**COLO SPRGS, CO (Dec 11, 2025)** – USA Shooting has officially named its 2026 Shotgun National Teams following the highly competitive 2025 Shotgun Fall Selection Match held in Tucson, Arizona. This event brought together the nation’s elite skeet and trap athletes, who navigated a challenging series of rounds, competing not only for roster positions but also for open-division medals.
The Tucson match took place under fluctuating desert conditions, adding to the intensity of the competition. Athletes faced close finals and dramatic shoot-offs, which highlighted the depth of talent present in the U.S. shooting community. Emerging juniors proved they could hold their own among seasoned competitors, making this selection match a pivotal benchmark for the first half of the 2026 international competition season.
Open Division Results & Key Match Notes
**Women’s Open Skeet**
Qualification leaders (250 targets): Sam Simonton- 244, Dania Vizzi- 242, Gracie Hensley- 238, Fourth-place tie: Julia Nelson, Kim Rhode, Madeline Corbin- 236
Finals podium:
Gold: Julia Nelson- 236/250 qual., 56 targets in final, won in shoot-off
Silver: Kim Rhode- 236/250 qual., 56 targets in final, runner-up in shoot-off
Bronze: Sam Simonton- 244/250 qual., bronze medalist
An exciting finish unfolded as Nelson and Rhode finished regulation locked at 56 targets each, leading to a nail-biting shoot-off where Nelson emerged victorious for gold.
**Men’s Open Skeet**
Qualification leaders (250 targets): Vincent Hancock- 247, Christian Elliott- 243, Dustan Taylor- 243, Adam McBee- 243, Hayden Stewart- 242, Conner Prince- 237
Finals podium:
Gold: Vincent Hancock- 247/250 qual., 59 targets in final
Silver: Christian Elliott- 243/250 qual., 57 targets in final
Bronze: Dustan Taylor- 243/250 qual., 49 targets in final
Hancock set the match’s standard early with the top qualification score, confidently closing the final with a robust performance.
**Men’s Open Trap**
Qualification leaders (250 targets): Glenn Eller- 238, Will Hinton- 235, Jack Brosseau- 234, Kaleb Horinek- 230, Cylas Prince- 226, Derrick Mein- 225
Finals podium:
Gold: Will Hinton- 235/250 qual., 38 targets in final
Silver: Glenn Eller- 238/250 qual., 35 targets in final
Bronze: Derrick Mein- 225/250 qual., 33 targets in final
With narrow margins, Hinton took gold after showcasing his skills in the final round, while Eller maintained strong performance for silver.
**Women’s Open Trap**
Qualification leaders (250 targets): Kayle Browning- 227, Taylor Dale- 224, Aeriel Skinner- 223, Rachel Tozier- 219, Ava Downs- 214, Abigale Wigh- 213
Finals podium:
Gold: Aeriel Skinner- 223/250 qual., 46 targets in final, won in shoot-off
Silver: Kayle Browning- 227/250 qual., 46 targets in final, runner-up in shoot-off
Bronze: Ava Downs- 214/250 qual., 35 targets in final
A shoot-off for gold was the highlight as Skinner and Browning ended tied at 46 targets, showcasing the tight competition.
2025 Fall National Team Selections
**Women’s Skeet National Team**
Sam Simonton, Dania Vizzi, Julia Nelson, Kim Rhode, Madeline Corbin, Gracie Hensley
**Men’s Skeet National Team**
Vincent Hancock, Christian Elliott, Dustan Taylor, Hayden Stewart, Adam McBee, Conner Prince
**Women’s Skeet Junior National Team**
Madeline Corbin, Gracie Hensley, Karsyn Ross, Chloe Chaleunsinh, Liana Cerra
**Men’s Skeet Junior National Team**
Aidin Burns, Westley Kiter, Jerrod Croley, Grant Hernandez, Shelby Smith
**Women’s Trap National Team**
Rachel Tozier, Ava Downs, Ryann Phillips, Kayle Browning, Loretta Christian, Taylor Dale
**Men’s Trap National Team**
Will Hinton, Glenn Eller, Jack Brosseau, Derrick Mein, Kaleb Horinek, William Browning
**Women’s Trap Junior National Team**
Ava Downs, Taylor Dale, Micaela Velasquez, Esther Cui, Heidi Griner
**Men’s Trap Junior National Team**
Kaleb Horinek, Tony Meola, Ethan Hemsath, Max Hatfield, Ryan Brown
**Emerging Talent Highlights**
The Tucson Selection Match truly showcased the strength of upcoming athletes, with several juniors making significant strides:
Ava Downs achieved dual selection to both the Women’s Trap National and Junior Teams while claiming an open-division bronze.
Taylor Dale secured spots on both Women’s Trap teams after her strong qualification performance, asserting her status within the ranks.
Kaleb Horinek made notable progress by joining both Men’s Trap teams, demonstrating his rapid development at the senior level.
Madeline Corbin and Gracie Hensley also rose to both Women’s Skeet teams, pointing to their sustained upward trajectory in the sport.
Kayle Browning and Ryann Phillips reaffirmed their competitiveness, further solidifying their positions within the national team framework.
Competing in Tucson posed its own set of challenges, as athletes had to contend with changing light conditions, gusty winds, and even sporadic rain throughout the week.
**Looking Ahead**
The National Teams are set to be the backbone of Team USA’s shotgun roster in upcoming ISSF competitions during the 2026 season. With a mix of experienced champions and promising newcomers, the U.S. is gearing up for a challenging international landscape.
The selection process for the 2026 National Team rosters was influenced by results from both the 2025 Hillsdale National Championship and the Tucson Selection Match, laying the groundwork for international selections at the first two ISSF World Cups in Tangier, Morocco, and Almaty, Kazakhstan. Additionally, junior international teams were determined through a combined evaluation of results from these two important competitions, paving the way for participation in major upcoming events.
**About USA Shooting**
USA Shooting is a non-profit organization, governed by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, dedicated to the growth and development of Olympic and Paralympic shooting sports. Established in April 1995, the organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, boasting a dedicated team focused on fostering the sport’s growth at all levels.