Sibling rivalry spurs All-State trap awards for Cash sisters

Sibling rivalries can sometimes bring out the best in athletes as each tries to better the other, and that’s what it’s done for Poplar Bluff trapshooting sisters Madison Cash and Hannah Cash.

The pair, with a nearly seven-year age gap, were recognized recently for their trapshooting skills over the last year, earning spots on the coveted 2020 AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) Missouri All-State Team.

For Madison, this is the second consecutive year she’s earned the All-State accolade.

Madison CashDAR/Paul Davis

“They’re getting the recognition they deserve,” said PBHS trap team coach Sandy Pike. “They put a lot of time and effort into it and practice more than required.”

Madison, a seventh grader at Poplar Bluff Junior High School, said “It feels good that I made it because I worked so hard. I got to brag to everyone about it, and I know it makes my dad proud.”

Hannah, a 2018 Poplar Bluff High School graduate and current Three Rivers College student, said this year’s award came as a bit of a surprise.

“Because I haven’t been shooting as much because of college, I never really expected it,” Hannah said of her place on the All-State team.

The drive to excel over each other, Pike said, keeps both shooters on their toes.

“They’ve been very competitive as long as I’ve known them,” Pike said. “They are both headstrong and butt heads on a regular basis.”

Both of his girls are “very competitive and work very hard to win,” said their father, Donald Cash. “Of course, it never hurts to win bragging rights over your sister.”

Madison, 12, began trapshooting when she was “8 or 9 years old,” following not only in Hannah’s footsteps, but also her even older brother, Joseph.

Just in the last year, Madison has placed first individually in her division at the Amateur Trapshooting Association (both singles and doubles) and AIM state shoots, while her squad earned a win at Poplar Bluff’s Spring Break ‘em event, a second place at the Paul Larson Memorial Shoot and third place at the MYSSA Shoot.

Even better, her coach said, is her score average has jumped 10 points in that time period.

“Madison is a very driven and competitive athlete, especially with her sister,” Pike said. “She works hard on her shooting and is constantly showing improvement, and within a year or two, she will be a force to be reckoned with.”

After earning a national championship in her division at the Scholastic Clay Target Program nationals as a high school freshman, Hannah continued to earn wins and awards, while also garnering a spot on the Scholastic Clay Target Program’s All-State Team in 2017.

Looking ahead, Madison has her sights set on her No. 1 goal: topping her brother and sister’s high scores.

“I just want to beat Joseph and Hannah’s scores,” she said bluntly.

Eventually, she said with a big smile, she’d “like to place at the SCTP Nationals, but if I tie Hannah, I’ll be so mad.”

Hannah, on the other hand, hopes to one day coach a trap team after she begins her nursing career. But she hasn’t forgotten the challenge lurking at home.

“She will never beat me,” she laughed, “because my No. 1 goal is to always stay on top.”