A group of young guns in Nueces County is defying stereotypes in a male-dominated sport of skeet and trap shooting.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — In the male-dominated sport of skeet and trap shooting, a group of young guns in Nueces County is defying stereotypes — one pull of the trigger at a time.
These rising stars aren’t just aiming at targets, they’re aiming to empower themselves and inspire others.
At the Corpus Christi Gun Club, a group of young shooters are redefining the future of competitive skeet and trap shooting.
Alanna Deleon is a senior at Calallen High School with Nueces 4-H Trap and Skeet.
“Won a little bit over I think $7,000 dollars in scholarships and prizes.”
Most recently she took home grand champion honors in modified 5-stand at the Houston Rodeo.
“It’s opened a world of opportunity for me to be exposed to other people, other course, other events and everything, I love it, I enjoy it, out here 4 times a week. I’m going to different shooting events every weekend,” Deleon said.
She’s among a new generation of shooters who have their sights set on more than just targets.
“It’s a women’s sport,” declared Hannah Hominick, who is also a senior at Calallen High School.
The 18-year-old picked up a gun four years ago after a knee injury changed her path in 2021.
“I’m a big believer in ‘everything happens for a reason,’ it led me to doing this sport,” said Hominick.
Now she’s challenging expectations.
“I’ve seen a lot of girls come out here and beat the guys. It’s empowering, and it’s also a lot of fun,” she said.
3NEWS also watched Tinley Green load her weapon and take shots at a clay.
She is 13 years old.
“We had some friends that had been asking us to join for a really long time. When I was in 4th grade, I was like half the size I am now, so when I got out here, I was really scared to shoot. Didn’t really like it at first,” Green admitted.
but now she’s thriving and racking up the ‘bling’ to prove it.
She was proudly wearing a 2025 finalist belt buckle from the Houston Rodeo.
“You have to think really fast to see where the target is going to go and track it really well. You definitely have to have a lot of effort put into it, lot of practice hours,” said Green.
Nueces 4-H Trap and Skeet Club manager Nicki Green is nothing short of proud.
“I’ve seen my kids participate in tons of things throughout their lives but I’ve never seen them build confidence like they build in this sport,” said Green. “Texas 4H started in 1908 with a little group of boys, and then in 1912 they added girls clubs, it wasn’t until the 60s they integrated those clubs, and kind of began to look a little more of what we see today.”
Today, half of the 4H members are girls and the numbers are climbing in the trap and skeet club as well.
“We have 85 shooters and 20 of those shooters are girls. What you see today is just a small representation of a really big club.”
Green has witnessing how the sport has evolved and said Nueces County is now home to the largest youth sports shooting club in Texas.
The coaching staff is strictly made up of volunteers.
“One thing I really love seeing as a parent when my kid started shooting, and I love to try and cultivate that as a club manager those older shooters really kind of taking those younger ones and showing them the ropes, helping them out,” she said.
With every shot, they’re developing skills and learning the value of teamwork as well as gun safety.
The Nueces County 4-H Trap and Skeet team will host the largest county shoot in Texas the first weekend of May which offers over $50,000 dollars in scholarships!
The 4-H program also emphasizes community service with the team regularly participating in clean-up efforts around the Corpus Christi Gun Club.
Green said it’s a blend of competition and community involvement that builds confidence in ways that extend far beyond the shooting range.
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