SASP will have a Coach/Parent/Adult SASP Challenge at
Nationals. In the past we allowed
coaches to shoot the SASP stages as a side match. Coaches asked us to remove that event during
the competition day because they felt it was distracting to athletes at the
National Championship, but they still wanted to be able to compete.
After a couple year break and some discussion, we have
decided to add the adult match back for Tuesday and Thursday nights starting at
approximately 4:30PM when the athletes are finished for the day.
Not only will you have bragging rights if you are the top
competitor, but SASP will also be awarding firearms to the top finishers. The top male and female in Rifle and Pistol
will win a firearm. For pistol you may
compete with rimfire, centerfire or 1911 as long as your firearm would be legal
for an athlete to use in our program.
For rifle we will use the top finisher using any of the three SASP rifle
disciplines. Competitors may shoot
multiple guns following the same rules as SASP athletes.
Athletes are invited to come and coach and cheer on the
adults.
Any profit made from this competition will go into the SASP
Scholarship Fund.
If you do not want to compete, but would like to have some fun by volunteering to be the safety officers for this event, email Kelvin at kwalton@sssfonline.com
Thanks, and we look forward to seeing everyone in Marengo.
Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) athletes had the
opportunity to train and compete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs, CO. From May 24-26, 2019 12
Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) athletes learned to shoot the
International disciplines of 10 Meter Air Pistol, Sport Pistol and Rapid-Fire
Pistol. Athletes stayed at the Olympic
Training Center and were trained by USA Shooting Coach Brent McPherson and
former USA National Team Member and USA Shooting Board Member Jim
Henderson. This was SASP’s first Junior
Olympic Development Camp (JODC) in 5 years.
For action shooters the athletes picked up the Olympic
disciplines quickly. Before they left
the Olympic Training Center 8 of 12 athletes shot 10M Air Pistol scores that
would have qualified them last year to be invited to the Junior Olympic Trials
for a chance to make the United States Junior Olympic Team. Coach Jim Henderson stated, “In all my years
of coaching I have never seen a group of athletes pick this up so quickly, and
then perform at this high of a level.”
Congratulation to the following SASP athletes who applied
and were selected to attend the SASP 2019 JODC.
Jordan Walton WI, Annie Unsell AL, Bailey Lueders MO, Julia
Kassa AZ, Sydnie Gray MI, Natalie Unsell AL, Jacob Pruitt OH, Ethan Jardines
VA, Robert Little TX, Sawyer Phipps TN, Zachary Winton TX, and Maccoy Gilkison
VA.
We also had SASP coaches and SASP staff participate in an
international discipline coach’s clinic on May 22 and 23 before helping coach
the SASP athletes upon their arrival.
Russell Gilkison VA, Samantha Engle MI were the coaches that
participated in the coach program.
SASP is excited to watch as these athletes continue to
participate in the International disciplines with hopes of one day seeing one
of them standing on the podium and the American Flag is raised as they
represent our county in international competition.
We look forward to again holding a JODC in 2020.
SASP would like to thank USA Shooting, especially Brent McPherson and Jim Henderson for their coaching and working with us to provide this great opportunity for our athletes. We would also like to thank the US Olympic Training Center for their hospitality.
The Scholastic Clay Target Program is
pleased to announce the addition of two new SCTP College Scholarship Awards at
the SCTP National Championships, July 13-20, 2019 at the Cardinal Shooting
Center in Marengo, Ohio.
Browning (a longtime supporter of SCTP)
has for the last 3 years been the sponsor of the “Browning Scholarship”. This
scholarship is awarded to the top athlete in Trap Singles (male or female) shooting a Browning Shotgun. In the past, this
scholarship has been as much as $7,500!
For 2019, Blaser USA will be
sponsoring the “Blaser Scholarship”! This scholarship will be awarded to the
top athlete in Sporting Clays (male or female) shooting a Blaser
Shotgun!!
In addition, also for 2019 SCTP
National Championships, Beretta USA will be sponsoring the “Beretta
Scholarship”! This scholarship will be awarded to the top athlete in Skeet (male or female) shooting
a Beretta Shotgun!
Athletes competing in these events at the SCTP National Championships just need to complete an online survey before their event starts.
Tom
Wondrash, SCTP National Director made the following statement. “We are thrilled
that Browning, Blaser USA and Beretta USA wanted to provide scholarship
opportunities for our SCTP high school aged athletes. Providing scholarships is
a mainstay of the SCTP program and adding these additional opportunities will
impact even more of our SCTP family’s. We cannot thank Browning, Blaser USA,
and Beretta USA enough for their support of SCTP and these scholarship
opportunities”.
The tour is designed so SCTP youth will be able to participate in premier skeet and sporting clays events, perhaps outside of their regular SCTP season. The tour provides opportunity for SCTP youth to compete for special awards while also experiencing the environment and excitement of the top skeet and sporting clays tournaments across the country!
SCTP athletes participating in NSSA and/or NSCA registered events, (including tour events) will also be eligible for NSSA-SCTP and/or NSCA-SCTP All American Teams!
For more information or to register for the Northbrook Skeet Classic go to: http://bit.ly/NSCSkeet
It was a test of endurance,
patience, and positive attitudes - it was the USA Shooting Trap National
Championships back-to-back with the USA Shooting Junior Olympic Trap Championships
in Colorado Springs. This was the test that the SCTP National Team has been
“studying” for all year and the Trap Team was first in the blocks.
In spite of lightning, rain, wind, dust, cold, heat, and long days (30 squads of competitors) the determination and resilience of these athletes shone through. The first week saw Matt Wells (WI) battle his way to a Junior Men’s silver medal at the USA Shooting National Championships, earning a spot on the Junior National Team. Wells will now trade his SCTP National Team vest for a USA Shooting Junior Team vest.
“I
have trained very hard to get this vest and position on the National Junior
Team but my work as a competitive athlete is not done. I definitely think that
being on the SCTP Team has helped me grow as a shooter. I would like to thank
SCTP for the opportunity they have given me. I am excited to continue my
journey on the Junior National Team,” Wells stated.
15-year-old Emilio Carvalho (CA) lead the way
during the second week of competition at the Junior Olympic Championships,
claiming the top of the leaderboard the very first day. But not far behind
Carvalho was his teammate Matt Wells again. When both Carvalho and Wells
collected their bib numbers for the final, Carvalho was still in the number 1
spot and Wells was in number 4.
Emilio Carvalho, Men’s final, Junior Olympic Championships. Photo courtesy of USA Shooting.
When the dust finally
settled, Wells remained in fourth place while Carvalho did not relinquish his
lead until nearly the end of the finals round, when he finished in third place.
His bronze medal podium finish places him on the USA Shooting Junior Squad,
meaning that Carvalho will also trade his SCTP National Team vest for a USA
Shooting vest.
“The SCTP camps and the mental training exposed me to new insights about the game. I feel grateful about my success and the opportunity that SCTP has provided to me to pursue my Olympic dreams. Thank you for an amazing year SCTP National Team!” beamed Carvalho.
Junior Men’s final, USA Shooting National Championships. Photo courtesy of John Thompson.
Coach Terri DeWitt said with a laugh, “I’ve
been out here so long, I don’t even know what day it is anymore.” She
continued, “But I do know this - without exception, these trap athletes
performed beyond expectations. They should be proud of themselves - they came
out here prepared; they came out here with a mission and they gave 100% effort
to that mission. I’m extremely proud of the efforts put forth by this team, not
only on the firing line, but behind the line as well. They were there for each
other during these two long weeks, truly coming together as a team. I could not
be prouder of these young adults,” she smiled.
Next
up are the Skeet events: USA Shooting National Skeet Championships, June 16th-
June 19th and USA Shooting Junior Olympic Skeet Championships, June
22nd – 23rd.
The
SCTP is hosting the Scholastic Clay Target Program’s International Style
National Championships on July 22-27, 2019 in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the
International Shooting Park on the Ft. Carson Army base. Registration by SCTP
team coaches opens on Saturday, June 15 in the SHOT System.
Here
is the event schedule for the competition:
Monday July 22rd – Open Training
for Bunker and Skeet
Tuesday July 23rd –Open Training for Bunker and Skeet
Wednesday July 24th – I-Skeet
Competition 75 Targets
Thursday July 25th – I-Skeet
Competition 50 Targets & Finals
Friday July 26th – Bunker Trap 75 Targets
Saturday July 27th- Bunker Trap 50 Targets & Finals
*There will be an awards ceremony and banquet being
held at the Hotel Elegante on Saturday, July 27th starting at 6:00pm
following the Bunker Trap portion of the National Championships. Please contact
Amanda Wondrash at awondrash@sssfonline.com to make reservations
and confirm your attendance. Parents and kids 12 years of age or older are $20
and kids under 12 are $10. Participating athletes and coaches are free!
Coaches: The competition
registration will open on June 15th for this
tournament. You will need to squad your athletes prior to Thursday, July 19th so that they can be placed
on random shooting squads for the competition. Walk on’s will generally not be
allowed unless there is room available.
Top 3
placing athletes in Men’s and Ladies Bunker Trap as well as top 3 placing
athletes in International Skeet (12 total athletes) will earn a spot on the
2019 SCTP National Team. Athletes must meet a minimum qualifying
score (MQS) of a 90 x 125 or better in the qualification rounds, regardless of
finals placing, in order to be eligible for a National Team spot.
If
all athletes in the final have achieved the MQS, then finals placement will
determine the top 3 athletes. However, if there are athletes in a discipline
final who have not attained the MQS, those athletes will not be
eligible for the National Team, regardless of finals placement. At their
discretion, The Head Coach and National Director will then fill any open Team
slots with eligible athletes.
A
limited block of hotel rooms has been secured and are available for immediate
booking at the Hotel Elegante’ – Colorado Springs. Room rates are $99 for
a single or a double. Please contact the Hotel Elegante’ directly at
1-719-576-5900 or 1-800-981-4012. When making your reservations, please
reference “USA Shooting / SCTP Nationals”, code #2392040. (this
includes breakfast) The cutoff date is July
1st but we would not recommend
waiting that long as these rooms will fill up fast, especially at these prices!
You can upgrade to different rooms at additional price. See additional information for booking your room and
about the Hotel Elegante.
Looking back to April 2019,there were 26,678 student clays-shooting competitors from 1,042 high school teams across 25 states who participated in the USA High School Clay Target League.
That program isn’t the only game in town for youngsters looking to become the next George Digweed, Kim Rhode, Bill McGuire or Anthony Matarese, Jr.
There’s the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), which offers kids from elementary grades through high school and college the opportunity to participate in all the major clays sports.
Tom Wondrash, National Director of the SCTP.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation introduces school-age youth to the shooting sports. To a large extent the SSSF has become a de facto feeder program to USA Shooting and the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.
Likewise, the USA Shooting Youth Programs is focused on grooming junior athletes to someday represent the U.S.A. in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Shooting Championships, Paralympic Games and other international competitions.
And let’s not overlook the National 4-H Shooting Sports and Boy Scouts of America as pioneers that initiated kids into shotgunning sportsmanship and safety.
It seems that everyone credits women with the biggest percentage revenue gains in the shotgun sports. However, a comparative perspective might show that youth shotguns and related purchases might be just as lucrative – or even greater.
Some of the Pointer Phenoma semi-automatic shotguns that are available in youth models.
When the influential National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) released its Industry Intelligence Report on the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) in 2016, the results were a real eye-opener regarding the potential of the youth market in sporting clays, skeet and trap.
The NSSF survey indicated that SCTP participants had spent more than $8 million dollars in 2016. Better yet, 93 percent of SCTP parents surveyed said that the program had had a positive influence on their children.
From 2014 to 2016, the publicly available National Rifle Association Foundation’s tax returns showed that the organization allocated more than $4 million in cash and equipment grants to schools and groups that support scholastic shooting sports.
America’s boom in youth shooting programs hasn’t been lost on Andy McCormick, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Legacy Sports International in Reno, Nevada. Through their Pointer line of over/under and semi-automatic shotguns made by Zafer Arms Company of Izmir, Turkey, Legacy Sports International has quietly become possibly the largest provider of kid-friendly shotguns.
“We’ve always focused on the youth market and we’ve done well in that department because it’s something we believe in,” Andy explained. “There’s a way of looking at it as a future market for customers, but it’s also the future of the industry. It’s the stewardship of trying to make it easy to get people out in the field with a quality product.”
Andy McCormick, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Legacy Sports International.
Legacy Sports International imports and distributes firearms and shooting accessories in the U.S. In addition to the Pointer shotguns, their brands include Citadel pistols and tactical shotguns, Howa Precision Rifles, Lithgow Rifles and Nikko Stirling optics.
Of the 54 Pointer models sold by Legacy Sports International, 12 of their over/unders and semi-automatic shotguns are specifically designated for youth. These models are characterized by a shorter barrel, shorter stock and sub-gauge ammunition. The packaging reduces felt recoil and helps improve results through better fit and softer ballistics.
For example, the Pointer Arista over/under is available in all popular gauges with 28-inch barrels. The youth model has 26-inch barrels and only comes in 20 gauge and .410.
Price-wise, new Pointer youth shotguns are hitting the sweet spot – costing from $539 to $1,279, although the average is about $880.00.
The 20-gauge Pointer Arista youth over/under.
“Last year we sold a surprising number of 20-gauge over/under youth models – as many as our standard models,” Andy said. “Dealers are really stocking them. We try to keep production ramped up especially during the summer into fall, and the holidays.”
The thing about Andy is that he’s an avid hunter who fully understands the importance of getting youngsters outdoors.
Legacy Sports International just signed on as an SCTP Gold Sponsor in response to the interest in the Pointer line by youth shooting coaches at the 2019 industry SHOT Show held in Las Vegas January 21-25.
“We had a lot of the coaches stop by looking for 12-gauge youth models,” Andy said. “We have entry-level Pointers that cost under $1,000 with adjustable combs, ejectors, ported, five extended chokes, mechanical triggers and high ribs. We’re working on getting sample guns out to them in the next few weeks.”
The youth version of the Pointer SCT Deluxe single-barrel 12-gauge trap gun.
Sporting shotguns priced at the wallet-friendly $500 to $1,000 are a critical factor in enabling families to get their kids enrolled in scholastic clay target programs.
For example, CZ-USA, which also sells affordable shotguns, is again sponsoring the SCTP Top Gun Challenge in Marengo, Ohio July 13-20. While CZ-USA doesn’t have youth shotguns per se, they sell several models marked as “reduced length.” And the mid-range Italian shotgun maker F.A.I.R. became an SCTP Silver Sponsor for 2019 through its American importer, the Italian Firearms Group.
When it comes to getting kids involved in the shotgun sports, few people understand the calculus of affordability and participation better than Tom Wondrash, National Director of the SCTP.
“At first, the parents don’t know how serious their kids will be about it,” he explained. “And parents don’t want to spend a lot of money on a shotgun unless they know their kids will be serious about the sport.”
At the 2019 SHOT Show, Andy explained that he learned from SCTP coaches one of the appeals of clays shooting to kids and parents is that, unlike school team sports where parents invest a lot of money in gear only to find their kids sitting out the season on the bench, everyone on a youth shotgun squad gets to participate.
“Everyone is engaged and in the game,” Andy said.
Regardless, when it comes to introducing kids to the shotgun sports, spreading urbanization, higher hunting costs, habitat loss and draconian regulations can dampen parents’ enthusiasm for getting their kids engaged. Even when it comes to clays shooting, youngsters today are suffering from the decades-long, downward spiral in hunting.
The Pointer SCT Deluxe Clay over/under has a model designed to fit youngsters.
In 1970, more than 40 million Americans bought hunting licenses. By 2016, America’s hunting population fell to 11.5 million. Today, fewer parents can simply reach into the safe for a family shotgun that will get junior out on the skeet field.
“We’re getting more and more athletes and their and families involved in our program that have not been involved in the shooting sports and they don’t own a shotgun,” Tom said. “They’re not from hunting backgrounds.”
And here’s where Legacy Sports International is filling the breach.
Of their 12 youth shotguns, the Pointer SCT Basic clays gun features an adjustable comb on an oil-finished walnut stock, five extended chokes, ported, ejectors, raised rib and fiber-optic front sight for $989. The standard models come with 30-inch barrels but the youth version has 28-inch barrels. The Pointer SCT and SCT Deluxe are the only 12-gauge shotguns they sell as youth models.
The Pointer SCT Basic Trap 12-gauge for kids.
The Pointer Arista over/under youth field gun is available with 26-inch barrels in 20 gauge and .410 with engraved nickel action and walnut stock and forend. It sells for $589.00.
The black synthetic Pointer Break Action shotgun for kids is a 20 gauge or .410 with 26-inch barrels priced at $223.00
Although the Pointer Phenoma semi-automatic line features several different models in 12, 20, 28 gauge and .410, the youth models are 20 gauges with prices that start at $539.00.
And the prices get better for SCTP parents. Legacy Sports International is cooperating with SCTP for pricing incentives that will get more kids into clays shooting.
“What we’ve put together with Legacy is buying program if you will,” said Tom. “The teams or families can purchase these guns at a reduced price. It gets more people involved and families involved who all stay involved longer. I think the relationship will help fill the niche of purchasing a firearm that won’t break the bank because the youth are the future of our sport.”
Irwin Greenstein is the publisher of Shotgun Life. You can reach him at contact@shotgunlife.com.
Hodgdon powders has been a long-time sponsor of the Scholastic Clay
Target Program and continues to do so again in 2019. Providing powders for all
reloading applications, Hodgdon Powders has everything you need from target
shooting to hunting powders!
“Hodgdon is proud to partner with the Scholastic Clay Target
Program again for 2019,” said Chris Hodgdon, Sales/Public Relations Manager for
Hodgdon Powder. “SCTP has a proven track record of safety and ethical character-building
coaching for thousands of youth athletes that have fun enjoying shotgun
sports.”
Chris Hodgdon currently serves on the Board of Directors of the
Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) and is a past coach of an SCTP
team in Shawnee, KS.
“Chris Hodgdon and Hodgdon Powders has been involved with SCTP
for many years” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director. “Chris’s sponsorship
and support of SCTP reflects the time he spent coaching in our program and the
desire to get more young adults involved in shooting sports. We are blessed to
have good people like Chris and the entire Hodgdon family involved and supportive
of the SCTP!”
On Friday, May 31, 2019 Ben Berka, Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation President and Executive Director announced that SSSF has entered into an agreement with the Cardinal Shooting Center to host their July Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program National Championships through the year 2029.
The Cardinal Shooting Center,
one of this country’s largest features 52 Trap Houses, 14 Skeet Fields, 2 Sporting
Clays Courses an International Bunker Trap and a 5 Stand! They also have 14
Pistol & Rifle Bays, as well as an Archery Practice Range and 3D Archery
course for the Pistol, Rifle and bow enthusiasts alike! For 2019, the Cardinal
Shooting Center will have completed their state-of-the-art “Shot Curtain
System’, providing a common background for all trap shooters as well as an
efficient platform to reclaim lead shot.
Tom Wondrash, SCTP National
Director stated “Everyone involved with SCTP is excited about our new 10-year
contract with The Cardinal Shooting Center. Beginning in 2020, the Cardinal
Shooting Center will add 6-8 additional skeet fields as well as the possibility
for additional American Trap and Bunker Trap facilities in the future. We
couldn’t be happier to have agreed upon a long-term deal with Cardinal knowing
they welcome our athletes, teams and families with open arms each and every
year!”
In addition to the SCTP and
SASP National Championships in July, the Cardinal Shooting Center is also home
for The SCTP College National Championships, SCTP Spring Regional and the SASP
Fall Regional Competition. The Cardinal Center also plays host to some of the
country’s largest open shooting events including Karen’s Cup, the Ohio state
shoot, the Buckeye Open, Cardinal Classic and the “Red Bird” Sporting Classic!
Luke Spengler, Trap manager
and tournament director at the Cardinal Shooting Center made the following
statement following the completion of the new 10-year agreement. “We are extremely
excited to know our youth athletes will be at the Cardinal Shooting Center
competing on a national level through 2029. The July SCTP and SASP National
Championships have been and will continue to be the largest shooting event in
the world and we are honored to host them” For
more information on the Cardinal Shooting Center, visit www.thecardinalcenter.com
The
Scholastic Clay Target Program would like to thank
Browning yet again for their continued sponsorship, support and trust in our
national youth shooting program and staff!
“The SCTP is one of the great organizations that we’re honored to support each year,” said Rafe Nielsen, Browning’s communications manager in marketing. “The work they do to develop youth shooting is second to none. Their commitment to healthy competition, developing advanced shooters, and bringing new shooters to the sport is vital to keeping the shooting sports strong. We’re proud to be sponsors and look forward to a great 2019 with them. "
Come
see Browning and many other shooting Industry reps at the SCTP National
Championships July 13-20 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio!
“We are humbled by Browning’s continued support, sponsorship and
confidence in SCTP maintaining the best youth shooting program in the world,”
said Tom Wondrash, National Director for the SCTP. “Browning and SCTP strive to
find ways to support our teams, athletes and families. We are very thankful for
companies like Browning who share this same dream and understand the importance
of youth involvement in the shooting sports!”
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing shooting-sports education and opportunities to school-age youths around the United States to encourage young athlete personal growth and development. Tax-ID number 20-8484121.
