Taking Aim at Greatness
By Lily Castillo, Digital Marketing Intern
From shooting hoops to shooting clay targets, José Alberto González Aranda proves that passions can hit unexpected targets. Having started his athletic journey playing basketball, he never imagined he would end up as a competitive athlete on the Texas Trap and Skeet team, one of RecSports’ 43 sport clubs. Originally from Tampico, Mexico, José’s love for the sport began when he visited an indoor shooting range with a friend while pursuing a degree in political science at New York University. An employee at the range suggested he try trap and skeet shooting if he was looking for something beyond simply shooting a standing target. Later, José found himself once again being encouraged to try out trap and skeet shooting but this time on the Forty Acres during orientation. José is currently a student at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs pursuing a degree in Global Policy Studies.
For those who have never heard of Trap and Skeet, it is a sport that practices competitive shooting where the goal of the shooter is to hit flying “clays” or targets with a shotgun. In trap shooting, clays are released from a singular machine, whereas in skeet shooting, they are released from two machines, where they intersect paths in the air. In trap and skeet shooting, the athlete obtains a higher score based on the amount of clays they are able to successfully shoot in total. Although he was not incredibly experienced with competitive shooting, the Texas Trap and Skeet team helped José quickly grow a passion for the sport. The team fostered an environment that pushed him to meet and determine his goals when it came to improving within the sport. José enjoys skeet shooting the most because of the excitement that comes from the complexity of having to shoot clays as they cross paths. Being surrounded by students who had such intense dedication to becoming better athletes motivated José to continue to improve and gave him the mindset to constantly better himself in regards to shooting competitively. His teammates assisted him in honing his skills, including bringing to light that he was left-eye dominant instead of right-eye dominant and giving constant feedback, which was key in his shooting technique.
Throughout his journey, there have also been challenges that his teammates have helped him overcome. Despite the fact that he is unable to purchase his own shotgun as an international student, he was still welcomed with open arms by the team, who lent him equipment and encouraged him to keep shooting. José discussed how gun violence is a prevalent issue in Mexico but how his involvement in the club has given him the opportunity to overcome some of the stigma surrounding guns in his hometown. Participating in Texas Trap and Skeet has helped him to see firsthand that shooting sports can be for everyone and “it can be a wholesome environment if you are doing things responsibly.”
The team provided José with numerous opportunities to strengthen his abilities as an athlete, but what truly kept him coming back time and time again was not just the pursuit of success, but the friendships he formed with his teammates along the way. It was the camaraderie and laughter that made all the difference. “It’s more of a community than a team,” he said, as he reflected on the times he spent with his teammates outside of practice. He thought back fondly on team karaoke nights and spontaneous hangouts that allowed them to bond. It was through genuine friendship and mutual support that his experience was made special.
Balancing his demanding graduate student schedule with his commitment to the sport, José is proof that with the right mindset, you can pursue your passions while staying on top of your studies. He believes that if you balance things correctly you are able to both have fun doing something you love in addition to focusing on other responsibilities. Joining a sport club is something he says can be beneficial for first-years and is something students shouldn’t be afraid of trying out. Like José, you do not need a ton of experience or knowledge to try out a sport club, just the willingness to experience something new! As he looks toward the future, José hopes to continue his journey with trap and skeet shooting beyond graduation, driven by both his love for the sport and the community that helped him get there.
Lily Castillo is a Digital Marketing Intern and a Program Assistant for the Sport Clubs at RecSports. She is a senior from Grand Prairie, Texas, studying Advertising at the Moody College of Communication.
