By Vivien Mao

Connor Donahue ’12 recently received bronze in the California division of the Junior Olympics in Skeet Shooting. On April 24, Donahue took part in his first competition in skeet, where he shot 150 targets total.

After medaling, it was decided that in July, he would go to the Colorado Springs Olympic Training facility to participate in the Junior Olympic Championships. Donahue has been shooting since he was in middle school and often goes airsofting with his friends as practice. He has been a police cadet in training for nearly a year and hopes to serve in the army when he finishes college.

Donahue was always interesting in shooting and has always found it enjoyable and different.

Training for a couple of months, Donahue has spent much time practicing in skeet shooting facilities and learning how to handle a pistol in shooting ranges.

As a police cadet, he receives training from his local station, and often patrols with police to gain experience in the field. Skeet shooting was not originally his main focus, as he started with it only last year. Donahue started with sporting clays, and then switched to skeet shooting after two years.

His coach told him to try out for the Junior Olympics with skeet shooting because sporting clays was not an Olympic sport. If he medals in the championships in Colorado, Donahue will be eligible to try out for the 2012 Olympics in London.

“I was really excited when I medaled in my first ever skeet competition,” Donahue said. “Getting to go to the national Junior Olympics is the beginning of a yearlong dream coming true.”