I was raised in Wisconsin Dells, WI; tourist trap of the Midwest. My dad, Jerry Murphy, got me started trapshooting when I was legally old enough to hold a gun (12 years old). I shot my first ever round of trap at the trap range on the old Badger Army Ammunition Plant in Baraboo, WI. The second I pulled that trigger for the first time, I knew that I wanted to shoot as much as I can from that point forward.
I registered my first ever ATA targets at the Wisconsin Southwest Zone shoot at the Janesville Conservation Club in June of 1994. My first 25 straight came at the Iowa State Shoot later that summer. My first trophy was at the Grand that year; a special trophy presented by the Trapshooting Hall of Fame for first year sub-juniors. I shot an 88 in singles to earn it.
The following year, my dad took me to the Southern Grand American in Odessa, FL, where I won a few sub-junior trophies and it was there that I learned about the ATA All-American team and that I would need to win a bunch more trophies just like those to make that team. A couple more satellite Grands (Midwestern and Great Lakes), a few state shoots, and the Grand American provided me with enough trophies and enough points to make the 1996 Sub-Junior All-American Team.
The next year I became a junior, and earned a spot on my first of four Junior All-American Teams. I had many highs as a Junior and Sub-Junior shooter, but would soon learn that much of the success that I had was a result of having the opportunity to travel around the country on my parents' dime. I graduated high school and began my post-secondary education at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. After spending a few years bouncing from major to major, I finally found one I enjoyed, and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
I currently work for a highly respected financial services company in Milwaukee, where my focus is on software quality assurance.
Since college, I've had few opportunities to get my shooting career back on track, although I still manage to shoot some good scores from time to time. I earned the Wisconsin High Average Award for Doubles seven times in a nine year span. I was fortunate enough to win the Wisconsin Doubles Championship in 2004 and I was also named Co-Captain of the Wisconsin All-State Team (can't remember the year...2002???).
In 2000, I helped the Wisconsin Trapshooters Association (WTA) establish its presence on the internet by creating the first ever official website for the WTA. It launched in 2001 at the domain name of wisata.org, and I maintained it until 2007 when the WTA board decided to take it a different direction. The new WTA site is currently located at http://www.witrapshooters.com.
From 2004 to 2007, I followed in my father's footsteps by serving the shooters of Wisconsin as their ATA Delegate.
In 2007, I achieved my greatest trapshooting accomplishment. While at the Boxhorn Gun Club participating in the Southeast Zone shoot, I met my wife-to-be, Melissa Schim. Her parents, Rick and Debbie, owned the club at the time. Melissa and I have shot many targets together already, and we were married in September of 2010.
For three years I helped run the ATA shoots at the Boxhorn Sportsman's Club. It was nice to be back involved with the ATA to some degree. My goal is to be back shooting regularly and making state teams again within the next few years. It'll be a challenge to get back to that point, but I know it's something I will do.
Enjoy my blog!
Dan
