Neighbor Sports

Trap Shooting

Golden BBs: A group of seven local teens attended the world shooting event called the "Grand American" at Sparta, Ill., recently.

Jim Hurtenbach of Mundelein, Kevin Pilling of Mundelein, Spencer Hauri of Libertyville, Brett Marquardt of Deerfield, Brett Bachman of Highland Park, Emily Sullivan of Wheeling and Courtney Gonzales of Kenosha participated in the largest shotgun shooting event in the world.

This group of teenagers are known as the "Golden BBs." They are part of a BSA Venturing Crew sponsored by the Northbrook Sports Club.

More than 1,600 teenagers from across the country came together at the Grand to exhibit their shooting skills with the hope of representing the United States in the next Olympics. Each teenager shot 100 targets for each of the two days for a total of 200 targets. Teenagers with guns were lined up at fields for 3.5 miles.

The shotgun sports at the collegiate level and in the Olympics include skeet, trap and double trap. This is an ACU collegiate sport that offers opportunities and scholarships for participants. Member Spencer Hauri is attending the University of Illinois in September and plans to try out for the trap team.

To participate in this program, teenagers must demonstrate good grades, be able to legally possess firearms, not be on any psychiatric drugs, obtain an Illinois Firearms Owners Identification Card and be able to handle firearms in a safe and responsible manner. For more information, call Mr. Foster at (847) 830-0922.

Volleyball

September tryouts:ŒThe Sports Academy-Northwest at 355 Hastings Drive, Buffalo Grove will hold tryouts for the boys 2007-08 volleyball season at the following times.

• 15- and 16-year-olds (freshmen and sophomores) -- 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. today, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 13, 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 15, 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 16 and 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 19.

There will be a parent meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 20.

• 17- and 18-year-olds (juniors and seniors) -- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 16, and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19.

There will be a parent meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20.

The age definitions are:

• 18 and under (18U) -- Seniors born on or after Sept. 1, 1989, or players who were born on or after Sept. 1, 1988, and a high school student during some part of the academic year.

• 17 and under (17U) -- Juniors born on or after Sept. 1, 1990.

• 16 and under (16U) -- Sophomores born on or after Sept. 1, 1991.

• 15 and under (15U) -- Freshmen born on or after Sept. 1, 1992.

• 14 and under (14U) -- Eighth-graders born on or after Sept. 1, 1993.

• 13 and under (13U) -- Seventh-graders born on or after Sept. 1, 1994.

• 12 and under (12U) -- Sixth-graders born on or after Sept. 1, 1995.

Both the TSA tryout registration/waiver and the USAV tryout waiver and release must be completed by parent/guardian before tryouts.

For more information about TSA Club volleyball tryouts and the 2008 TSA Team USA travel program, call (847) 279-3934 or go to the Web site at www.tsanorthwest.com.