Author: SSSF Staff

Nominate Your Shooting Coach for a Double-Goal Coach® Award

Positive Coaching Alliance's Double-Goal Coach Award is given to youth and high school sports coaches from throughout the U.S. who embody the ideals of the Double-Goal Coach, striving to win, while also pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. The 50 national award winners will receive $200; a certificate; recognition on PCA's website, newsletters and media campaigns; and 2 tickets to the 2019 National Youth Sports Awards & Benefit sponsored by Deloitte ($500 value). Select winners will be selected to participate in a panel discussion during the event and will receive an all-expense paid trip to attend. Nominations will close on November 30, 2018. Finalists will be announced in early 2019. Winners will be announced in Spring 2019.

Criteria Nominees are assessed on the extent to which they reflect the model of a Double-Goal Coach, whose first goal is winning, and whose second, more-important goal is teaching life lessons through sports. A Double-Goal Coach behaves as follows: • Takes a mastery approach to sport rather than a scoreboard orientation, teaching athletes to put forward maximum effort, continuously learn and improve, and not let themselves be stopped by mistakes or fear of mistakes. • Fills Emotional Tanks of athletes, refusing to motivate through fear, intimidation, or shame. Recognizing that a player’s “Emotional Tank,” like the gas tank of a car, must be full in order to go anywhere, the Double-Goal Coach provides a fuel mixed of five specific, truthful praises for every specific, constructive correction. • Honors the Game by respecting ROOTS (Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, Self). Selection Process The Double-Goal Coach® Award Selection Committee will select Chapter Winners/National Finalists for the Double-Goal Coach® Award in early/mid February 2019.  Fifty National Winners will be announced in March 2019. Go to the PCA website for complete details and to nominate your shooting coach! The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. has been a partner with the Positive Coaching Alliance for several years by providing the Double Goal Coach®: Coaching For Winning and Life Lessons on a complimentary basis to all new Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program coaches. The course equips shooting coaches with the information and tools to develop young athletes in a positive, caring fashion. The SSSF also offers discounted courses through PCA for parents and athletes.

Positive Coaching Alliance Offers Discounted Workshops to Parents and Athletes

Thanks to Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation's national partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance– a national non-profit developing Better Athletes, Better People through youth and high school sports – you as a parent or athlete are eligible for a 30% discount on an online PCA course when using the SSSF promotion codes provided below after adding the course to your cart. Positive Coaching Alliance resources provide the information and inspiration to train and develop:
  • The Second-Goal Parent®, who concentrates on life lessons, while letting coaches and athletes focus on competing
  • The Triple-Impact Competitor®, who strives to impact sport on three levels by improving oneself, teammates and the game as a whole.
“The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. has been a partner with the Positive Coaching Alliance for several years by providing the Double Goal Coaches course to all new Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program coaches,” Ben Berka, SSSF president and executive director, said. “We are pleased to now be able to offer discounted Positive Coaching Alliance courses specific for parents and athletes to further instill a positive sports culture in our SCTP and SASP teams.” To register for the Second-Goal Parent® course:
  1. Go to http://shopping.positivecoach.org/Store/Courses/Second-Goal-Parent and click “Add to Cart.”
  2. Enter your promotion code ScholasticSportsSGP28 under the zip/postal code section and click “Apply.”
  3. Once you have completed the payment, you will receive a confirmation email that will direct you to the Second –Goal Parent® course.
To register for the Triple-Impact Competitor® course:
  1. Go to http://shopping.positivecoach.org/Store/Courses/Triple-Impact-Competitor and click “Add to Cart.”
  2. Enter your promotion code ScholasticSportsTIC28 under the zip/postal code section and click “Apply.”
  3. Once you have completed the payment, you will receive a confirmation email that will direct you to the Triple-Impact Competitor® course.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. has been a partner with the Positive Coaching Alliance for several years by providing the Double Goal Coach®: Coaching For Winning and Life Lessons on a complimentary basis to all new Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program coaches. The course equips shooting coaches with the information and tools to develop young athletes in a positive, caring fashion.

SMHS Shooting Team Shines at National Event

Story and photos by Amy G. Partain COLORADO SPRINGS. When Kaden Westfall’s family left Colorado Springs on July 13 to drive to Ohio for the 2018 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships, he was hoping that he and his fellow St. Mary’s High School teammates would have a good experience at their first nationals. What he wasn’t expecting was for anyone on the team to come home with medals. When the team headed home a few days later, two of the St. Mary’s squads were second in the nation and Westfall was a national champion. Westfall, a junior at St. Mary’s High School, earned the title of national champion in handicap division of the trap competition after hitting 186 of 200 targets from the 25-yard line. Two of St. Mary’s squads took second place in the junior varsity divisions of both handicap and doubles competitions. The handicap squad was made up of senior Cole Ciccarelli and juniors Mark Rysavy, Matt Raskob, Brian Sorensen, and Westfall — and missed a tie for first place by only one target. Teammates competing on the doubles squad were Ciccarelli, Rysavy, Raskob, junior Andrew Sorensen, and Westfall. “I had no expectations for nationals,” Westfall said. “We were happy to be there, and while I didn’t think we would win anything, I didn’t share those thoughts with my teammates because anything is possible. We prayed and asked for help to shoot our best, and God was on our side.” Trap shooting includes different disciplines. Singles are shot 16 yards behind the trap house, with a squad of five shooters each shooting five targets before rotating to the next shooting station until the squad has rotated through all five stations for a total of 25 possible hits. Handicap is similar to singles but is designed so that shooters of different abilities could compete against each other fairly. In handicap the shooters stand farther away, between 17 and 27 yards, from the trap house, depending on their handicap score. Doubles are shot from 16 yard line but two targets are thrown at the same time, one to the left and one to the right. The shooter takes shots, one at each target and is scored based on the number hit. Normally a round is five pairs shot from each of the five shooting positions for a total of 50 targets per round. At nationals, the St. Mary’s competitive shooting team competed in all of the trap disciplines, skeet and sporting clays. According to Westfall’s mom, Kim, more than 27 states had teams competing at nationals, resulting in more than 2,700 competitors, 7,000 entries in events, and one million targets shot. While his hunting background may have helped him as he started competitive shooting, Westfall said target shooting is totally different from hunting. Whether it is the product of being the coach’s son or his excelling in the sport, Westfall has become a leader on the competition shooting team. Once he is finished practicing, he goes around helping and encouraging his teammates. “While there is an individual part to competitive shooting, it is a team sport not just an individual sport,” Westfall said. “Everyone can get better and each of us on the team can give input on how others can work to get better.” Westfall’s teammates credit him with helping them individually and the team overall improve. Cassidy Sorensen, a junior, said that when the team was just starting last fall, Westfall picked up everything quickly and was able to help his teammates better understand what they needed to do. “Kaden has helped me improve my shooting performances in many ways,” she said. “Whenever I have a question he almost always has an answer for me, whether it is about how to clean the gun or where my hold points should be. He always has a little tidbit of information that helps me, like how to adjust to the wind blowing from behind or coming right at me.” Teammate Cole Ciccarelli, a senior, has found participating in competitive shooting very rewarding and also credits Westfall with helping him improve his shooting. Ciccarelli was a member of both St. Mary’s squads who placed second at nationals. “Kaden helps me not give up when I’ve had a bad day,” Ciccarelli said. “And he helps coach the kids who are struggling.” Westfall played baseball his freshman year at St. Mary’s, but he hadn’t grown up playing traditional high school sports and struggled to find his place in the high school community. The competitive shooting team has provided that place, not just for Westfall, but for other St. Mary’s students who aren’t drawn to or physically cannot participate in the other sports or activities offered by St. Mary’s. “Competitive shooting gives a lot of students a chance to excel in a sport when they may not be able to compete in other sports,” Westfall said. “With competitive shooting, everyone gets equal playing time and an equal chance to win.” Westfall has seen other benefits from competitive shooting as well, including increased confidence, a building up of his faith, and better focus on academics. He said that focusing to hit targets has helped him to literally focus better on his school work. Registration is now open for the 2018-2019 St. Mary’s competitive shooting team. Westfall said he knows that sometimes it is hard for students to try something new, but hopes that interested students will give it a try. When July 2019 rolls around, Westfall’s expectations for the team and for nationals are going to be higher. “I expect us to do as well at nationals next year, if not better. We accomplished a lot in our first year, but we can only go up from here,” he said. (Amy G. Partain is director of communications for St. Mary’s High School)

GLOCK Continues Support of Scholastic Action Shooting Program

Scholastic Action Shooting Program founding sponsor GLOCK, Inc. presented the Scholastic Action Shooting Program a check for $25,000.00 at the 2018 SASP National’s Competition at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. Ed Fitzgerald, GLOCK Advertising Manager and Vice Chairman of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Board of Directors was on hand to present the check. “GLOCK has been an active sponsor/partner of the SASP program since the beginning” stated Fitzgerald. “GLOCK believes strongly that the attributes of responsibility, teamwork, integrity and discipline learned by youth shooters are the ingredients to the development of our next generation of responsible citizens.” Receiving the check was Scholastic Action Shooting Program National Director Rick Leach and several SASP team competitors. “We are so grateful to have GLOCK as an integral part of the past, present, and future of the SASP program” stated Leach. “GLOCK is a great brand and a great company with leadership and employees dedicated to the development of the next generation of shooting sports enthusiasts. On behalf of everyone involved with the Scholastic Action Shooting Program, and the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, our sincere Thank you” to GLOCK for their continued support.

SSSF Donates Over $200,000 to Scholastic Clay Target Program Team Endowment Accounts

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) recently donated $207,628 to Team Endowment Accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation. Teams earned funds by raising money through Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) sponsored fundraising activities and by placing in SCTP national events. SSSF also matched national governing body fees paid by SCTP teams through the SSSF’s SHOT data-system. This donation has benefited 336 teams participating in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) across 35 different states. The donations from SSSF to MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Accounts established to benefit SCTP and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) member-teams are made possible, in part, by grants to the SSSF from the Tulsa Community Foundation Youth Shooting Fund established and funded by the generosity of Larry and Brenda Potterfield. Since 2014 the SSSF has donated nearly $6.5 million to benefit 630 SCTP and SASP team endowment accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation. The SSSF provides SCTP and SASP member-teams the opportunity to earn MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account funds by participating in SCTP and SASP fundraising activities benefiting local shooting sports communities and through placements in SSSF-sponsored competitions . Please contact the SSSF for more information on how your shooting team can earn team endowment funding for their account at the MidwayUSA Foundation. The Team Endowment Account Program at the MidwayUSA Foundation gives a community the ability to financially support a competitive youth shooting sports program or financially assist in the start-up of a new youth shooting sports program. The team can then request a grant of up to 5% of their endowment account balance once each year, in either December or June, to pay for team expenses. There are no fees associated with a MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account. For more information about how the MidwayUSA Foundation is changing the future of youth shooting sports, please visit midwayusafoundation.org or call 1-877-375-4570.

SCTP National Team Named at International Championships

The 2018 Scholastic Clay Target Program International National Championships held at the International shooting park in Colorado Springs, CO. are officially in the record book! Over 120 athletes competed in International Skeet as well as International Trap (Bunker Trap) over the 6 day event which started on July 22nd and ended July 27th. This annual event takes place at the home grounds of USA Shooting on Ft. Carson Army base just south of Colorado Springs and is run with the help of USA Shooting and its staff. 43 Teams of athletes from 15 states showed up to try and take the International top honors with WI (25) and FL (13) leading the pack with the most athletes attending this years tournament by state! Taking top senior division squad honors by 45 targets in international skeet was Union Grove Broncos (WI) scoring 275 led by Cole Hammond (99), Emily Rasmussen (92) and Aimee Spiering (84). Sauk County Youth Shooting Team (WI) was second at 230 with Joshua Corbin leading the way (109) along with squad mates Quin Schuppner (62) and Lucas Riberich (59). Third place went to Tampa Bay Clays (FL) at 218 with Brayden Sasser (80), Cody Sharp (77) and Austin Eastman (61). Top intermediate division squad honors in international skeet went to Sauk County Shooting Team with Riley Minette (76), Bo Schuppner (68) and Madeline Corbin (60). The bunker trap senior title was taken by Tampa Bay Clays (FL) with a squad score of 329 fired by Jack Brosseau (118), Ryan Ledbetter (109) and Kevin Whitehead (102). Second place went to Minute Man Sharpshooters (MA) at 314 with Alexia Davos (107), Sean Cannistraro (105) and Kurtis Grover (102). Top collegiate division squad honors went to Grand View University (IA) with a 308 led by Hunter Anderson (107), Trenton Cheers (105) and Reese Howard (96). The intermediate squad title was captured by Sauk County Youth Shooting Team (WI) firing a 282 by Madeline Corbin(97), Riley Minette (95) and  Bo Schuppner (90). All results with complete leaderboards are available on the SHOT System at: http://bit.ly/2MxfWem “What a great tournament for our athletes competing in the International Disciplines!” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP’s National Director and tournament director. “The weather was fantastic and the support and help from USA Shooting was A+. I think the families and athletes had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed their time in Colorado Springs. Our staff along with SCTP National Team head coach, Terri DeWitt worked hard all week to provide an exceptional atmosphere for all that attended!” The 2018/2019 SCTP National Team members were also chosen from the top placers in International Skeet and Bunker Trap, the new seasons team is as follows: 2019 SCTP International Skeet National Team Gracin Anderson, TN Emily Rasmussen, WI Jay Bible, FL Anthony Nomina, CO Chris Freeman, MI Joshua Corbin, WI Erin Lokke, MN 2019 SCTP Bunker Trap National Team Monica Dale WI Heather Broski TN Heather Argue TN Jack Olsen CO Peter Meola FL Mathew Wells WI Meredith Bernau WI Emilio Carvalho CA The SCTP National Team is a stepping stone for athletes wanting to take the Olympic path, the SCTP is the official youth program of USA Shooting and feeder program to Team USA.  National team members receive advanced coaching and support in the international clay target sports, a USA Shooting jacket, paid fall selection match fees and ammo, along with an SCTP National Team vest. National team slots are earned at each year’s SCTP International Nationals. The Scholastic Clay Target Program is the official youth shooting program to USA Shooting and provides a pipeline for future international shotgun competitors. For more information on how to get involved with SCTP and the international disciplines of International Skeet and Bunker Trap, please contact any of the SCTP staff. Photos courtesy USA Shooting.

Eric Long, Jr. Wins 2018 Browning Scholarship

The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Browning are pleased to announce the winner of the 2018 Browning Scholarship earned at the National Championships in Marengo, Ohio.  Now in its third year, the scholarship opportunity is open to all high school competitors in the 16-yard trap singles competition who are shooting a Browning shotgun and registered for the scholarship opportunity. Eric Long, Jr. (Davenport, IA) bested 216 other shooters firing Brownings and tied with last year's Browning scholarship winner, Woodrow Glazer (New Prauge, MN) shooting an impressive 199x200 and winning the tie with a reverse long run of 187 straight.  Long shot the trap singles event with his Browning 725 un-single and also shot skeet and sporting clays events with a Browning Special Sporting. Long is a member of the North Scott Trap Team with many of his teammates also shooting 725s. Browning provided the scholarship in the amount of $6,450 based off the proceeds of a raffle for a Browning 725 conducted at the national tournament. “I've been shooting Browning's since my 8th grade year so I really appreciate Browning sponsoring the high gun scholarship at the SCTP Nationals” said Long. “This scholarship is a huge assistance for my family and I and will help me continue my education and shooting career at Iowa Central.” Long will be attending Iowa Central Community College this fall studying criminal justice with plans for a law enforcement career. Long will also be a member of the shooting team at Iowa Central. The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation has awarded over $83,000 in college scholarships previously this year.

2018 Nationals Gun Winners

The 2018 Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program National championships had many winners, both on and off the range! A total of 70 firearms were awarded during nationals and below are some of the highlights. Congratulations to everyone who participated and supported the SCTP and SASP! Browning 725 Winner  – Larry Cooper, Tennessee This raffle supported the Browning scholarship winner, Eric Long, Jr. who earned the $6,450 college scholarship. Blaser F16 Winner – Mike King, Ohio The Blaser F16 raffle supports SCTP scholarship recipients and the SCTP! Beretta 960 Winner - Sue Tucker, Michigan SKB 90TSS Trap Combo - Victoria Merrit, Kentucky CZ-USA All American Trap - David Rivers, Tennessee Browning BT-99 Midway Edition - Lori Batcheldor, Illinois This gun was drawn from those who joined or renewed with a SSSF Supporting Membership during Nationals Week! Kolar Low Max Gun Winner – Wayne Werner, Iowa This raffle supported SCTP teams across the country with the opportunity for teams to earn additional funds to their Team Endowment accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation based on total team ticket sales. Here are the top teams earning MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Funds via the Kolar raffle: $8,000 – 1st place – BHS Demons (WI) – 617 tickets $7,000 – 2nd place – St. Charles Shot Crew (IL) – 500 tickets $6,000 – 3rd Place – Ida County (IA) – 479 tickets $5,000 – 4th Place – Allen Eagles (TX) – 400 tickets $4,000 – 5th Place – Mid Carolina Young Guns (SC) – 310 tickets

Nearly 2,700 Youth Compete at SASP/SCTP Nationals

The Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program National Championships were conducted July 14-21 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. Youth from 26 states participated in the eight day event with 2,692 competitors putting over one million rounds down range. Highlights of the week-long event included Wednesday evening’s Opening Ceremonies, Thursday's pizza party, Friday's ice cream social and college recruiting day plus the filming of a major motion picture about our sport! Scholastic Clay Target Program competition events included 16 yard trap, handicap trap, trap doubles, skeet, skeet doubles, sporting clays and bunker trap. SCTP Award Ceremonies for Skeet and Sporting Clays were held on Thursday evening and for Trap, Skeet Doubles and High Over All on Saturday. SCTP Main Event H.O.A. results: 1st Place - Lake Oconee Shotgun Team (Georgia) – 2,112 2nd Place - Forest City Juniors (Georgia) – 2,106 3rd Place – Central Georgia Elite Shooters (Georgia) – 2,103 4th Place - North Scott Trap Team (Iowa) - 2,102 5th Place - PC Eagles (Iowa) - 2,074 SCTP High School H.O.A. results: 1st Place - North Scott Trap Team (Iowa) – 2,865 2nd Place – PC Eagles (Iowa) – 2,791 3rd Place – Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team (Texas) – 2,781 4th Place - Union Grove Broncos Shooting Club (Wisconsin) - 2,757 5th Place - Marquette Hiltoppers Trap Team (Wisconsin) - 2,744 Complete results for the 2018 SCTP National Championships available here: http://bit.ly/2LCYXWC The Scholastic Action Shooting Program events included competition in rimfire pistol, centerfire pistol, rifle optics, rifle iron sights, 1911 and pistol caliber carbine (PCC).  Award Ceremonies were held on Saturday evening and for the 5th year in a row the Lake Country Action Shooters of Wisconsin won the Senior Division of Centerfire Pistol! Centerfire Pistol - Senior Division results: 1st Place - Lake Country Action Shooters -186.36 2nd Place – Central Florida Rifle & Pistol Club – 207.66 3rd Place – Arnold Junior shooters Red – 230.16 Other notable results for the SASP Rifle Competitions included two athletes, Ethan Inocando and Nate Gibson, who shot sub 30 second match times, which has never been done before at the SASP National Championships. Optics Rifle Men results: 1st Place - Ethan Inocando (South Texas Shooters) - Senior/Varsity- 29.06 2nd Place - Nate Gibson (Steel Shooters of Traer) -  Intermediate/Advanced  - 29.68 3rd Place – Holdon Perez – South Texas Shooters - 30.92 Complete results for the 2018 SASP National Championships available here:  http://bit.ly/2NLjWUH The Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program introduced a new event at this year’s National Championships – the Top Gun Challenge. Over the years SCTP and SASP watched the steady increase in athletes shooting multiple disciplines in both their programs at nationals. They wanted to find a way to recognize the commitment and stamina these athletes have shown competing in so many events, over the course of the week. CZ-USA, a large sponsor of both SCTP and SASP graciously offered to sponsor the top prize for the winner. CZ-USA donated a Shotgun, a Rifle and a Pistol to SCTP/SASP and awarded all three prizes to the winners. Top Gun Winners: Tom Keeshan - North Scott Trap Team (Iowa) - Rookie/Intermediate/Varsity Division Mark Beardsley  -  Mason Dixon Shooters (Pennsylvania) - College Division View complete Top Gun standings here Side competitions held during the week included Make a Break and Last Competitor Standing. Make a Break Winner, Todd Hitch of the William Blount Shooting Team, received the Grand Prize, a Blaser F16 Sporting Shotgun donated by Double Guns of Nashville. The first of two Last Competitor Standing Competitions was held Wednesday evening following the Opening Ceremonies. Over 550 athletes stood shoulder to shoulder and competed for the title of Champion in the Men’s, Ladies and Collegiate Divisions. The second competition was held on Friday night. Winners received custom championship belt buckles and the Men’s and Ladies Division winners won SKB IS300 or Beretta A300 shotguns. Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2019 SCTP and SASP National Championships for July 13-20 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Ohio!

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