Student competes at 2016 Junior Olympics

Sawyer Del Fosse, Staff Reporter|August 30, 2016

Junior Robert Pike poses for photo during Junior Olympics

Nothing captivates the world more than the Olympics. Every two years, people from around the world drop what they are doing and get into the spirit of competition. But what if the Olympics occurred every year? For athletes that participate in the AAU Junior Olympic Games, it does.

The Junior Olympics is a national event that takes place annually in a different host city every year. To be selected to participate is an honor as many athletes do not get selected. However, one of Perry’s students was selected to compete in the 2016 Junior Olympic Games.  

Junior Robert Pike was a competitor in the 2016 Junior Olympic Games in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Pike’s event is called the International Trap. In this event, a clay pigeon is shot out of a bunker and the competitor must shoot and break the pigeon. Each athlete has five rounds to score the most points total by breaking as many of the pigeons as they can.

Pike was one of 41 athletes that competed in his event alone. Athletes from all over the nation participated in this event from various states such as Wyoming, Arkansas, Texas, and many more. There was a total of just over a dozen different states represented this year in International Trap. Head Coach Tom Slaughter said, “You need a certain score to qualify. You have to work if you want to get there.”    

Pike commented on his commitment and what it takes to reach the next level. “I’ve been doing this for a couple years,” Robert said, “and usually people do it for a lot of years. It takes practice and more practice.” Robert trains with Arizona Outdoor Sports (AOS) as part of a “squad.” This is what a team of shooters from the same organization are called. During the Junior Olympics, Robert and his squad compete as representatives of AOS.

Robert puts in over three hours of shooting practice a week to compete at the Junior Olympic level.  Scott Pike, Robert’s father, said,“We were really proud of him. It was his first year competing and he shot a personal high.” This is not the last the Olympics will see of Robert Pike.