Freeze Trap Team grows into new home

Since starting in 2013, the Freeze Trap team has grown. Growth spurts throughout the years have necessitated changes with its shooting range arrangement, having seasons with as many as 40 student-athletes.

Its latest change? In Fall 2023, it will begin using the K-Bar Field as its new shooting range home, a private property owned by Steve and Karen Klopp located about two miles down 410th Ave in rural Karlstad—the Kick’n Up Kountry gravel road. The team begins its fall season at its new home on Sunday, September 17—a season that runs six straight weeks.

When it started in 2013, the team was shooting at the Thief River Falls Trap Club, not having its own range at that time. Thanks to fundraising efforts, in 2016, the team purchased its own thrower and call system. At that time, Jason and Patti Anderson of Newfolden invited the team to shoot in their yard and a trap house was built off the corner of their property.

In those early days, the team had a manageable roster size, getting through the team’s shooters in a few hours. As the team continued to grow—making it more difficult to operate the single trap house—it fundraised enough for another thrower/call system, resulting in a second trap house being built next to the first one.

As the team continued to grow, it needed an area to expand, one that provided much parking space. It found that in K-Bar Field—located on a gravel pit that provides wide open parking, good drainage, and a “picturesque view,” according to the team. It hopes to see more roster growth at its new home, but recognized its former home.

“We are thankful that we were able to stay at Anderson’s for seven years,” team officials wrote, “and we are grateful for the hospitality extended to the team for allowing us to stay as long as we could.”

The team—made up of athletes, coaches, support staff, and parents—scrounged to find a new home, one that fit its needs, temporarily or permanently. The team sent out some donation letters— an effort to raise funds for some malfunctioning and damaged equipment and to spread word about its need for a new home. It mostly publicized its need for a new home though via parents’ and staff’s word of mouth. Steve Klopp reached out to the team’s coach Cory Gustafson, telling Gustafson that he had a potential home for the team.

“After taking a look,” team officials wrote, “we knew that it would be an excellent location.”

Many area hands have gone into making this home a reality, providing donated services. Klopp arranged for Nathan Kraulik to excavate the site prior to the team moving its trap houses in and had his son, Bryar Klopp (a CHS employee), donate grass seed, fertilizer and planting for the team’s trap field. Over two days, Bryar planted, packed, fertilized, and picked rocks on the site.

Grandstrand Service Company trenched in underground wiring and Mattracks is working on a sign to place on the shipping container on the property that reads, “K-Bar Field—Home of the Northern Freeze Trap Team.”

Parents have also assisted as needed, spending a couple days over the summer to move houses and equipment. The two trap houses, mounted to cement slabs, were moved and placed at its new location. The shipping container, donated by Northwest Electric, was moved there to provide storage of supplies needed to operate remotely. A parent, Jason Anderson of Northwest Electric, helped with electrical needs.

“We are fortunate that we have a wide range of skilled coaches, parents and athletes on the team, which has been instrumental with the move,” team officials wrote. “It has literally taken a village to complete the move to Karlstad.”

They also recognized the Klopp family’s efforts.

“Steve and Karen Klopp have gone above and beyond,” team officials wrote, “to provide a place for the team to call home at no cost to the team.”

Currently, K-Bar is not open to public use, but will open for the team to use during its fall and spring seasons. Team officials appreciate the “amazing view” and the large parking space this new home provides to its growing team.

“Since this is the first season our team will be shooting at K-Bar Field, it’s hard to say what the reaction will be,” team officials wrote. “I feel that once our athletes and parent’s step on the field, our trap families will understand why this location was chosen.”

The team gave numerous words of thanks, including to: the student-athletes, parents, coaching and support staff, Jason and Patti Anderson, Steve and Karen Klopp, Nathan Kraulik, Northwest Electric, Grandstrand Service Company, Mattracks, CHS, and the Marshall County Central and Tri-County schools.

The Freeze also thanked all of those who donated to them this spring for their new thrower and call system, including: Karlstad American Legion, Karlstad Eagles Club, North Red River MDHA, Thief River Falls Chapter MDHA, Whitetails Unlimited, MCC Sports Boosters and TC Sports Boosters. The team also recognized those who have donated throughout the years, such as Underdahl Hardware Hank, Davidson Construction, Taggart Construction.

The team encourages those interested in joining to reach out to the team. Inquiries can be made through the school or a request can be sent to kamik@wiktel.com. All MCC/TC student-athletes are allowed to participate as long as they are at least 12 years old and have successfully completed firearm safety training. Athletes are responsible for arranging their own firearm, shells, and transportation. Fall registration is due by 12:00 pm on September 11, 2023.