The Chillicothe FFA Trap AA Squad capped a successful 2025-26 season by winning the 2026 AIM Grand National Trap Singles Championship in Sparta, Illinois.
The squad first earned its trip to Nationals by winning the 2026 Paul Larsen Memorial State High School Trapshoot on May 2 at the Missouri Trapshooters Association range in Linn Creek. Chillicothe scored 478/500, tying West Plains for first. A tiebreaker gave Chillicothe the victory after the squad scored 123 in the final sub event compared to West Plains’ 122.
At the AIM Grand Nationals, nearly 1,500 youth trapshooters from across the United States and other countries competed. Chillicothe opened with a 486/500 in Round 1 despite temperatures reaching 103 degrees with a real feel of 125 degrees. The squad followed with a 489/500 in Round 2.
Braydon Cull led the team with a 199/200, including a perfect 100 straight in Round 2. Ryder Ficken shot 196, Brody Hollifield 195, Quinten Eskew 194 and Blake Anderson 191.
Cull finished as Junior AAA Class Runner-Up, while Ficken placed third in Junior B Class.
The combined scores earned Chillicothe first place in the FFA Squad division and the 2026 AIM Grand Nationals Trap Singles Overall Junior Squad Championship.
The Chillicothe FFA Trap Team had 42 members compete during the 2025-26 school year at area, district and state competitions. Coaches were Randy Plattner, Tony Burtch, Stephen Beck, Anthony Schreiner, Spencer Ficken, Brian Horton and David Eskew.
The five members that comprised the team for Nationals, plus Coach Randy Plattner shared the season experience.
Braydon Cull on the preparations for trap shooting
Brody Hollifield on the experience at the Missouri state competition
Ryder Ficken on what made this team successful
Quinten Eskew on the emotions during and after Nationals
Blake Anderson and Braydon Cull on the Chillicothe FFA coaching staff
Ryder Ficken and Braydon Cull on future aspirations for trap shooting
Coach Randy Plattner on the coaches’ perspective of the season