 dedicated student-athletes from the Pella Christian Clay Target Team traveling to Marengo, Ohio, for the National Championships this summer.

Shooting sports have become a shared bond for the Roozenboom family. Each of the boys started at a young age, learning the fundamentals of safe and responsible firearm use long before stepping onto a competition field. Safety remains the top priority, with every practice emphasizing protective gear, strict handling rules, and proper technique.

The brothers and their teammates have spent countless hours practicing across different disciplines, including trap, skeet, and sporting clays — a sport often compared to “golfing with a shotgun” because of its variety and unpredictable targets. This wide skill set requires sharp focus, discipline, and plenty of patience, qualities that each shooter has developed through years of training.

For the Roozenbooms, the sport is especially meaningful because it is something the brothers can do together, supporting each other on and off the range. They have competed successfully at the state level for several years, including as state champions, and they now look forward to testing themselves at the national level once again.

Traveling to Nationals is no small feat. The costs for equipment, ammunition, travel, and entry fees add up quickly. To help cover expenses, the team has turned to their community for support, organizing local fundraisers like lemonade stands and relying on generous donations from local individuals and businesses. Parents say the outpouring of help shows just how much the community values its young athletes and the lessons they learn through this sport.