Shoot From The Hoop

Ep. 21 - Derrick Mein - Olympic Trap Shooter/Tokyo 2020/Paris 2024 - Episode from 2024 post-Olympics

This episode is a re-release of an interview with 2024 Olympian, Derrick Mein. Derrick just returned home from Paris fresh off his 5th place finish in Men's Trapshooting.  "Derrick grew up on a small farm in southeast Kansas and developed a love of the outdoors at an early age tagging along with his dad while quail and deer hunting. He started in sporting clays at age eight, joining his dad in a small league at a local club and began developing his skills as a competitive shooter. The shooting sports earned him a scholarship to Lindenwood University. While there, he was on dual scholarship for baseball and the shotgun team. After a couple years, he transferred to Kansas State University to pursue a degree in Animal Science, graduating in 2008. While at KSU, he won the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Championship, a format that includes international trap, international skeet, American skeet, American trap, and sporting clays. After college, he moved to Ohio where he designed and managed Cardinal Center Sporting Clays. Having successfully getting the facility up and going, he took the chance to move closer to home to manage Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kansas. During his years in the shooting sports, Derrick has competed in many different disciplines, including sporting clays, skeet, trap, international trap, and helice, winning national titles and earning Team USA honors in helice, international trap, and sporting clays. Still to this day, Derrick enjoys shooting with his father and is regularly seen competing with him around the country in sporting clay events. Derrick had eight International medals at the time and competed in his second Olympic Games in Paris. In this episode we explore the passion for excellence that transcends all careers. We discuss work/life balance, planning, preparation, execution, the mental game, how to deal with disappointment, how to "finish", and Derrick's plans for 2008. An enlightening view of the competitive world of an Olympic athlete - both mental and physical! Enjoy!

Ep. 20 - Gebben and Karen Miles - Championship Pedigee, Part 2!

Gebben and Karen Miles: Championship Pedigree, Part 2! Host: Jeff Jensen 🔥 Episode Overview On this Part 2 episode of Shoot from the Hoop, host Jeff Jensen sits down with one of the most accomplished couples in sporting clays—Gebben and Karen Miles—fresh off an extraordinary showing at the World Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio. Karen Miles made history as the Lady World Champion, delivering a dominant performance and becoming the first female ever to qualify for the Super Final at a World Championship—an achievement that redefines what’s possible in the sport. Gebben Miles continued his legacy of excellence, finishing on the podium with a Silver Medal, reinforcing his status as one of the top competitors in the world. Together, they offer insight into elite-level preparation, mental discipline, and what it takes to perform on the biggest stage in sporting clays. 🏆 Featured Guests Karen Miles • 2026 Lady World Champion – World Sporting Clays Championship (San Antonio) • First female in history to qualify for a World Championship Super Final • Known for consistency, composure, and precision under pressure Gebben Miles • Silver Medalist – 2026 World Sporting Clays Championship • Multiple-time national and international champion • Widely regarded as one of the most technically sound shooters in the sport

Ep. 19 - Gebben and Karen Miles: World Championship Pedigree, Part 1!

🔥 Episode Overview On this episode of Shoot from the Hoop, host Jeff Jensen sits down with one of the most accomplished couples in sporting clays—Gebben and Karen Miles—fresh off an extraordinary showing at the World Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio. Karen Miles made history as the Lady World Champion, delivering a dominant performance and becoming the first female ever to qualify for the Super Final at a World Championship—an achievement that redefines what’s possible in the sport. Gebben Miles continued his legacy of excellence, finishing on the podium with a Silver Medal, reinforcing his status as one of the top competitors in the world. Together, they offer insight into elite-level preparation, mental discipline, and what it takes to perform on the biggest stage in sporting clays. 🏆 Featured Guests Karen Miles • 2026 Lady World Champion – World Sporting Clays Championship (San Antonio) • First female in history to qualify for a World Championship Super Final • Known for consistency, composure, and precision under pressure Gebben Miles • Silver Medalist – 2026 World Sporting Clays Championship • Multiple-time national and international champion • Widely regarded as one of the most technically sound shooters in the sport 🎯 Key Topics Covered • Breaking barriers: Karen’s historic Super Final run • Competing at the highest level as a couple • Mental game strategies for championship performance • Lessons learned from the World Championship stage • Target setting, preparation, and adapting under pressure 💬 Memorable Takeaways • “History is made when preparation meets opportunity.” • “At the highest level, the difference is often mental—not mechanical.” • “Thoughtful target setting reveals the best shooters in the world.” 📣 Connect & Follow Follow Shoot from the Hoop for more conversations on FITASC and Sporting Clays—covering competition, mindset, and the pursuit of peak performance.

Ep. 18 - 2026 World Sporting Clays Championship

Shoot from the Hoop – 2026 World Sporting Clays Championship Review (San Antonio) Jeff Jensen’s Shoot Review of the 2026 World Sporting Clays Championship in San Antonio evaluates the event through the lens of the Peak Shooter Experience Hierarchy—where championship performance meets championship execution. At the top of the pyramid was elite competition. Main Championship Podium 🥇 Braxton Oliver – Gold Medalist 🥈 Gebben Miles – Silver Medalist 🥉 Derrick Mein – Bronze Medalist Historic Ladies Champion Performance 🏆 Karen Miles – Ladies Champion Karen won by 11 targets and qualified for the World Sporting Clays Super Final, becoming the first female ever to achieve that milestone. A breakthrough moment for the sport. Peak Shooter Experience Review A world championship should deliver more than medals: • Safety first • Thoughtful target setting • Efficient squad flow • Strong logistics • Shooter comfort and hospitality • Prestige worthy of the title Final Word Congratulations to National Sporting Clays Association for putting on a truly world-class event. San Antonio showcased elite champions, historic performances, and the kind of atmosphere that reflects the very best of sporting clays.

Ep. 17 - Scott Cusanek - Pinnacle Sports

Shoot from the Hoop host, Jeff Jensen, is joined by Scott Cusanek, a highly respected figure in the sporting clays world and owner of Pinnacle Shooting Sports.  Scott is also widely recognized as an accomplished sporting clays shoot director and organizer, helping lead and execute successful state championships, regional events, and major competitive shoots. Known for his passion for the game, deep technical knowledge, and commitment to growing the sport, Scott has played a major role not only in coaching shooters, but also in creating top-tier tournament experiences for competitors at every level. Through Pinnacle Shooting Sports, Scott combines elite instruction, equipment expertise, mental-game strategy, and real-world competition insight to help shooters perform at their best. His unique perspective—from both the competitor side and event management side—gives him rare insight into what it takes to succeed. In this episode, we discuss course design, tournament operations, coaching philosophy, common shooter mistakes, gear setup, and what separates good shooters from great ones. If you love sporting clays, competition culture, and learning from leaders in the game, this is one you won’t want to miss.