Abilene ISD -

At just 17 years old, Micaela Velasquez is already one of the best female trap shooters in the country. The Abilene ISD junior recently won a spot on the United States Women’s National Team and the U.S. Women’s Junior National Team, and she has her sights set on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Given her recent performance at the U.S. Championships, that dream is well within reach.

Velasquez–who goes by M.J.–began her journey to becoming an elite shooter at nine years old when she was looking for an extracurricular activity as a member of a local 4-H Club. She tried archery and air rifles but didn’t feel a strong connection.

Then, someone suggested shooting shotguns, and she was hooked.

“I thought, ‘Yeah, that sounds fun,’“ said Velasquez, who was a student at Bassetti Elementary School at the time. “After I hit my first target, I was hooked. I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I knew it would be my personality from that point on.”

She began practicing at nine but became more serious about her new hobby in fifth grade while she was a student at AISD’s Center for Innovation. She didn’t win the first time she competed against other shooters, but it didn’t take long for that first victory. Between fifth and sixth grade, she won 30 belt buckles, signifying a tournament win. She was climbing the national rankings for her age group. And she was putting other competitors on notice that she wasn’t entered to have fun – she was there to win.

“I distinctly remember one summer we were at a competition in Clyde, and this kid was saying, ‘I don’t want to shoot against her. Don’t make me go against her,’” Velasquez said. “I was the first of my friends to hit a target, which gave me more drive to do well.”

Since then, Velasquez has claimed approximately 100 titles in competitions across the globe. Her greatest accomplishment was in January in West Palm Beach, Florida, when she qualified to represent the United States on two national teams: the Women’s Open trap shooting team and the Women’s Junior National trap shooting team. 

Instead of enjoying warm, dry weather, Florida was hit with heavy rain throughout the competition, including one day when Velasquez said, “It felt like a full-on monsoon” – but she stayed focused, placing third in her age division (18 and Under) and fifth in Open Women. 

In the Women’s Open final, Velasquez finished fourth. Unaware of what was at stake, she was stunned when her father texted her afterward, congratulating her on making the national team.


“I had to fact-check him to make sure he was giving me the correct information,” she said. “I double-checked, and sure enough, I made both teams.”

Her new status means plenty of travel. This spring, she’ll compete with the National Team in Argentina, Peru, and Cyprus. The possibility of attending the World Championships in India later this year is still up in the air, but she’s preparing as if she’ll be on that roster as well. The reality of her achievement sank in when she started receiving emails from USA Shooting about podium suits, vests, shoes, and travel logistics. 

“That’s when I realized I had made the team,” Velasquez said. “I’ll be with some of the best shooters in the world. I didn’t think about that until I looked back at how far I’ve come in the last few years.”

Despite her demanding training and travel schedule, Velasquez remains an engaged student. She is the Abilene High School FFA vice president, and in true competitive spirit, decided to challenge herself by raising and showing a lamb named “Don Juan.”

“I just wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something new and different,” she said. “We’ve had livestock, so I knew how to care for cattle. But a sheep is entirely different for me. It’s a foreign language, so I learned it while caring for Don Juan.”

Agriculture Teacher Cindy Easley wasn't surprised by her student's desire to expand her horizons and get out of her comfort zone.

“Micaela is an exceptional human being,” Easley said. “She got involved with Operation Stockshow for special needs students when we started that this fall and significantly impacted those kids. She is constantly thinking about others before herself. Making those two national teams is a huge deal; I’m very proud of her.”

Looking ahead, Velasquez is considering attending Texas A&M to major in ag business while competing on the school’s club shooting team. She’s also enrolled in a drone course at ATEMS, already thinking about using drones (the new wave in crop fertilization) to fertilize crops.

But her biggest goal remains wearing the red, white and blue of the United States and competing for her country in Los Angeles during the 2028 Olympic Games. It’s not a far-fetched dream for a young woman who already owns national records for her age group, with the promise that she’ll only get better as she gains more experience.

“My ultimate goal is to make the Olympics as soon as possible,” Velasquez said. “My dad hates to fly, so if I make the 2028 team, he can drive to Los Angeles. I believe my future is bright in shooting as long as I keep improving. Hopefully, I’ll have the talent and skill by 2027 and 2028 that I’ll be very confident going into the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games. To have the chance to be part of an Olympic team would be incredible, and that’s what motivates me.”