Staff photo by Laura Kish

Montmartre Army Cadet air rifle shooting team
Back row (l to r): Kyle Krahenbil, Kandi Heaton, coach Robert Giroux, Peter Dayman.
Front row (l to r): Daniel Lyons and Travis Kish

Staff photo by Laura Kish
Travis Kish readies a shot in prone position.

By Lizz Bottrell,
Citizen Staff

The 2988 Montmartre Army Cadet’s air rifle shooting team hopes to score big during the upcoming nationals in Vancouver from May 4 – 10. The team received a spot to compete in nationals after a big win in Regina on April 19.

“We had a good chance [of going to nationals],” said Robert Giroux, the team’s training officer and coach. “I don’t want to say we expected to make it, but I knew if everyone shot their average or higher that we could go.”

The win is a big accomplishment for such a small team. “We are only a core of 15 to 16 kids and we’re competing against groups of 60 to 100,” said Giroux. Of course growing up in a rural community has its benefits. “They shoot more,” said Giroux, something that he attributes to why the group did so well at provincials. For a young person who grows up in a rural area, he or she likely has the opportunity to shoot rifles at little rodents long before a youth from the city even holds a rifle for the first time.

Going to nationals is especially a very special opportunity for Travis Kish, a five year veteran of the team. “I’ve been to nationals every year,” said Travis Kish. “But this is my last year.” Kish moves on from the cadets this year as he graduates high school, but he cherishes the time he’s spent with the cadets, especially with the rifle shooting team. “I’m glad that I got to go every year cause it’s something to look forward to at the beginning of the year,” said Kish.

Although Kish sure hoped the team would make it to nationals this year, it wasn’t for sure, so he’s very glad they did. Kish, alongside team members Kyle Krahenbil, Kandi Heaton, Peter Dayman, and Daniel Lyons will spend a week in Vancouver at the nationals, competing for the spot as the top team.

The trip won’t be all work and no play. “We get the nights off and one day to go out and do stuff,” said Kish. Giroux says the kids will have the opportunity to visit cultural areas in the city, which is sure to be fun and educational. Unfortunately, Giroux has to work so he will not accompany the team to Vancouver. However, the team won’t be without a coach. “Kyle’s mom is going as our coach,” said Kish.

After all is said and done, regardless of how the team shoots at nationals, Kish has some big plans for the future. “After I graduate, I’m going to work for a bit,” said Kish. “I hope to get on with SaskPower in the future.

Good luck at nationals!