The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), the National Governing Body of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), is offering a scholarship program to reward deserving SCTP/SASP graduating seniors with needed college assistance. The main objective is to award as many scholarships as possible to qualifying SCTP / SASP graduating seniors.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) names Wayne Rasmussen as National Director of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP). Mr. Rasmussen was selected to lead the SSSF’s youth development program with over thirteen years of experience in youth shooting sports as a parent, coach and state advisor.
“My involvement with the SSSF began when my daughters competed in both the clay target and action shooting programs. My passion for growing youth shooting sports participation rests in the belief that the SSSF’s youth development programs instill good sportsmanship, competitiveness, cooperation, teamwork, and high moral character.”
Rasmussen looks forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at SSSF and growing the Scholastic Clay Target Program across the country. “I believe there is great potential for growth in youth shooting sports. Having a program that encourages athletes, trains coaches, and builds lasting partnerships with industry leaders is key to the continued success of the SSSF/SCTP/SASP.”
“We were fortunate to have over 50 applicants for our SSSF position,” stated Rick Leach, President and Executive Director of the SSSF. We interviewed six and Wayne’s passion for youth shooting sports shined through. We are very excited for Wayne to join our staff and continue to improve and grow our program.”
With Wayne’s experience in running large-scale shooting sports events, leading coach certification trainings and systems management we are excited for him to take the helm. His previous involvement ranges from introducing new athletes to the sport all the way to coaching seasoned athletes in Olympic disciplines. Rasmussen’s leadership will propel the Scholastic Clay Target Program and the SSSF as a whole into the 2024 shooting sports season.
Thanks to our sponsors for their support of the Top Gun Challenge, rewarding these multi-discipline athletes!
Eligible athletes shot Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays for SCTP clay target sports and Iron pistol, rifle, and 1911 pistol for SASP action disciplines.
As of September 1st, the 2024 season has begun, so athletes can start practicing for the 2024 Top Gun Challenge at Nationals, July 13-20th at the Cardinal Shooting Center.
The Scholastic Clay Target Program opens the door of opportunity for tens of thousands of youth athletes across the country. As a youth development program, participation in the SCTP instills many qualities that prepare those young athletes for the future. Its team format also provides a sport where there is no such thing as being benched. Young athletes who may not find success or attention in traditional sports often find a home in clay target sports where your size, strength, or gender have no basis in becoming a champion. For that same reason, Texas athlete Dylan Little was able to find continued purpose in his participation in the SCTP:
“My freshman year, I was in an ATV accident over Spring Break. I was on the A-team Allen Freshman football team, I was leading the SCTP High Overall for the season by a nice lead and really excited as covid had ended our previous season.
They took me to a local hospital and then had to transfer me to a Trauma 1 facility after x-rays – broken back, broken hand and broken nose. The surgeon performed a spinal fusion from my L2 to L4 with two rods and eight screws and I had a 12 week recovery period where I couldn’t do anything besides walk a little each day. no lifting, no shooting, no running, only short walks.
The doctor said ‘no more contact sports, ever.’ I asked him, “Can I continue competitive shooting?”, he said you should be once healed. I also had two temporary pins in my hand and had surgery on that. Naturally, your friends are there to support and encourage you but the outpouring of support from other teams, coaches, competitors was so humbling and amazing. This program and the people involved have taught me how I want to help others who may struggle with a setback. This sport is more than shotguns, it’s a community and a family. It teaches respect, compassion, commitment and I’m honored to be a part of it.
The day my 12 weeks ended, I grabbed my shotgun and went to shoot skeet. God’s plan is bigger than mine. I’m not happy I broke my back but when I say I’m grateful for SCTP – no one understands how grateful I am. It’s given me a place to belong, something I’m good at and can still be a part of team. A chance to meet other kids from around the state with similar interests and also a place for me to excel with a talent that isn’t the normal football, baseball, etc. The shooting sport itself teaches patience, gun safety, responsibility and leadership. I’m very thankful SCTP is available at my school and to have teachers willing to help continue this sport.
“It is just remarkable how much he has overcome since his accident, said Jason Anderson, Head Coach of the Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team. “He struggled last year quite a bit with his shooting. This past weekend he just won the Texas State HOA champion. I can say he’s back!”
Congratulations to Women’s Junior Olympic Skeet Champion Gracie Hensley and Men’s Junior Olympic Trap Champion Josh Corbin! This is a significant victory, considering Josh is generally considered to be an international skeet athlete.
USAS awarded two JO Squad vests/discipline to the highest qualification scores not already on Junior Team. SCTP athletes earning Junior Team vests at this competition: Gracie Hensley, Josh Corbin, Heidi Griner, and Abbey Wigh
2022 SCTP Team athletes in attendance:
SKEET: Josh Corbin, Kyle Fleck, Westley Kiter, Matthew Peterson, Gracie Marie Hensley, Emersyn Berck
Heidi Griner – 4th place, Open Women and Gold medal, Women 18 and Under
Caleb Cutler – Silver medal, Men 18 and Under
Sophia Bultema – Gold medal, Women Collegiate
*Of the 16 athletes on our 2022 team, 7 of them earned USA Shooting Junior Team vests this year and 4 of them are going to Junior World Championships in Changwon, Korea this week.
All recipients have been notified via the email contact provided to the SCTP National office on their application packet. Congratulations to our awardees and good luck on your next adventure!
Hello everyone, our numbers continue to climb as we reach the 10,000 registration mark for this years National Championships that are just 20 days away! Here are some more updates and information for you!
The Cardinal Center is looking for some experienced help in scoring and pulling for Skeet, Sporting Clays and Trap! Please reach out to them via the contact information on the attached flyer if you are interested! Why not make a few bucks while in Ohio?!
Make A Break is a squadded team event this year with some awesome prizes being awarded! Get your coach to get your team registered asap so you don’t miss out on this great opportunity and prizes along with an awesome Make A Break national champion team trophy!
Awards will be for the Champion team and runner up team this year! A $4,200 Pro Star over/under 12ga shotgun will be the prize for the top individual athlete this year! That gun can be seen at the Pacific East store front in vendor row!
If your team is looking for slots in any disciplines that are not currently available, please reach out to either Amanda Wondrash or April Carr for help! They will be shutting down the SHOT system on Tuesday, June 20th from approximately 9am – 3pm CST to combine squads, remove any duplicate athletes and open any other remaining slots in all disciplines that are needed. Please make sure all of your squads are built correctly and that all of your squadded athletes are attending!
Practice will be available for the International disciplines on both July 3rd and July 4th. We will have the times available in the next couple weeks and will update everyone by July 1st. Cost to practice will be $11 a round. All squading for International events need to also be done prior to July 1st so that we can get the random squading completed and posted!
Last competitor standing event on Wednesday, July 12th after opening ceremonies for all athletes and Pizza Party on Thursday, July 13th available to all coaches, parents and athletes at no charge!
– College Coaches, there is still a little room left to get your table at Hitters Building on College day, Friday July 14. Please email Tom at tom@mysctp.com to confirm your table space!!
At the 2023 USA Shooting National Championships, there were several important positions in play for the SCTP International Team – not only was this Part 1 of the 2024 Olympic Games selection, but the tournament also determined this year’s National Champions, the 2023 Pan American Games team, the 2023 World Championships team, and the 2023 Junior World Championships team.
Many SCTP International Team members will be representing the United States at the Junior World Championships in Changwon, Korea in July: Josh Corbin, Kyle Fleck, Caleb Cutler and Ramsey Bodeen. Alumni team members also earning slots to the Junior World Team include Madeline Corbin, Jordan Sapp, and Taylor Dale.
Other significant results from the SCTP International Team at 2023 USA Shooting National Championships:
Skeet
Gracie Marie Hensley – Bronze medal, Under 18 Women
Emily Rasmussen – Bronze medal, Women collegiate
Josh Corbin – Gold medal, Men Collegiate
Kyle Fleck – Silver medal, Men Collegiate
Westley Kiter – Gold medal, Under 18 Men
Trap
Cole Prince – Silver medal, Junior Men
Sophia Bultema – Gold medal, Women’s Paralympic
As the official youth feeder program for USA Shooting, the SCTP International Team focuses on preparing for high-level events. The team’s Head Coach, Terri DeWitt, a former Olympian herself, sets the team up for success by providing a breadth of additional training that includes sports science topics and realistic conditioning. Each July, SCTP International Team slots are determined by a shoot-off final at the SCTP National Championship.