Congratulations to 2017 SASP Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to our 2017 Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) Scholarship winners. This year SASP has given away seven scholarships totaling $6000. Thank you to our sponsors who support our scholarship program. $1000.00 Cole Ritchie - Hays County 4H Shooting Sports, Texas Nikolas Hufen – Union Grove Pistol Team, Wisconsin Tanner Calderwood - Steel Shooters of Traer, Iowa Collin Campbell – Hoosier Daddy Rifle and Pistol Team, Indiana Padraic Sullivan – Holyoke Revolver Club Steel Shooters, Massachusetts $500.00 Genesis Irwin - Central Iowa Scholastic Shooters, Iowa Nathan Fingeroos – Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting Sports, WI
Congratulations to all who competed in the 2017 Wisconsin SCTP International Trap Championship on the bunker at the WTA Homegrounds, June 3-4. The 2017 event boasted the highest scores of any competition on the bunker since it opened in 2014. Ten athletes scored over 100 of 125 in this very difficult discipline, including the first 25-straight in a competition. The scores are proof of the hard work the athletes and coaches have put in this year! Winning Teams: GOLD - Sauk County Youth Shooting Team - 305 SILVER - B.H.S. Demons Shooting Team - 279 BRONZE - Flyway Clay Slayers - 268 Individual Medalists: Senior Mens GOLD - Matt Wells SILVER - Garret Kreul BRONZE - Nick Mader Senior Ladies GOLD - Jessica Strasser SILVER - Meredith Bernau BRONZE - Maddie VanderShaaf Intermediate Mens GOLD - Joshua Corbin SILVER - Wyatt Wilken BRONZE - Evan Marx Intermediate Ladies GOLD - Selena Grundy SILVER - Quinn Schuppner BRONZE - Haley Schmutzer "Thanks to the WTA for being a great host and everyone who helped make this a great event again this year," Perry A. Hintz, state advisor for the Wisconsin Scholastic Clay Target Program, said. 
The SCTP, in conjunction with USA Shooting, is hosting the SCTP’s International Style National Championships on July 24-29, 2017 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Registration by SCTP team coaches opens on Saturday, June 10 in the 
Starting Wednesday, June 7, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) state trapshooting championships at the Iowa State Trapshooting Association home grounds just north of Cedar Falls.
The month of June is a peak time for Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) team activity across the country, and if the first day of registration for the SCTP National Championships is any indicator, there will be record crowds again in Ohio for the July culminating event. Registration for SCTP Nationals opened June 1 and in the first 24 hours of open registration for the July 8-15 National Championships, 132 teams from 23 different states registered over 2,000 athletes. Combined registrations in all SCTP events totaled 4,396 compared to 3,804 for the first 24 hours of tournament registration one year ago. An additional 70-80 SCTP teams are expected to register prior to the July 5 deadline. “These numbers are absolutely incredible!” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP national director. “We had almost as many athletes and registrations in one day this year as we had in total at last year’s National Championships! People are excited about this year’s tournament for sure!” The 2017 event at the Cardinal Center in Marengo, Ohio, is on track to outpace the 2016 SCTP National event, which finished with 2,176 athletes and 4,576 event entries. While the numbers are already up significantly from last year’s registrations, Wondrash points out that there is still room at the spacious Cardinal Center. “There are many times and dates still available for this year’s National Championships. We encourage teams to join us in July to continue the fun throughout the summer!” The Scholastic Action Shooting Program will also hold its National Junior/Senior Championships in conjunction with the SCTP tournament. SASP Nationals registration opened on May 18 and currently has 342 athletes from 32 teams across 13 states registered to shoot. SASP registrations currently total 642 already out-pacing the 542 total entries from 2016. Teams may register for the SASP National Championships through July 5. The 1911 division first being offered at Nationals already has 62 entries About the National Championships The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) 2017 National Championships will take place near Marengo, Ohio, at the Cardinal Shooting Center July 8-15. The eight-day event is expected to draw around 2,500 youth from over 30 states. Over one million shots will be fired during the event with around $16 million generated in economic impact. Participating teams are organized and coached by certified volunteer leaders and have participated in their SCTP/SASP state championship event. To learn more about how you can start a SCTP or SASP team in your area or become a sponsor for the championship event, go to 
Text Messaging - Simply text SSSF2017 to 94253 to opt in and you may opt out at any time. The service is free to use and will only be used for tournament information. Standard messaging rates may apply. Email Updates – 
The Texas Youth Action Shootout (“TYAS”) completed its inaugural academic year of six scheduled Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) matches by hosting the Texas SASP State Championship on May 20 in Marble Falls, Texas. The TYAS was created in 2016 by the TSRA Foundation to support and promote the growth of the SASP program in Texas and is independently supported by Texas-based companies such as Magpul, KNS Precision, FROST Bank, Aguila Ammunition/TxAT, NRA Competitive Shooting Division and Dr. Ruiz of Brownsville, Texas. In 2016/2017 over 170 shooters participated in TYAS Series matches and six new SASP teams were formed. 
The SASP State Championship was fired by 89 brave young men and women who first had to weather a three-hour thunderstorm delay. Participants came from all over the state ranging in ages from 10 to 18. There were 54 male and 34 female shooters on 25 squads shooting rifle and pistol. Range Officers came from across the state and included the Texas Carbine group of Corpus Christi and the 2017 SASP College National Champion Corps of Cadets Marksmanship Unit from Texas A&M University. The match concluded with awards and a catered BBQ dinner provided for all. High Overall Individuals and High Overall Teams in Rimfire, Centerfire and Rifle are listed below: High Overall Male Rimfire Pistol – Ethan Inocando ~ South Texas Shooters ~ 33.91 Centerire Pistol – Holden Perez ~ South Texas Shooters ~ 47.39 Rifle Optics – David Rodriguez ~ South Texas Tactical Run N Gun ~ 43.79 Rifle Iron – Aidan Ruiz ~ South Texas Shooters ~ 58.94 High Overall Female Rimfire Pistol – Natalie Rose ~ NTX Hot Shots ~ 57.37 Centerire Pistol – Katy Allen ~ South Texas Shooters ~ 76.79 Rifle Optics – Anasofia Montemayor ~ South Texas Tactical Run N Gun ~ 36.61 Rifle Iron – Naomy Lilly ~ South Texas Shooters ~ 59.41
Several years ago, the Alexandria Chapter started looking into expanding our 5-stand shotgun range to include a certified trap range. Two chapter members were primarily responsible for bringing this idea to fruition: A.J. Pappas and Chris Arnold. While working toward the goal of completing the trap range, the chapter continued to offer members the opportunity to come out on Sundays, when volunteers operated the various throwers used by the 5-stand, and enjoy shooting a few clay targets. At the time, the chapter had two youth shotguns that were available to members who had children who were interested in experiencing clay target shooting. The use of the chapter guns along with support from Shotgun Committee members who were NRA-qualified shotgun instructors proved to be very popular. Parents felt comfortable and the environment was structured but not intimidating. Several young shooters became regulars with their parents at the Sunday recreational shoots. About the same time A.J. and Chris were working on the trap range project, I was finding out that my 12-year-old granddaughter was really interested in shotgun sports. We had gone to a range on the military base close to our home and she was able to shoot both trap and skeet. As time went by, she found that she continued to improve and indicated that she would like to join a youth shooting team. (Shooting was great, but spending your day with middle-aged adults was a little dull – her words, not mine!). I began to look around for youth teams in our area and quickly found that there were none. While doing this research, I noticed an advertisement for an outdoors sports show. One of the organizations that would be at the event was the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF). My granddaughter and I decided to visit the show booth, where we met Tom Wondrash, national director of SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target Program. The Scholastic Clay Target Program is an education-athletic organization that introduces youth to the shooting sports and facilitates their continued involvement by providing opportunities to safely and enjoyably participate and compete in high-quality, team-based shooting sports led by trained adult coaches. After talking with Tom, my granddaughter and I were sold on the program. We talked with our chapter’s Shotgun Committee chairman about sponsoring a youth team, and at the next chapter executive board meeting, he had me make a short presentation. The chapter enthusiastically agreed to sponsor a youth team. 
After promoting the idea at chapter meetings and in our newsletter, the team – now known as the Stafford Clay Shooters – began practicing at the finished chapter trap range. When the trap range was certified by the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), the team decided to join ATA’s AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship) youth trapshooting program, which would allow the team to participate in youth-focused ATA events. In June 2016, our team participated in the Virginia AIM Youth Championship in Winchester and did a great job representing us! Developing a youth trap team with the support of the Alexandria Chapter has been a rewarding experience. The chapter supports the team and provides a place for youth to practice. The Scholastic Clay Target Program provides basic structure for the team, including qualifications for adult coaches. Through the NRA Foundation, the Friends of the NRA has provided the team with clay targets, ammunition, and an additional youth shotgun. I mention the youth team when we introduce prospective new members to our chapter. I also get calls from parents who see our information on the Scholastic Clay Target Program and AIM websites, and many times these interested parents become chapter members. I’m convinced there is no shortage of young men and women in 6th through 12th grades who are interested in shooting sports. The challenge in recruiting them is convincing their parents that it’s worth their time. Going to practice is one thing. Going to practice with your shotgun requires the constant support of an adult. The most important thing our shooters bring to the team is “attitude.” They are truly motivated and want to be there. The challenge in recruiting is convincing adults that this is something you can enjoy throughout your life. If a parent or grandparent enjoys the shooting sports, it’s a great way to establish a bond that will last a lifetime.