Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team wins 6th straight Texas State Championship

Written by SSSF Staff on May 10, 2018. Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

While thousands gathered for the NRA annual convention in Dallas on May 4-6 to pontificate about firearms, about 300 sixth through twelfth graders comprising two dozen youth shotgun teams convened at Ellis County Sportsman’s Club just 20 miles away for the Scholastic Clay Target Program’s 2018 Texas State Shotgun Championships. “Ellis County is one of the few venues in North Texas that can handle a tournament this size,” noted Coach Rich Keele. “For anything bigger, we pretty much have to use the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.” More than 70,000 targets and 3,000 boxes of shotgun ammo decided individual, squad, and team state champions in American Skeet, American Trap, and Sporting Clays. According to longtime supporter Bill Alford whose son shot on the first national champion squad for the Eagles, “The growth of youth shotgun sports is incredible. You know it’s grown when parents and coaches get frustrated because all the shoots fill up on the first day of registration.” Hundreds of medals, trophies, and belt buckles were awarded to athletes in grades 6-12 competing in their respective classifications. For most, this was the pinnacle of their season having battled the elements throughout the 6-month league which started back in November. Many will compete in the Lower Midwest Regional Tournament in San Antonio June 16-17 along with athletes from OK, AR, and LA. A few will go on to represent Texas at the SCTP American Team Nationals July 18-22 in Marengo, OH versus 3,000+ shooting athletes from across the nation. Among the Eagles who have already qualified for the All-State-Team representing Texas at Nationals are Rob Beach (Trap), Trevor Christensen (Skeet), Sean Packer (Sporting Clays), and Grant Stelmach (Sporting Clays). Beach and Packer also qualified as All-Americans in Sporting Clays, while Morgan Scott and Brandon Stone qualified as All-Americans in Skeet.

The Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team won the High Overall Team Championship by a margin of 42 targets out of 1,500 over the Southlake Carroll Target Program who earlier this year placed 1st in the North Texas League by 29 targets over the Eagles out of 4,500 shot in 9 league events. Also in the running for the HOA team state crown, 1 target separated 3rd place Red Oak High School Shotgun Team from 4th place Grace Cougars of Tyler with newcomer Keller High School Clay Target Team in 5th place by just 4 more targets. Allen and Southlake tied for the Skeet team award. But, Allen got the win in a shootoff with Southlake veterans Nicholas Godfrey and Tyler Hall demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship. The Eagles took the Sporting Clays team award by 3 targets over the Dragons. And Pleasant Grove Shotgun Club bested Allen by 1 target out of 500 for the Trap Team Championship. The level of competition just keeps getting tougher. Every year, there are more and better teams competing. “Every year, we graduate a bunch of great shooters and fool ourselves into thinking we’ve seen the best of the best. But each year, a new crop of young shooters step up to the plate and raise the bar,” noted Eagles head coach Jason Anderson. “We just reload.” Allen had a host of individual and squad award winners too! SKEET Team: GOLD-Trevor Christensen, Morgan Scott, Nick Welch Varsity Squad: BRONZE-Morgan Scott, Robert Beach, Sean Packer Varsity Lady: GOLD-Morgan Scott, BRONZE-Bailey Finnelly JV Squad: Trenton Christensen, Meredith McCarty, Garrett Koch Intermediate/Advanced Squad: SILVER-Owen Lyons, Riley Showah, Brandon Martin Intermediate/Advanced Athlete: GOLD-Owen Lyons Intermediate/Entry Squad: GOLD-Nick Welch, Dylan Little, Tyler Stelmach Intermediate/Entry Athlete: GOLD-Nick Welch, SILVER-Dylan Little TRAP Team: SILVER-Robert Beach, Bailey Finnelly, Sean Packer, Morgan Scott, Kaleb Carper Varsity Squad: GOLD-Robert Beach, Bailey Finnelly, Morgan Scott, Jackson Harper, Jake Lundberg & SILVER-Sean Packer, Kaleb Carper, Thomas Keele, John Lyons, Grant Stelmach Varsity Lady: SILVER-Bailey Finnelly, BRONZE-Morgan Scott JV Squad: SILVER-Ellie Moeller, Oliver Harrison, Presli Richmond, Hunter Rhodes, Joseph Showah JV Lady: BRONZE-Ellie Moeller Intermediate/Entry Squad: GOLD-Dylan Little, Nick Welch, Tyler Stelmach, Brett Windham, Luc Tomczak & SILVER-Austin Hodge, Alex Martin, Connor Bowles, Alex Bull, Samantha Gott & BRONZE-Hudson Cooper, Logan Martinez Intermediate/Entry Athlete: BRONZE-Hudson Cooper Intermediate/Entry Lady: BRONZE-Samantha Gott SPORTING CLAYS Team: GOLD-Sean Packer, Grant Stelmach, Thomas Keele Varsity Squad: GOLD-Sean Packer, Grant Stelmach, Thomas Keele Intermediate/Advanced Squad: SILVER-Owen Lyons, Brandon Martin, Riley Showah Intermediate/Advanced Athlete: GOLD-Owen Lyons Intermediate/Entry Squad: GOLD-Nick Welch, Dylan Little, Tyler Stelmach & BRONZE-Austin Hodge, Brett Windham, Luc Tomczak Intermediate/Entry Athlete: SILVER-Nick Welch HIGH OVER ALL H.O.A. Team: GOLD-Allen Skeet: Trevor Christensen, Morgan Scott, Nick Welch, Grant Stelmach, Sean Packer Sporting Clays: Sean Packer, Grant Stelmach, Thomas Keele, Kaleb Carper, Nick Welch Trap: Robert Beach, Bailey Finnelly, Sean Packer, Morgan Scott, Kaleb Carper H.O.A. Varsity Athlete: BRONZE-Sean Packer H.O.A. Varsity Lady: SILVER-Morgan Scott, BRONZE-Bailey Finnelly H.O.A. Intermediate/Advanced Athlete: GOLD-Owen Lyons H.O.A. Intermediate/Entry Athlete: SILVER-Nick Welch, BRONZE-Dylan Little H.O.A. Intermediate/Entry Lady: BRONZE-Samantha Gott

Briley Offers SCTP Nationals Pre-Order

Written by SSSF Staff on May 10, 2018. Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

A letter from Briley Regarding 4H State & SCTP Nationals Pre Order Hi Everyone!! I hope this letter finds all the kiddos and families happy and healthy!! It’s that time of year again to begin preparing for the Texas State 4-H Championships in San Antonio and SCTP Nationals in Marengo. This year is busier than ever for Briley, especially our travel and shoot schedule. This year, TX State 4-H and SCTP Nationals are same week in July. This year….again….we would like to try pre-ordering chokes and selected accessories to be picked up at each event. The “Buy One Choke, Get One Free” is always very popular and we want to do our best to be prepared when you walk into our stores. Inventory will be VERY limited at each event. On a little more serious note, the “Buy One, Get One” is a once a year sale we love to do for the kids. We feel very strongly that the youth is the future of shooting sports and hunting and we are committed to helping in any way we can. With that being said, this sale in San Antonio and Marengo, is for 4H & SCTP members only. We would appreciate keeping this relationship between Briley, SCTP, and 4H honest and a respected program. All the kids and their families have always been top notch, polite, grateful, and truly a pleasure to do business with. Briley would also like to thank all the parents, coaches, and chaperons for your hard work and commitment to the kids and this sport. Without you, this week of shooting would not happen. If you have any questions or need further information please contact our sales team in Houston. 713-932-6995 smp@briley.com

All orders must be placed no later than

Friday, July 6.

Order Information – Chokes, Wrenches, and Accessories

We will need the following information emailed, mailed, faxed, or called into Briley. Name Address Phone # Make, model, and gauge of the gun(s) Please specify the style of chokes you want. i.e. silver extended, black extended, spectrum (color bands), ported, titanium, etc. Then…list the constrictions (sizes) you want. i.e. SK, IC, LMOD, etc. If you need help selecting your chokes, please feel free to contact any one our sales reps and we will be happy to help. Please include any wrenches, grease, choke cleaning brushes, snap caps, or any other accessories you would like to purchase. Please call Briley @ 1-800-331-5718 to place your order with any sales rep or email hannah@briley.com. Very important…. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PAID FOR AND PICKED UP IN SAN ANTONIO & MARENGO. SHIPPING IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you so much for your continued support and use of Briley products. We are proud to be a part of the SCTP & 4H shooting sports!! We look forward to seeing each and every one of you in July. Hannah Price – Briley Mfg.

A True Success Story: Jack’d up for Trap

Written by SSSF Staff on May 8, 2018. Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Story by John Koney Five years ago seems like so long ago for Jack Gerstmeier. At the age of 10 1/2, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Type 1 diabetes means that your pancreas no longer produces insulin that turn sugar and carbs into energy your body can use. It meant from now on he would require at least 4 shots a day to control his blood sugar for this chronic disease. The diagnosis took a toll on him both mentally and physically. He quit playing volleyball and basketball because it was very hard to control his diabetes early on. He was at the age where hormones and growth spurts wreak havoc on normal middle school boys, but trying to control blood sugars while your body begins that process is a challenge all in itself. Sports were no longer an important part of his daily life. Gradually things improved as he adjusted to his new normal. A year into his diagnosis he began receiving insulin through an insulin pump, which eliminated the 4 insulin shots each day. Things

were slowly getting easier. Knowing how important it is to be active and involved he was approached by his dad and asked if he had any interest in trap shooting. His grandparents had been league trap shooters at the Waukesha Gun Club while his dad was growing up. He was excited to give it a try. He was ready to find something he could be good at with or without diabetes. Fast forward 3 years, Jack is now a varsity trap shooter for Poplar Creek Claybusters. He started at the intermediate level while in 8^th grade. He traveled throughout southeastern Wisconsin shooting in tournaments and improving his skills that season. On June 26, 2016, he went to Rome, Wisconsin to shoot in the SCTP State Trap Tournament. He participated in the 21yd intermediate handicap and took 3^rd place. This was a huge accomplishment for him in year one. While continuing to shoot trap for a second season, he was asked to tryout for a pistol and rifle team. He joined Lake Country Action Shooters (LCAS) in late May, 2017. He immediately began practices and on June 11, joined LCAS at State in Sturgeon Bay, WI. This would be his first pistol and rifle competition and the weather provided him a great challenge. Many of the teams opted to wait out the storm. Jack's coach insisted they persevere, if they could shoot in this they could shoot in anything. The team walked away with two 1^st place ribbons for center fire pistol and optic rifle. It was quite an accomplishment in the few weeks he was with the team. Just a short 6 weeks after state, LCAS traveled to SASP Nationals in Marengo, Ohio. With a few additional weeks of practice for Jack, his JV squad walked away with three 1^st place ribbons in optic rifle, iron rifle, and center fire pistol and a 2^nd place in 1911. He returned to Marengo again in October this time as a member of the varsity squad and came home with four first place medals. To improve upon his success from the year before with Poplar Creek, Jack’s JV Squad took 1^st place in the NWCTC Eastern Division Conference. Jack continued to improve, putting up some personal bests. With all the successes with his shooting teams last season, in August, 2017 Jack received the “artificial pancreas”. This is still not a cure for type 1 diabetes, but definitely a game changer for him. His continual blood sugar roller coasters have almost disappeared. His new pump, regulates his blood sugar with the use of a continuous glucose monitor that gives his pump blood sugar readings every 5 minutes and decides to give or not give him insulin based on the numbers. He is finally starting to feel “normal” again, thanks to the latest and greatest in medical technology. He is off to a great start again this year with both Poplar Creek Claybusters and Lake Country Action Shooters. For the first time in 2 years, he has had two 24/25 rounds this week. He is aiming for that 25/25 perfect round. He continues to work on reducing his time with pistol and rifle as he shoots at the varsity level this year. He looks forward to finishing this season strong in both disciplines, while looking ahead to the future. He continues to manage type 1 diabetes through technology and self discipline and is not going to let it stop him from achieving his goals. Jack credits the SCTP and SASP organizations for providing alternative sports for today’s youth. The coaching he has received in both disciplines and his continued development has given him a new level of confidence. His coaching and training along with his new pump allow him to walk up to the line not as a diabetic but as a competitor just like everyone else.

2018 SASP Arizona State Match

Written by SSSF Staff on May 8, 2018. Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) state match in Arizona was held March 31, 2018 at the Pima Pistol Club in Tucson.

Team Baden-Powell was the 4th SASP team to form in Arizona so they had the honor of hosting the 4th State match. They were responsible for communicating with the Arizona teams, communicating with the home range, organizing registration, recruiting RO's and managing the scoring for all the athletes that participated. This Venture Crew team is composed of Scouts from the Catalina Council Boy Scouts of America. This shooting team was formed three years ago and has great support from the Council and from the local community. Arizona has currently has 5 SASP teams; Kingman, Casa Grande and three teams in Tucson. Attendance at this state match was up 50% from 32 athletes in 2017 to 51 athletes participating in 2018. Entries across all disciplines was up 35% from 60 in 2017 to 81 in 2018.

Savannah’s Forest City Gun Club hosts 2018 SCTP SE Regional Shoot

Written by SSSF Staff on May 7, 2018. Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

There were stiff winds and even stiffer competition at the SCTP 2018 Southeastern Regional Championship April 20-22 at the Forest City Gun Club in Savannah. Over 300 youth shooters from 24 teams across the Southeast participated. The Trap event on Saturday was shot in 20+ mph winds, but these young shooters were not deterred. Nash Sinclair of Lake Oconee took the title followed by a tie between Central Georgia teammates Alexis Eidson and Bradley Defore. Eidson was Lady Champion followed by a tie between her teammate Delaney Calhoun and Reanna Frauens. The Central Georgia Elite Shooters team, coached by Chad Eidson, broke 1,391 out of 1,500 birds to win over all the youth shooting teams of boys and girls from third grade through college. The Lake Oconee Shotgun Team came in second place (1,376), followed by the Worth County Shotgun Team (1,352) in third. Defending SCTP National Champions Young Guns at Quail Creek from Okechobee, Florida finished fourth, and Savannah-based Forest City Juniors led by Douglas Williams and Colin Davis finished fifth.

Young Guns, Lake Oconee, Forest City and Central Georgia represent 4 of the top 5 winning teams at the 2017 SCTP National Championship out of over 200 teams nationwide. Andrew Weiche and Tate Skipper, both of Macon, led the charge for Central Georgia Elite and ended up tied for the High Over All individual honor which was settled by a shoot-off that went Weiche’s way. Ambus Powell of the Worth County Shotgun Team finished third overall. Reanna Frauens of Coral Gables, Florida, won Ladies HOA shooting for the Young Guns at Quail Creek followed by Alexis Eidson and Dallas Ward for Central Georgia Elite. Men's Sporting Clays ended in a tie between perennial Georgia powerhouses Aaron Copelan of Lake Oconee and Kevin Bandt of the Brookine Top Shots. Copelan won the shoot-off to take the title. Andrew Weiche finished 3rd. The Ladies sporting champion was Central Georgia's Alexis Eidson followed by Reanna Frauens. Ashley Blenker of Quail Creek and Camryn McCraney of Etowah Valley tied for 3rd. Sunday’s Skeet event ended with three perfect scores of 100 by Tate Skipper, Reanna Frauens and Buford’s Camryn McCraney, who shoots for the Etowah Valley Mambas. Skipper eventually won the event via shoot-off, and then Frauens defeated McCraney to win the Ladies Division. Lake Oconee Collegiate shooter Tyler Hyatt also shot a perfect 100 straight. Forest City Gun Club has a busy competitive calendar in 2018. In addition to this SCTP Regional, they hosted the 2018 NSSA Krieghoff MASTERS Skeet tournament May 3-6. In June, they will hold the Georgia State Sporting Clays Championship and in September, they will host the NSCA Southeastern Regional Championship for a field of over 600 shooters. Article by Lee Summerford, Forest City Gun Club.

Pre-Squadding Information for 2018 SCTP National Championships

Written by SSSF Staff on May 2, 2018. Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Due to the extremely large volume of teams and coaches trying to squad for the 2018 National Championships, we have decided to implement a new registration path this year to take some pressure off coaches competing for slots and shooting times when general online registration is open and available on June 1st. This year, we are trying something new. We are going to allow teams to “pre-squad” for the SCTP National Championships. Here’s how it will work: Teams must send via US Postal Service to the Burlington, WI address provided, a filled out “Nationals pre-squad form” available on our Forms and Handbook section of our website. You will need to fill out a form for each team “scenario”……meaning, the dates and times for each squad you want entered. These squads must be “pre-built” in your team’s page and be built for each discipline. Date for SCTP to receive these forms is Tuesday, May 15. Do not send prior to that date, entries received with a prior date stamp will not be accepted!! This form must be sent in with payment either by credit card or by check, no payment sent in with forms will result in no squads entered for that team. These funds are “nonrefundable”!! If you pay for 15 athletes and only 12 show up, the other 3 athlete’s fees are not returned. A team may change shooters or resquad them before nationals, that is no problem. We will take the presquad forms in the order they are received by us from the US Postal service and in order of the time stamp on the envelope. No dropping off of forms will be allowed and PLEASE, do NOT send these forms with a signature required. They will be put at the end of the forms received that day or the next day if they are sent with a signature required…… Squading will be confirmed and posted prior to the opening of the National Championship squading on June 1^st. Please give us 3 options or “scenarios” for your teams squads as many slots will fill up fast. See the form and instructions for more details regarding squading for the SCTP National Championships! Hope to see you all in Marengo, Ohio July 14-21!

Ohio Steel Stingers Give Back

Written by SSSF Staff on May 1, 2018. Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Story by Tom Kilbane – Ohio Steel Stingers In the Spirit of giving back to our community the Ohio Steel Stinger athletes volunteered at on April 28, 2018 to run the bases with special needs children from the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Area. The Team joined the baseball players with var

ious special needs at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields in Fairfield, Ohio. The Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields at Hatton Park are the realization of one of several charitable works envisioned by the late major league pitcher and Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall. Encounters with service organizations dedicated to helping children and adults with disabilities, as well as his association with amateur sports organizations of all kinds, led Joe to the realization that no baseball diamonds existed to facilitate unrestricted play for people with physical and mental challenges. He developed a resolve to provide such a ballpark for his community. The Ohio Steel Stingers were partnered with individual players to help them hit the ball, run the bases, field the ball or just have fun. Smiles were seen throughout the park from the players and their new buddies.

Aguila Ammunition USA to Sponsor SASP

Written by SSSF Staff on April 27, 2018. Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

The SASP would like to welcome Aguila Ammunition USA as a Silver Sponsor of its program this shooting season! Since 1961, Aguila Ammunition has been dedicated to developing and manufacturing self-defense, recreational, hunting, law enforcement, and military ammunition. As one of the largest Rimfire manufacturers in the world, they're proud to offer a wide array of ammo engineered for reliability and performance. And it all starts with a careful and extensive process of sourcing raw materials. Bottom line: Only choice materials enter their factory, so only choice products leave it. Guaranteed. Texas Armament and Technology is the exclusive distributor of Aguila Ammunition. In addition, it provides training and consulting services for some of the world’s largest companies in the aerospace and defense sectors. “Aguila Ammunition is proud to partner with the SASP and support its mission of providing team shooting opportunities for young athletes,” says Kristi Drawe, Director of Marketing for Aguila Ammunition. “We’re looking forward to being a part of this year’s National Championships and introducing young shooters to the Aguila brand.” “We're very excited to have Aguila Ammunition on board as a Silver Sponsor this year," said Rick Leach, SASP's National Director. "The quality and reliability of their ammo is unmatched in the shooting industry and I know our athletes are going to benefit from using their product in competition!" Look for Aguila at this year’s national championships being held July 14th – 21stat the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio! Are you or your company interested in being part of or supporting the Scholastic Action Shooting Program? If so, please download the 2018 SASP Media Guide or contact Rick Leach, SASP National Director at rleach@sssfonline.com.

2018 SCTP All-State Teams To Be Named at Nationals

Written by SSSF Staff on April 26, 2018. Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

New from the 2017 shooting season and continued for the 2018 season will be the SCTP “All State Team”. This team will be comprised of athletes finishing in the top 5 positions at their respective state shoots in 16 yard singles Trap, American Skeet and Sporting Clays, male and female athletes combined and regardless of their team affiliation! To be eligible for the All State Team, athletes must:

Attend their SCTP state championship event(s)
Attend the SCTP National Championships in Marengo, OH

Those top 5 athletes (in each discipline from their state shoot) attending the SCTP National Championships being held in Marengo, Ohio July 14-21 2018 will have their scores count towards their “All State Team” score for that discipline! They will not shoot independently of their team and squad however, we will just use the scores shot at nationals for their “All State Team” score. Any ties will be shot off as a squad! The top 5 athletes will be selected across all age divisions and categories in grades 12 and under only. Special prizes will be issued for the top 3 states (athletes) by order of finish and will be presented at the awards ceremonies at the tournament. These will all be 5 person squads. If an athlete that finishes in the top 5 (at their state shoot) does not attend the national championships, we will then take the next competitor in line that will be attending nationals in July! That could be a 6^th place state finisher, 7^th place or so on down the line. We will have more criteria posted on our website soon in the SCTP Forms and Handbook section. If you have any other questions about this great opportunity for our athlete’s, please contact the Directors of Development, Chet Tuinstra or Carlton Nether or contact National Director, Tom Wondrash.

Ruger Police Service Six on Auction to Benefit SASP

Written by SSSF Staff on April 25, 2018. Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Ruger Firearms has generously donated a Police Service-Six® .357 mag – 1986 revolver to benefit the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). The revolver is being auctioned on Gunbroker.com now through May 2, 12:30PM eastern time. We have for auction a Ruger® Police Service-Six® double-action revolver. The serial number on this revolver is 159-93030, and the production date is April 10, 1986. The revolver had been shipped to a commercial distributor and then returned to the factory. There are no notes as to why it was returned. A letter “U” is stamped to the right of the serial number located on the bottom of the grip frame. The “U” indicates a used firearm. This .357 Magnum stainless revolver holds six rounds. The major parts are heat-treated chrome-molybdenum steel. Features include a 4” heavy barrel and fixed sights. It has a square butt grip frame featuring checkered walnut grip panels with silver-colored Ruger eagle medallions. Service-Six® revolvers were first introduced in 1971 and were in production through 1987. The GP100® double-action revolver, which is still in production today, replaced the Police Service-Six®, Security-Six®, and Speed-Six® revolvers. The Ruger® Service-Six® revolver is being sold “as is,” and the purchaser assumes all liability for its safe and proper ownership, storage, use, and resale. The revolver is a part of the Ruger factory collection in Southport, Connecticut, and a certificate of Authenticity will be mailed to the winner of the auction. View this revolver on Gunbroker.com and place your bid now! Ruger has committed to supporting the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) through a series of Gunbroker.com auctions running through spring 2018 with a new auction beginning each Wednesday at 12:30 pm EST.

Author: SSSF Staff

All orders must be placed no later than

Order Information – Chokes, Wrenches, and Accessories