USC Aiken
USC Aiken Shotgun Team Signs Newest Member
Aiken, SC (03/02/2020) — The University of South Carolina Aiken's growing shotgun team boasts one more member for the 2020-2021 roster, Brooke D. Paquin from Edgemoor, SC.
"We are very excited to welcome Brooke into our Pacer family," said Alex Richardson, Class of '19, who founded the team and now serves as coach.
"Brooke is a very talented competitive athlete in the clay target community, and we can't wait for her to join the team."
Paquin has won numerous state championship titles and high-overall wins through the junior and senior varsity divisions in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), South Carolina Youth Shooting Foundation (SCYSF) and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) clay target events related to trap, skeet and sporting clays.
"Participating in shooting sports has probably been the most fulfilling thing that I have ever done," says Paquin.
"Most of my close friends come from the youth shooting world. I have built relationships that will hopefully last a lifetime."
This student-athlete started shooting competitively in the 8th grade and has been a member of the Lewisville High School Sporting Clay team located within the Chester County School District. She also competes with the Featherhorn Young Guns, a private gun club which takes part in SCTP events.
Paquin will use the scholarships she has earned through shooting to continue her academic and shooting careers as a USC Aiken Pacer. She recently earned more than $3,500 in scholarships as both the skeet and trap champion at the 2020 SCDNR Ladies School Division High Overall SC State Tournament and recipient of the 2019 SCYSF All State Scholarship.
The accomplished shooter has achieved and earned 25 straight patches in all three disciplines of clay shooting, with one skeet patch coming at Nationals in Marengo, Ohio. She also holds a strong 5th place finish at the 2019 SCTP Nationals in Ohio in the high school ladies sporting clays division. Paquin was honored to be a 2019 SC All-State Team Member.
A natural athlete, the incoming Pacer has successfully recovered from open heart surgery and scoliosis repair surgery and has persevered toward her goal of becoming one of the top shooters in South Carolina.
"I have learned so much about myself through competition. From what I have been through in my life, I have also learned that there is no such thing as failure, just temporary setbacks," Paquin said.
"Anything can be accomplished through hard work and perseverance."
Aside from the shooting sports, Paquin is a leader in her school and community.
Throughout high school, she has been a Beta Club member. Shooting is not her only athletic skill, she participated on 2017-2018 1A State Championship volleyball team as libero, a specialized defensive position. Paquin is a member of the Edgemoor ARP Church and has actively participated in the youth group and assisted with the Depending on God young adult team. She has participated in the choir at Edgemoor ARP as well. She works at the Front Porch restaurant, serving farm-to-table fare. She also volunteers with sporting clay tournament setup and registration at Moree's Sportsman Preserve.
Her parents, Andy and J.J. Paquin; sister Wesleigh Paquin; Lewisville High School Principal Tammy Snipes and many friends, team members and Paquin's extended family members joined her and Richardson for the signing ceremony in her high school.
"We are always excited to recruit members who grew up competing in the youth shooting sports and wish to continue at the collegiate level," explained Richardson.
USC Aiken Shotgun Team aims to bring students together with similar interests in the competitive clay target sports. The coach and mission of the team encourage education and competition, teaching new skills and striving for perfection to compete with the best in the sport.
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The University of South Carolina Aiken’s growing shotgun team boasts one more member for the 2020-2021 roster, Brooke D. Paquin from Edgemoor, SC.
The University of South Carolina Aiken’s growing shotgun team boasts one more member for the 2020-2021 roster, Brooke D. Paquin from Edgemoor, SC. Her parents, Andy and J.J. Paquin; sister Wesleigh Paquin; Lewisville High School Principal Tammy Snipes and many friends, team members and Paquin’s extended family members joined her and Alex Richardson, USC Aiken Shotgun Team coach, for the signing ceremony in her high school.
USC Aiken
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