The 2026 SCTP International Team
The SCTP has long been committed to developing youth athletes through safe, structured, and competitive shotgun sports. In the Summer of 2017, the SCTP International Team came to life in Colorado Springs, CO at the SCTP International Nationals with the intention to give young athletes competition experience and build their skills at a higher competitive level. Through these opportunities we have been able to help develop Olympic-path athletes. Taking the top 4 Men and top 4 Women from our International Nationals (held annually at Cardinal Shooting Center the week prior to SCTP Nationals in July) we create a team of athletes with the same mindset to continue growing their shooting career and represent both the SCTP and Team USA. Our goal is to give them the experience and resources necessary to excel at the next level of this sport.
We are excited to announce our 2026 SCTP International Team! Congratulations to the following athletes, your hard work and dedication to the sport has truly paid off! Each athlete went home after the tournament with 7 flats of Winchester ammunition and will also receive a Castellani Shooting Vest. A big Thank You to our sponsors that help make this happen and to Coach Terri Wentzel who coaches the athletes and offers her expertise throughout the year.
“This opportunity has given me tremendous confidence and has reinforced my belief that with hard work and dedication, I can accomplish whatever is put in front of me. My favorite SCTP memory came this year when I made the International Team, which had been my biggest goal for the season.” -Kyle Smith
International Trap Team:
Kyle Smith, Vaughan Chamblin, Ayden Pollock, Zeke Alexander, Miranda Bernau, Sally Brown, Zoe Versluys, Savannah Joerndt
International Skeet:
Kathrine Schmidt, Kaela Hinze, Luke Johnson, JD Devaris, Rylan Culpepper, Ryland Helms
“This is something I’ve been working toward for years, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that hard work pay off.” – Zeke Alexander
Athletes, parents, and coaches alike have had the immense pleasure of having Coach Terri Wentzel lead our International Team. She began shooting in the late 1980s and spent 20 years with the Army Marksmanship Unit. As a six-time U.S. National Champion with 16 World Cup medals and an Olympic appearance, she offers invaluable knowledge taking our youth to the next level. With a Master of Sport Science, Sport Coaching from the United States Sports Academy, Wentzel offers enhanced knowledge for the clay target competitor at the highest level.
Recognizing the importance of the SCTP in funneling athletes into the USAS pipeline, we sought to create additional opportunities for shooters with Olympic aspirations. The team serves as a support system for rising stars, providing support in the form of ammo, USAS event entry fees, training camps, individualized coaching, and of course, a Castellani vest with “USA” printed across the back. For junior shooters considering what comes after SCTP, the path is clear: SCTP Nationals → International Team → USA Shooting Selection Matches → Junior National Team → International Competition. The SCTP International Team is where junior shooters stop thinking nationally and start thinking globally. And for many athletes, it’s the first true step toward wearing “USA” on their vest.
Responding to a surge of interest in the International clay target disciplines, the Scholastic Clay Target Program in conjunction with the MidwayUSA Foundation hosted a “Try the Bunker” night on Monday and Tuesday of SSSF Nationals welcoming all that were able to attend to shoot on the International Trap fields and get a feel for what Bunker is. Many athletes, coaches and parents also had the opportunity to experience the “Mini Bunker”. The Mini Bunker is one specially designed trap machine inside a small bunker that imitates the angles and speed of a traditional bunker at a fraction of the cost ($6,000 plus lumber). Teams (or Gun Clubs) are able to learn more about bringing Olympic Training to their home range by contacting 3GE LLC at 978-270-8300.
