| Youth Shooting Teams Hauling Home the Hardware
ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Youth shooting teams from 10 states earned national honors, trophies and scholarship awards this weekend at the Scholastic Clay Target Program's (SCTP) National Skeet and Sporting Clays Championships.
The two-day tournament, held at Rochester Brooks International Trap and Skeet Club, was the largest skeet and sporting clays championship in SCTP history. Eighteen states were represented with 217 youngsters competing in skeet and 172 in sporting clays.
In both shotgun disciplines, competition was staged in four divisions based on shooting experience and school grade.
"The talent is so extraordinary, it's easy to forget how young these athletes are," said Zach Snow of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, national coordinator of SCTP. "This weekend, we saw a number of world-class shooters in the making, and a few who are already there."
For example, in skeet, 31 youngsters hit 190 or more targets out of 200. Five shooters posted scores of 197 or better.
Snow pointed out that young talent is emerging across the country, with winning teams coming from all geographic regions.
Across the country, more than 8,000 students are now active in SCTP skeet, sporting clays and trap, which Snow credited to, "our incredible volunteer coaches and state directors who are making it all happen now in 41 states. And it's a testimony to growing numbers of parents who've begun to see and appreciate what shooting sports add to the lives of their sons and daughters."
This weekend, however, parents from Virginia may have been the proudest, since their teams left Rochester with two national titles and six total team trophies.
In skeet, the Virginia Timber Ridge Claybusters bested their closest opponent by 29 targets to win the junior novice division championship. Corbin Headley of Lively, Jacob Lawson of Skipwith, and Daniel Foster of Drakes Branch together hit 557 of 600 targets.
"These boys shot awesome," said Timber Ridge coach Jeff Atkins. "They worked very hard and came together this weekend. All three of them are very close. They're like brothers. If one of them gets down, the other two pick him up. They're a great bunch and they really just have a love for this sport."
In sporting clays, the Virginia Old Dominion 4-H Shur Shots won the junior novice division title by just four targets. Robert Kline of Edinburg, Rooster Watson of Blackstone and Lawson Philpy of Mechanicsville teamed for a score of 493.
Old Dominion coach Brooke Philpy said, "It's just phenomenal how they came together for each other. If one of them started to get down, the others would give him a boost and keep the hopes high. A big reason for their success is the fact that they've become close friends. They get along great and it's really created a comfort level for all of them."
Arizona, which claimed four team trophies, won a national skeet championship with its junior novice squad, Ben Avery Clay Crushers. Combining for a score of 561 were Lane Shank of Phoenix, Brett Hoeppner of Cave Creek and Wesley Borie of Phoenix.
"They performed very good the first day and even better the second day," said Ben Avery coach Sally Borie. "They had personal goals and they exceeded them. They really work well together and you need that as a team. And, most importantly, they had fun."
Georgia's Thomas County Sharpshooters walked away with a score of 541 and a national title in sporting clays. The senior novice squad is composed of Matthew King of Boston, Chance Porter of Thomasville and Ethan Vinson of Thomasville.
"They've been practicing hard all year and it paid off. As a coach, it was just phenomenal to watch them. These guys have been shooting together for more than three years. They're buddies all the way around and they did a great job," said Thomas County coach Mike Porter.
Georgia won a total of four team trophies during the weekend.
Michigan followed closely behind with three team trophies and one national champ, the Kent County senior novice skeet shooters. Zachary Hoover of Ada, Josh Kleczynski of Lowell and Javon Brown of Wyoming posted a combined score of 570.
"They performed beyond my expectations," said Kent County coach Carter Huyser. "This weekend the whole squad came together as a team and bonded. I was impressed. They did very well. Being able to compete against all these different states, I think it gave them the desire to do as best as they possibly could."
Nebraska's One Box junior experienced squad won a sporting clays title by posting a winning score of 520. The team included Ethan Cole Johnson, Conrad Hueftle and Print Zutavern, all of Broken Bow.
Nebraska coach Dave Stunkel said, "They shot very well together as a team. Back home they do all kinds of things together, they fish and hunt together. So it's just natural for them to be a team. They've practiced hard together and this weekend it paid off for them."
The championship hardware was one of two team trophies claimed by Nebraska.
California skeet shooters Talia Borg of Salinas, Brian Foley of Bakersfield and Cole Rommel of Clovis together missed only 15 targets over the two-day event. Each shooter scored 194 or better and posted a total of 585 for the Stockton Clay Crushers.
"The second day we picked it up quite a bit," said Stockton coach Mike Borg, whose team competed in the senior experienced division. "We gained 11 targets over the team that was ahead of us. This was a great experience for all the kids. This was their first time in New York and they did a great job. It was a great event and we'll be back again next year."
Colorado claimed the tournament's seventh national title. Its senior experienced sporting clays team, the Colorado Clay Busters A squad, posted a score of 566. Team members, all of Pueblo, include Daniel Mizicko, Josh Martin and Dan Shineovich.
"They had one common goal," said Colorado coach George Shineovich. "They've finished second the last couple of years, and this year they wanted to put their best effort forward and come out on top. This team has been shooting together for about four years. During that time, they've grown as a team. They've also been able to meet kids from all across the nation that share the same interests as them, and they've made some friendships that will last their whole lives."
The top three teams in each division received college scholarship awards in the form of savings bonds, with first-place teams receiving $1,000.
Other states represented at the SCTP national tournament included Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Tennessee.
Snow said, "Rochester Brooks International Trap and Skeet Club was a terrific place to hold the SCTP national championships, thanks to volunteers and staff who are dedicated to kids and the future of our sports. I also want to specifically thank SCTP volunteer state directors Art Miller, Karen Dolan and Dave Knotowicz. All three stepped up in a big way to lead this event to a terrific success."
SCTP was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to offer young men and women in grades 12 and under an opportunity to compete as a team in trap, skeet and sporting clays. The program is administered in partnership with the national governing bodies for each of the three shotgun disciplines, the Amateur Trapshooting Association, National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association. The ultimate goal is instilling in young participants a commitment to safe firearm handling, teamwork and leadership.
Skeet Final Results
Senior Experienced (Grades 9-12)
First Place—California, Stockton Clay Crushers, 585 of 600 targets: Talia Borg, Salinas; Brian Foley, Bakersfield; and Cole Rommel, Clovis.
Second Place—Virginia, Virginia State 4-H Team, 584: Jake McPherson, New Kent; Chris Wilmouth, Halifax; and Ryan Tribble, Nathalie.
Third Place—New York, Four Points Shooters, 578: Shawn Smingler, Rochester; Alik Miller; Rochester; and Chris Smingler, Rochester.
Senior Novice (Grades 9-12)
First Place—Michigan, Kent County, 570 of 600 targets: Zachary Hoover, Ada; Josh Kleczynski, Lowell; and Javon Brown, Wyoming.
Second Place—Arizona, Red Mountain Target Terminators, 563: Hayden Edgemon, Queen Creek; Kyle Wandelear, Queen Creek; and Justin Williams, Gilbert.
Third Place—Georgia, Thomas County Sharpshooters, 560: Matthew King, Boston; Chance Porter, Thomasville; and Ethan Vinson, Thomasville.
Junior Experienced (Grades 6-8)
First Place—Virginia, Timber Ridge Claybusters, 557 of 600 targets: Corbin Headley, Lively; Jacob Lawson, Skipwith; and Daniel Foster, Drakes Branch.
Second Place—Georgia, Lake Oconee Beretta, 528: Eli Franks, Buckhead; Troy Crisp, Buckhead; and Rob Horton, Eatonton.
Third Place—Oklahoma, Skiatook/Owasso, 521: Zach Decker, Owasso; Caleb Williams, Bristow; and Ryan Turner, Collinsville.
Junior Novice (Grades 6-8)
First Place—Arizona, Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 561 of 600 targets: Lane Shank, Phoenix; Brett Hoeppner, Cave Creek; and Wesley Borie, Phoenix.
Second Place—Virginia, Old Dominion 4-H Shur Shots, 550: Robert Kline, Edinburg; William Rooster Watson, Blackstone; and Lawson Philpy, Mechanicsville.
Third Place—Virginia, Top Gunners Skeet, 527: Taylor Kane, Virginia Beach; Geoff Seemueller, Virginia Beach; and Chris Kobiela, Virginia Beach.
Rookie (Grades 5 and under)
National championship to be held July 29 in Spartanburg, S.C., Spartanburg Gun Club.
Sporting Clays Final Results
Senior Experienced (Grades 9-12)
First Place—Colorado, Colorado Clay Busters, 566 of 600 targets: Daniel Mizicko, Pueblo; Josh Martin, Pueblo; and Dan Shineovich, Pueblo.
Second Place—Nebraska, One Box Seniors, 550: Jacob Hueftle, Broken Bow; Logan Spanel, Broken Bow; and Brody Skies, Broken Bow.
Third Place—Michigan, Island Lake Clay Wackers, 542: Daniel Williams, Redford; Emmett Moody, West Bloomfield; and Mike Cattell, Saline.
Senior Novice (Grades 9-12)
First Place—Georgia, Thomas County Sharpshooters, 541 of 600 targets: Matthew King, Boston; Chance Porter, Thomasville; and Ethan Vinson, Thomasville.
Second Place—Michigan, Kent County Clays, 529: Josh Kleczynski, Lowell; Tristan Eastlick, Gowen; and Tony Mulder, Ada.
Third Place—Arizona, Huachuca Hot Shots, 519 (won shoot-off tiebreaker): Brisden Eaton, Sierra Vista; Scott Usry, Hereford; and Brielle Eaton, Sierra Vista.
Junior Experienced (Grades 6-8)
First Place—Nebraska, One Box Juniors, 520 of 600 targets: Ethan Cole Johnson, Broken Bow; Conrad Hueftle, Broken Bow; and Print Zutavern, Broken Bow.
Second Place—Virginia, Timber Ridge Claybusters, 506: Paul MacCarty, South Boston; Jacob Lawson, Skipwith; and Daniel Foster, Drakes Branch.
Third Place—Wisconsin, Hunter's Park, 500: Ethan Klister, Greenleaf; Anthony Tedeschi, De Pere; and Austin Klister, Greenleaf.
Junior Novice (Grades 6-8)
First Place—Virginia, Old Dominion 4-H Shur Shots, 493 of 600 targets: Robert Kline, Edinburg; William Rooster Watson, Blackstone; and Lawson Philpy, Mechanicsville.
Second Place—Arizona, Ben Avery Clay Crushers, 489: Lane Shank, Phoenix; Brett Hoeppner, Cave Creek; and Wesley Borie, Phoenix.
Third Place—Georgia, Thomas County Sharpshooters, 445: Hailey Porter, Thomasville; Allen Glass, Thomasville; and Neil Payne, Thomasville.
Rookie (Grades 5 and under)
National championship to be held July 29 in Spartanburg, S.C., Spartanburg Gun Club.
New York State Sporting Clays Championships
New York state crowned its SCTP sporting clays state champions July 14 at Rochester Brooks International Trap and Skeet Club.
Senior Experienced (Grades 9-12)
First Place—North Forest, 224 of 300 targets: Mike Moley, Newfane; Joshua Diringer, East Amherst; and Terra Kassel, Springville.
Second Place—Not awarded.
Third Place—Not awarded.
Senior Novice (Grades 9-12)
First Place—Canandaigua Clay Busters, 237 of 300 targets: Steve Maio, Canandaigua; Mike Maio, Canandaigua; and Dylan Krutz, Naples.
Second Place—Rochester Brooks Shredders, 167: Amber McGory, Rochester; Eric Drewel, Rochester; and Wesley Saporito, Honeoye Falls.
Third Place—Not awarded.
Junior Experienced (Grades 6-8)
Not awarded.
Junior Novice (Grades 6-8)
First Place—North Forest, 183 of 300 targets: Julia Caffrey, Lockport; Greg Laubacker, Lockport; and Kyle Szlachta, Niagara Falls.
Second Place—Rochester Brooks Hot Shots, 156: Matthew Wilson, Honeoye Falls; Tyler Kryk, Hilton; and Grant McGory, Rochester.
Third Place—North Forest, 153: Ryan Pomeroy, Lockport; David Leathers, Lockport; and Tim Laubacker, Lockport.
Rookie (Grades 5 and under)
Not awarded. | |
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