Ava Downs, a standout member of the Hillsdale College Shotgun Team, secured the gold medal in Women’s Trap at the 2025 USA Shooting Junior Olympic National Championships. The event was hosted at the John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center in Hillsdale, Michigan, bringing the nation’s top youth shotgun athletes to campus for two weekends of elite competition in June.
Downs, who hails from Muskego, Wisconsin, topped the women’s trap leaderboard after qualifying with a score of 113. She carried that momentum into the final, where she posted a commanding score of 40 targets to finish four shots ahead of silver medalist Olivia Krauss. Additionally, Joy Chen earned the bronze medal.
This win marks another major milestone in Downs’ rising career. In addition to her Junior Olympic title, she recently earned a spot on the 2025 Junior Pan American Games Trap Team and the USA Shooting Junior National Team. She’ll represent Team USA this August in Asunción, Paraguay. Earlier this summer, she was also crowned the Junior National Champion in Women’s Trap and won a silver medal in the open women’s division.
“Our shotgun athletes are skilled and diligent, and Ava has gone above and beyond to excel in her sport,” Hillsdale College Head Shotgun Coach Jordan Hintz said. “It is rewarding to see her efforts pay off.”
Athletes competing in the 2025 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Championships ranged from ages 12 to 21. Trap events took place June 20-22, followed by skeet from June 27-29. The top performers earned spots on Team USA or the Junior Olympic Squad, with those selected gaining access to future training camps and events.
Downs’ victory at home reflects both her individual drive and the continued rise of Hillsdale College’s nationally competitive shotgun program.
See the full results of the match at this link.
Learn more about Hillsdale College and USA Shooting.
