GLOCK, Inc. has made a $25,000 donation to the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) to benefit the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP).L-R: Scott Moore, SPP National Director; R. Lee "The Gunny" Ermey; Josh Dorsey, GLOCK Vice President of Operations and Sales; and Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive DirectorThe donation was presented to SSSF at last week’s NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Nashville, Tennessee. GLOCK was one of the founding partners of the Scholastic Pistol Program when SSSF started the program in 2012 and has supported the program since with its products and participation. Ed Fitzgerald, Special Projects Manager at GLOCK, Inc., is a member of SSSF’s Board of Directors and attends many SPP matches, not only to represent GLOCK, but also to work with the athletes and coaches and to assist with the operation of the events. Fitzgerald even travels to many matches throughout the South with a complete SPP/Action Target set-up for ranges that need targets for SPP events. “GLOCK understands the importance of industry leadership in the promotion of a safe and effective way of introducing the concepts of basic competitive shooting to young men and women who are just starting out,” said Fitzgerald. “As the industry embraces this concept of supporting our young competitors, we will continue our efforts to lead the way in supporting the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation.” In addition to the growth of the national program through GLOCK’s financial support, product donations, and loaner guns, the company’s generosity makes it possible for many SPP teams to have sufficient guns for competitors’ use and to raise funds for team expenses. The company also offers special pricing for SPP teams that allows team dollars to go further. “The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is honored to receive this major gift from GLOCK,” said Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director. “With their support, we are able to further strengthen and grow our Scholastic Pistol Program at the grassroots level and provide local teams with the education, support, and resources to run successful programs.” To learn more about GLOCK or its products, visit us.GLOCK.com.
The Hillsdale College Shotgun Team has brought home its third ACUI Collegiate Division 3 National Clay Target Championship in four years, winning the title at the recent ACUI event at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. This year, over 600 shooters representing 73 colleges competed in the ACUI Clay Target Championships, including 34 teams in Division 3. Joe Kain and Drew Lieske competed in the International Skeet event and made the finals, with Joe finishing fourth. In the International Bunker Trap event, Jordan Hintz and Clay Moniot made the finals and would finish second and third.
The team portion of the week started off a little tough, with sporting clays scores that did not meet shooters' expectations. Schreiner University showed they would be tough competition for the Chargers early in the week. By the end of day 3 and the International Skeet event, Schreiner was up by 11 targets.
Day 4 would see the Chargers come back through the International Wobble Trap event. Clay Moniot led the team with a 96/100, and the entire Schreiner lead was erased, giving Hillsdale a one-target advantage. In addition, Casey Inks and Anna Pfaff would finish first and second in the Ladies Division.
Both teams shot identical scores in the day 5 American Skeet event, with Kie Kababik leading the Chargers with his first perfect 100/100.
Sunday is American Trap day, and Hillsdale has never failed to shine on this last day of the tournament. Both Kie and Clay would shoot perfect 100's. In a pool of 13 perfect scores (that included six shooters from 11-time Division 1 National Champions, Lindenwood University), these two would outlast all the others through two rounds of shoot-offs. Clay would finish the day perfectly, with Kie just one target behind to go first and second overall for Men. Casey would also add a 99/100 to the team score and seal the National Championship for Hillsdale College. She dropped just one target in the Ladies shoot-off and would take second overall for Ladies.
With perfect 100's in both American Trap and Skeet, Kie Kababik would take top honors for all shooters in Combined American events, and Clay Moniot, with his great trap scores, would take top honors for Combined Trap events. Jordan Hintz and Drew Lieske made 2nd Team All-American. They are the first Chargers to attain this level.
"Great senior leadership from Joe Kain and Jason VanDeWeghe helped the team create the focus required to excel on the final day of the tournament," said coach Mike Carl. "It was a total team effort that led to a seven-target victory over second place Schreiner University."
Coach Mike Carl and Adam Burlew have seen the team through great growth this year. Congratulations to the Chargers Shotgun Team for a job well done and representing Hillsdale College (and SCTP) so well. -- Reported by Perry Hintz
For anyone who is planning to be in Nashville for the annual NRA Members Meeting and Exhibits next week, here is an event you won't want to miss! The inaugural Second Amendment Youth Leadership Conference, planned for Friday, April 10 at the Omni Nashville Hotel, will feature special guest speakers and the opportunity to learn more about the Second Amendment. Geared specifically toward the next generation of Second Amendment activists, this one-of-a kind event will be an exciting opportunity for students and recent graduates to learn how to become an effective advocate on their campus and in their community! Among the speakers scheduled to address the youth conference are Chris Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director; Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina; Phil Bryant, Mississippi Governor; and Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Congresswoman. Attendance is free, but due to the anticipated interest in this event, pre-registration is strongly encouraged. College students who attend will receive a free, one-year NRA membership, along with opportunities to win prizes and admission to the annual meeting.
Sometimes gun-owning parents who live with firearm safety every day take for granted that every member in the family knows age-appropriate rules about gun safety. But if you haven't had "the talk" with the children in your home, they may have questions that haven't been addressed. The conversation is equally important for families who don't have firearms in the house. Their children are just as likely to have questions about guns, and at some point, they will be in homes or other areas where they may come into contact with guns. Project ChildSafe has created a new video, "How to Talk to Your Kids About Gun Safety," to help parents have that important conversation. The video stars army veteran, champion shooter, and mom Julie Golob. Watch the video, and please share it with your friends and social media connections.
The Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) held its 2015 Collegiate National Championships on March 21, with nearly 20 squads from nine schools vying for titles in both the Varsity (centerfire) and Junior Varsity (rimfire) divisions. The United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) hosted the event at Fort Benning's Krilling Range in Georgia. Schools competing this year were Eastern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, University of Florida, Florida State University, Michigan State University, Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, Southeastern Illinois College, University of Vermont, and United States Military Academy at West Point. The Cadets from West Point took first place honors in the Varsity Division, outshooting powerhouse Texas A&M Corps of Cadets by a score of 188.04 to 190.11. The 2.07 winning margin is one of the closest finishes in SPP history and sent the coveted Daniel C. Hodne Trophy to a new home on the Hudson River. The University of Florida Centerfire Squad 1 outpaced the Kentucky Wildcats to take third place. In the Junior Varsity Division, West Point took its second title of the day over a strong runner-up Michigan State Green Squad, with Texas A&M Maroon Squad coming in third. "The United States Army Marksmanship Unit Action Shooting Team looks forward to the chance to interact with students and host the Scholastic Pistol Program's College Nationals every year,” said SFC Michael J. Buss, Action Shooting Team Chief, USAMU. “Our world-class facilities get our team ready for matches around the country, as well as sharpen soldiers' marksmanship skills through training. These young shooters are the future of the sport and only add to the excellence demonstrated every day by soldiers on Fort Benning." “The USAMU has been a great partner in helping grow SPP as well as the future of our sport,” said Scott Moore, SPP National Director. “They have been gracious enough to support SPP on several projects. Krilling Range has become a second home for us!” You can see full results from the SPP Collegiate National Championships on our Match Results page.
The biggest events of the year are on the 2015 calendar for SCTP and SPP, and your year won't be complete if you don't participate in at least one of them! Registration is now open for SCTP team registration through the SHOT system and for SPP teams.
Save these dates for our 2015 SCTP and SPP National Championship events:
July 13-18
SCTP National Championships (American)
Sparta, IL
July 13-18
SPP Junior/Senior National Championships
Sparta, IL
July 27-Aug. 2
SCTP National Championships (International)
Colorado Springs, CO
In 2014, each discipline experienced record-breaking participation in its national events, and we're expecting nothing less at this year's championships. More than 2500 student athletes participated in the National Championship events in Sparta, Illinois alone. In addition, the national championships are the largest source of endowment fund contributions to team accounts for both SCTP and SPP. Below is the schedule for each discipline at the SCTP-SPP Junior/Senior National Championships in Sparta:Sunday, July 12 - Registration Monday, July 13 - Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Tuesday, July 14 - Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Wednesday, July 15 - Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Thursday, July 16 - Skeet, trap handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Friday, July 17 - Trap, skeet doubles, pistol Saturday, July 18 - Trap, skeet doubles, pistol Mark your calendars for these important events -- don't miss them!
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has named two new members, Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr. and Mark T. Wade, to its Board of Directors. The new members assumed their roles this week at the board’s annual meeting in San Antonio. DeBergalis, of West Seneca, New York, is a board member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), where he chairs the NRA Education and Training Committee. He is also Vice President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and is active in many other shooting organizations. Wade is the Managing Principal of Echelon Wealth Strategies, LLC in Westfield, New Jersey. He has been an active member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association for more than 30 years and is a Life Member of the National Sporting Clays Association and National Skeet Shooting Association. “We are most fortunate to have Joe and Mark as our newest members of the Board of Directors for the SSSF,” said Louise K. Terry, Chairperson of the Board. “They both bring to their positions on the board substantial background and experience in business and the shooting sports that make them great additions to our team.” Also at this week’s meeting, the Board of Directors held its annual election of officers. Louise K. Terry was re-elected as chair, and Ed Fitzgerald was elected vice chair, replacing Michael Hampton, Jr., whose term expired. In 2014, Eric Tarbox of Gorham, Maine, was elected to the Board of Directors, bringing his experience working with youth programs as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America to the SSSF. Other board members include Louise K. Terry, Michael Hampton, Jr., Denis Karnosky, Ed Fitzgerald, Paul Pluff, Thomas Edwards, and Carlton Nether. Leaving the SSSF Board of Directors following completion of her term is Kemble du Pont. “We want to thank Kemble for her years of service and contributions to our shared interest in youth development through the shooting sports,” said Terry.
If the SCTP-SPP National Championships in Sparta, Illinois are a part of your team's plans for this year -- and why wouldn't they be? -- it's a good idea to start considering accommodations for the week of July 13-18. To make it easier for you to know your options, especially if this will be your first trip to the Sparta area, we have some resources for you. We've accessed a Google map that shows lodging in the vicinity of the World Shooting & Recreational Complex, so you can not only see your lodging options, but also where they are relative to the complex.
In addition, the World Shooting & Recreational Complex offers 1001 camping sites for those of you who want to stay right on the premises in an RV or tent. Click the link below to learn about the WSRC campground options and to access online reservations. You can also make campground reservations by calling Sherry Flowers at the WSRC, 618-295-2700, ext. 486.
Don't know when you need to be there? Below is the schedule for each discipline:Sunday, July 12 - Registration Monday, July 13 - Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Tuesday, July 14 - Skeet, sporting clays, pistol Wednesday, July 15 - Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Thursday, July 16 - Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Friday, July 17 - Trap, skeet doubles, pistol Saturday, July 18 - Trap, skeet doubles, pistol
Some SCTP athletes in Wisconsin have a unique opportunity to get help with the purchase of the shooting supplies and equipment they need this year. The USO of Wisconsin is offering 10 scholarships to military youth -- those under the age of 18 with a parent, guardian, or sibling currently serving in the U.S. military. Each scholarship awarded will total $300. For military youth who shoot in the SCTP in Wisconsin, this is your chance to help reduce the expense of being involved in the clay target shooting sports. If selected, awardees will receive the scholarship via a $300 credit with the SCTP. That credit will be available to use to purchase ammunition, shooting supplies, shooting gear, and safety equipment available through the SCTP.
If your team participates in the SPP Virtual E-Postal Match Series, you now have opportunities to earn endowment funds for your team! The Scholastic Pistol Program has designated $40,000 of its 2015 endowment donations for the Virtual E-Postal Match Series participants. The Virtual E-Postal Match Series is designed so teams can compete without having to travel to other ranges. Teams can shoot on their home ranges, then submit their scores to SPP for entry into the virtual match. Beginning in April 2015, there will be a special monthly random draw with a prize of a $1,000 donation to a team’s MidwayUSA Foundation endowment account. This special event will run through December 2015 and is open to any team/squad that participates in the Virtual E-Postal Match Series in that month. In addition, we will be offering endowment donations as placement awards. This year we will be using the Lewis Class system during the Virtual Match Series. There will be two (2) Lewis classes in each division, and endowment money will be given to first, second, and third places in each class. In Class A, the donations will be $1,250 for first, $1,000 for second, and $750 for third. In Class B, the donations for first through third will be $1,000, $750, and $500, respectively. To be eligible for Virtual E-Postal Match Series Championships, a team or squad must register at least six (6) squad scores during the season.
To compete in this series, the team/squad must shoot the entire course of fire and submit their scores for registration. Just like any live match, a team/squad must have four individuals competing. The current Virtual E-Postal Series season began September 1, 2014 and has been extended to run through December 15, 2015. Eligibility for SPP Virtual E-Postal Match Series Any team/squad that is fully registered in the Scholastic Pistol Program, which includes being registered in the SHOT system, is eligible and encouraged to compete in this series. Teams must also have an endowment account with the MidwayUSA Foundation. If you don't have an endowment account, it's easy to start an account here. Submitting Scores Score sheets can be downloaded from the website. Coaches must register each score by submitting a scanned copy of the completed SPP score sheets to tmowry@sssfonline.com. The cost of registration is $5 per squad (of four) per match score. Notice: These updated rules for Virtual Matches supersede previous published editions.
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.
