Mayer’s Strong Second Round Helps Oilers Gold Split Varsity Match With Bethalto

East Alton-Wood River Community High School’s Oilers Gold Co-ed Shotgun Shooting team came away from Cottage Hills with a split against Bethalto Varsity on Thursday, recording one win and one loss in a varsity matchup shot under clear skies and cool late-winter temperatures.

The decisive performance for the Oilers came in the second round, where East Alton-Wood River posted a 98-90 victory behind a leading effort from shooter Bentley Mayer. Mayer’s round two score of 23 targets set the pace for the squad and provided the margin the Oilers needed to secure the round win over Bethalto Varsity.

Conditions were favorable for consistent scores, with clear skies, light wind and temperatures topping out near 58 degrees in Cottage Hills. The calm air removed one of the sport’s biggest variables and placed a premium on focus and repeatable technique. In that environment, Mayer’s 23 was a standout total, anchoring an Oilers lineup that collectively found its rhythm in the second round after dropping the opening decision to Bethalto.

Bethalto Varsity claimed the other result in the two-round set, capitalizing on the first round to offset the Oilers’ late surge. Bethalto’s early edge ultimately balanced the overall match, leaving each side with one win on the day.

For East Alton-Wood River, the 98-90 second-round scoreline underscored the group’s ability to respond after an early setback. Mayer’s team-best 23 provided a spark, while the remainder of the rotation supplied the depth needed to push the Oilers ahead of Bethalto in total targets broken in round two.

The split result offers the Oilers a foundation to build on as the season progresses. With evidence of high-end scoring potential in Mayer’s performance and a strong collective second-round total, East Alton-Wood River will look to carry that momentum into its next competitions and aim for more complete outings across every round.