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!”

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.

Registration is Open!
2021 High School Shoot at College Nationals
October 9-10 at The Cardinal Center – Marengo, Ohio

Welcome to your 2021/2022 SCTP College National Championships,October 6-10 at the Cardinal Center in Marengo, Ohio.

Shoot offs only for perfect scores and we will try and have them shoot an extra few boxes immediately after they complete that event. Reverse long run will determine individual ties, shoot offs for team ties will be conducted at the grandstands.

We have added an extra day on the front end of this tournament to include more time for the Intl. Disciplines of Bunker Trap and I-Skeet. This will help us determine interest for future events and including more Intl. discipline events at these shoots.

Cost of events are as follows:

Trap/Skeet = $95 per person for the 200 target events.

Sporting Clays = $120 per person for 200 target event.

Bunker Trap / I-Skeet = $100 per person for 100 target event.

5 Stand = $45 per person for 100 target event.

HOA will include 200 target Trap, 200 target Skeet and 200 target Sporting Clays.

As always, team scoring will be used for HOA and Team awards in these disciplines!

We cannot allow 200 targets to be shot in the same day, all 200 target events are shot over 2 days!

We are expecting the events to be shot in consecutive days, like a Thursday/Friday…..Friday/Saturday……Saturday/Sunday.

When teams register to shoot on Thursday or Friday for their first 100, they will shoot their 2nd 100 that next day at the same time and same location. Please only register your athletes 1 time for each event.

When registering for Trap on Saturday, they will shoot that 2nd 100 the next morning as we want to be done with most shooting by noon/1pm on Sunday. Please see attendant when registering your team for the Sunday morning time and location.

Wednesday – International Disciplines of Bunker Trap and I- Skeet

Thursday/Friday – Options available include Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, Intl. Disciplines & 5-stand

Friday/Saturday – Options available include Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, Intl. Disciplines & 5-stand

Saturday/Sunday – Options available include Trap only.

What an almost perfect schedule might look like is this:

Team comes in on Wednesday and compete in the Intl. Disciplines.

Thursday, they shoot 1st 100 of Skeet (and maybe a side event of 5-stand)

Friday, they shoot their 2nd 100 of Skeet and maybe their first 100 of Sporting Clays

Saturday, they shoot their 2nd 100 of Sporting Clays and their 1st 100 of Trap

Sunday morning, they shoot their 2nd 100 of Trap and all done!

Teams can add the side events of Bunker, I-Skeet or 5 stand any day (except Sunday) but need to allow time to do that……

Due to travel restrictions by many teams, awards may be picked up after the event is completed and all scores and shoot offs have been finalized. We strongly encourage teams to pick up their awards before departing to save shipping costs and transportation issues.

We are working on the availability of ammunition at this event. Please watch for upcoming messages regarding costs and brands!

AWARDS: By division and by discipline.

Division I – 21+ athlete teams

Division II – 11-20 athlete teams

Division III – 10 or less athletes and new College Teams

Division IV – all 2-year colleges

PLEASE NOTE:

All athletes must be paid and registered prior to squading for this tournament. If an athlete is not paid or registered properly, they will not be able to be squaded!

If you have any questions, please contact any of us from the national organization for help!

Hope to see you all there!

SCTP National Staff