Photo submitted T.J. Wehler is now an avid trap and skeet shooter after being introduced to the activity through participation on the Trap Team at Elk County Catholic High School.

Wehler has been shooting trap and skeet for over two years and was first introduced to the activity through the Trap Team at Elk County Catholic High School.

“I like the outdoors and it seemed like a good way to get outside and have fun,” Wehler said of why he initially decided to take part in the program.

Wehler noted that after he started participating in trap and skeet his father, Tom, also began shooting as well and now their mutual interest provides them with another activity that they can participate in together. Both Wehler and his father were members of the Veolia trap and skeet team last year.

Wehler added that his current personal best scores are  49 out of 50 in trap and 45 out of 50 in skeet.

During trap and skeet season, Wehler explained that he tries to make time to go practice at the St. Marys Sportsmen’s Club every Sunday.

Wehler also expressed a hope that more younger people will take advantage of the trap program at Elk County Catholic.

“It is mostly older people [participating in trap and skeet right now] but because of the high school program there are some young kids that are getting started in it,” Wehler said.

Currently a senior at Elk County Catholic, Wehler noted that he hopes to continue his involvement with trap and skeet in college.

“I’m hoping I can find a field down by Clarion, where I’m going to go to college, so I can shoot on the weekends or come home and shoot,” Wehler said.

Wehler also played football throughout his four years at Elk County Catholic.

“I started [playing football] halfway through my freshmen season because my friends talked me into it,” Wehler said. “It was a good decision. I decided to stick with it because I think it helped me grow up a little bit and become a better person.”

This past season Wehler played on both the offensive and defensive lines.

“I had a great season playing under Travis Skrzypek. I really enjoyed my time there,” Wehler said. “I would say the football program helps you build character because it teaches you self discipline. It taught me that if something is worth starting, it is worth finishing.”

In particular, Wehler noted that he enjoyed helping out with the 1st and 10 program.

“Through the 1st and 10 program we help area youth become interested in the Elk County Crusader football program by teaching them a couple basic fundamental skills,” Wehler said. “I worked with the linemen and we did work down at the sled teaching the little kids some of the drills we did, including how to block and pick up fumbles.”

Wehler is also a member of the outdoor club at Elk County Catholic, having recently participated in service projects including picking up trash at Benzinger and Memorial parks and holding a pheasant stocking at the St. Marys Sportsmen’s Club.

He also volunteered for several years with the Elk Expo at the Elk County Fairgrounds.

“I would help out a lot with the tents and getting vendors to their locations,” Wehler said.

He also appears in several photos in the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors GO magazine.

Wehler currently works part time at Keystone Diversified Pipe Supply in St. Marys doing shop maintenance and deliveries. He also enjoys golfing and playing intramural basketball.

T.J. is the son of Tom and Carla Wehler of St. Marys and has a younger sister, Erica. He is also the grandson of Luke and Katty Wehler and Doodge and Char Vollmer.

After graduating from Elk County Catholic, Wehler plans to attend Clarion University and major in business management.