The Fairmont Area trapshooters clinched the Class 9A conference championship Tuesday while simultaneously earning a state team bid during the Minnesota State High School Target League Trapshooting Championship meet in Alexandria.

Four of Fairmont Area’s marksmen also doubled their rounds during Friday’s state clay target competition on the heels of previously qualifying for the individual portion of the event at the Minneapolis Gun Club in Prior Lake.

Colby Grotte, who also will be competing in the 1 p.m. state individual shoot Friday, broke 98 birds to pace Fairmont Area’s winning conference total of 483 out of 500 in Alexandria two days ago.

Fairmont Area’s score of 483 also proved good enough to capture ninth place out of all the classes to merit a trip to Prior Lake on Friday. Blaine connected for a meet-winning 493 on Tuesday, with host Alexandria netting runner-up honors at 489.

Will Schellpeper produced a 97 to tie for eighth place overall for Fairmont Area. Schellpeper opened with a 23-25-48 before netting a 25-24-49 to earn a spot on the meet’s 50 straight club.

Max Seifried, Cass Davis, Noah Wedel and Jackson Francis each connected for 96 clays to earn a share of 14th place overall and round out Fairmont Area’s counting team totals of 98-97-96-96-96.

Francis merited special recognition on the 50 straight club by opening with a perfect 25-25 before closing with back-to-back 23s in the second round.

Colby Grotte, Jacob Bocock, Max Seifried, Tucker Bahr and Cass Davis will represent Fairmont Area in Friday’s 9 a.m. state team meet in Prior Lake, while Andrew Moeller and Jackson Francis will be the alternates.

9A Conference Results

Team Standings: 1. Fairmont Area 483; 2. Hermantown 480; 3. Park 480; 4. Hastings 479; 5. Lakeville South 479; 6. Bemidji 479; 7. Northfield 474; 8. Farmington 472; 9. Rosemount 470; 10. Pequot Lakes 468; 11. Owatonna 467; 12. Albany 457; 13. Andover 456; 14. Faribault 452; 15. Pine City 447.