Oilers Maroon Falls at Jersey-Calhoun Despite Steiner’s Strong Showing

East Alton-Wood River Community High School’s Oilers Co-ed Shotgun Shooting squad opened competition at Jersey-Calhoun with a tough setback Thursday in Cottage Hills, dropping a 2-0 decision in the overall team scoring. Oiler Maroon fell by round scores of 104-48 and 99-59, unable to keep pace with a consistent Jersey-Calhoun lineup despite several bright individual efforts.

Jersey-Calhoun set the tone early in the first round, steadily building a lead as its top shooters stacked hit after hit. The hosts closed that opening round with a 104-48 advantage, putting Oiler Maroon in a deep hole in the match standings. While the Oilers showed flashes of rhythm on the line, scattered misses prevented a sustained push in the early going.

Oiler Maroon responded with a stronger performance in the second round, improving from 48 to 59 birds broken as the team settled into the conditions on a clear, cool evening that ranged from a high of 68 degrees down toward the mid-30s. The Oilers’ adjustments and tighter focus were evident, but Jersey-Calhoun maintained control, again closing on the century mark in hits and closing out the match 99-59 in the second round to secure the 2-0 result.

Individually, Henry Steiner provided the highlight for Oiler Maroon, leading the squad with 30 birds broken across the match. Steiner’s consistency helped keep the Oilers competitive within flights and provided a key reference point as coaches evaluated early-season form. His performance stood out on a night when every made target was at a premium against a deep and efficient Jersey-Calhoun roster.

Behind Steiner, several Oilers logged valuable rounds as the group worked through the first away test on the schedule. While exact totals for the rest of the lineup were not immediately available, the incremental team jump from 48 to 59 hits in the second round reflected improved timing and comfort on the range. The clear skies and calm, windless conditions placed the emphasis squarely on execution, offering little margin for mental lapses or mechanical mistakes.

For East Alton-Wood River, the outing at Jersey-Calhoun serves as an early measuring stick for the varsity coed squad. With another event scheduled against Bethalto Varsity in Cottage Hills, the Oilers will look to build on Steiner’s performance, carry over the late-round improvements and close the gap in total birds broken. The match provided a clear picture of the consistency required to contend in upcoming competitions and set the foundation for targeted adjustments on the practice range.