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Caleb Messmer
Allow me to introduce you to a young man who didn’t let a severe physical condition hold him back. Caleb Messmer is a super young man I had the pleasure to meet with and get to know just a little and really enjoyed hearing his stories and about his achievements at such a young age.
Around the age of 13-14 Caleb, just like so many others his age, was playing sports and doing a lot of running. But Caleb was having trouble keeping up with the rest of his teammates and was struggling to get enough air. He lovingly gained the nickname of “papaw” from his friends for his inability to keep up.
Turns out Caleb had a condition called “Pectus Excavatum”. This condition is where the sternum of the chest sinks in, mashing the lungs and heart making it very difficult for Caleb to exert his self and have enough air or heart capacity to maintain what he is asking his body to do.
In 2019, Caleb had surgery to insert two rods into his chest under the sternum in order to hold it up away from the heart and lungs. Since having the surgery Caleb has done great. He has been able to continue to pursue his passion, trap shooting.
Where did Caleb get his love of trap shooting you might ask? From his mother, Erica Messmer. That’s right, mom was a trap shooter. Erica grew up on and around the Sportsmen’s Club in Butler with her father and took an interest herself which trickled down to her son. Which will probably continue to trickle on down from generation to generation. That’s what is so great about trap shooting; it’s a family sport.
Erica was teaching the art of trap shooting to 4-H kids, including Caleb. At some point, he began teaching the classes as Erica stated, “No kid wants to listen and learn from an old lady, but they’ll listen to Caleb.” So she turned over the class to him. He is a very quiet young man, so for him to teach a class was extremely out of his comfort zone. The only way he could do this is if trap shooting was his passion.
It was at this point that some of the members told mom that it was time for Caleb to begin shooting regularly at the Sportsman’s Club. He was 14 years old. He could still shoot at 4H and at the Sportsman’s Club.
Trap shooting is not an inexpensive sport and Caleb does what he can to help. He reloads his own shells but even at that there’s the cost of gun powder and other supplies needed to build the shells; however, Mom has made sure Caleb could shoot. It may have been hard but she’s done it as a single parent.
At the age of 16, Caleb got involved with the AIMS program. The AIMS program is the youth version of the Amateur Trapshooting Association. It was with the assistance of this program between the age of 16-17, that he blossomed.
This is also when Caleb was approached one night at the Sportsman’s Club by Clark Hammond. He wanted to work with Caleb and, according to Caleb, told him, “I don’t just take anyone under under my wing”.
Caleb stood still and listened to make sure he was finished then said “okay.” They met every Friday night afterwards until Hammond had shoulder surgery that sidelined him.
There are major events in trap shooting, just like in any other sport and they are very well attended.
Caleb shot 100 straight on August 2020 in Butler, which is a perfect score. He shot a 94 in Middletown. His favorite place to go and shoot is Berea.
Caleb was on the cover of Trapping USA and and won the title of Junior handicap championship. This was by vote and he and his mom would love to thank everyone who had a part in voting for Caleb.
Caleb and two friends went onto their post to shoot in Berea one day in 2020 and Caleb made the statement, “It doesn’t matter who gets first and second; we just gotta get first and second”. The trio of friends walked off of their post with these awards: Jackson Reece-high overall, Preston Phillpot–winner Jr division, Caleb Messmer – runner up, Jr division.