The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is proud to announce the 2023 All Scholastic Team. The All Scholastic Team recognizes achievements of student athletes in the shooting sports for their accomplishments in the classroom, in their communities and on the range.
Team members are featured in the National Championship program book, are listed on the All Scholastic Team banner at the 2023 National Championships, and are presented with a certificate and pin.
AST2BLAINE REALLY DOES OWE ALL HIS SUCCESS TO THE SSSF AND SASP PROGRAMS.
LORI SIMPSON, SASP PARENT
“In the beginning they couldn’t have had any success without Scott and Lisa Poet-the Michigan State Directors,” said Blaine’s mother, Lori Simpson. “They held our hands and showed us the way, and really set Aaron and Blaine up for the success that followed. Aaron and Blaine usually compete for the top spot at the SASP National Championships in Iron & Optic Rifle, and have continued to be the Ohio State Rifle Cup Champions year-after-year. Aaron and Blaine shot 3-position air rifle for a while in the winter months, and then a year ago at the SASP National Championships Rick Leach-SASP Director, introduced Blaine to Vladimir Chichkov, and precision air pistol. With the support of SASP, Rick Leach, James Hall and Jim Henderson, Blaine started competing in air pistol. James Hall, SASP Director of Development, made sure Blaine had a pistol to get started, and has been a constant resource to Blaine. Jim Henderson-Director Cardinal Shooting Center, introduced Blaine to an electronic target and let Blaine shoot an electronic target once a week at the Cardinal Center. Blaine now has a primitive air range set up in the basement and he has everyone on speed dial when he needs coaching tips, encouragement and moral support.”
“When SASP started our international disciplines just under 2 years ago, we were met with some naysayers, said SASP National Director, Rick Leach. “We were told just because our athletes can shoot fast, doesn’t mean they will be able to shoot accurately and with precision. Our response was we have extremely talented athletes with a lot of drive and determination, and they can do anything they put their minds to. They love pressing triggers and competing and we need to open as many doors as we can to provide opportunities for our athletes to be successful.”
“I have had the great opportunity to mentor Blaine, said James Hall, Olympian and SASP Director of Development. “He’s a very attentive athlete and has focused on his goals and made significant improvements in the last year. I tease that one of my goals for him and other rising SASP athletes is to replace me on the podium!”
“The competitive shooting community has truly become his shooting family,” said Lori Simpson. “SASP has encouraged Blaine and Aaron to pursue their goals and dream big! Blaine has made so many lifelong friendships, and everyone is always rooting for one another. The shooting community wants success for youth athletes both on and off the range. We are so proud of his success. Blaine hopes his most recent two Gold Medals at the 2023 Junior Olympic Pistol Championships, and being named to the Junior World Championship teams is just the beginning. He can’t wait to represent the United States on an international stage.”
In 2022, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation was gifted a large estate of firearms and other military collector's pieces with the intention to be auctioned off, with proceeds to provide scholarship funds for SASP and SCTP athletes. Now being prepared for auction, these items will be available for live online auction, as well as the opportunity to bid in-person on April 22, 23, 29, 30th and May 13 & 14th 2023.
Over 250 items are available as part of the auction, including Military Guns, Pistols, Long Arms, Colt, Remington, Springfield, Ruger, Walther, Luger, M1 Garands, Tanker, 100s of American & Foreign Bayonets, Reloading Supplies, Tooling and Reloading Tools, Ammo and much more!
Making a charitable gift through your will or estate plans is a simple and impactful way to support our youth of tomorrow. There are many ways to support Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation in your will, ranging from bequests, to gift annuities, to gifts, and retirement plan assets. Each gift supports getting more kids out participating in shooting sports. For more information on planned giving, please visit our website: https://sssfonline.org/donate/
The Dallas Safari Club (DSC), a continued supporter of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has awarded the youth development organization a grant totaling over $24,000. This support comes from multiple chapters, including DSC Great Lakes, DSC Heartland, DSC Oklahoma, and DSC Charleston.
The DSC’s mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use. Every year DSC raises funds through an annual convention, which go toward grants that directly support our mission of conservation, education, and advocacy. Through outreach efforts and informational content that introduces shooting and science-based wildlife management to growing demographics, DSC is ensuring a legacy of well-informed future sportsmen, sportswomen and conservationists. The SSSF is humbled to accept this large grant amount in support of youth development through its Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP).
"As a non-profit we realize how much effort fundraising takes," said SASP National Director, Rick Leach. "The fact that these four DSC chapters are willing to donate their hard-earned funds in recognition of our mission of youth development is greatly appreciated. The Dallas Safari Club has been a supporter of our programs for a number of years and the continued vote of confidence from multiple DSC chapters is humbling."
"Both of SSSF's youth programs are very fortunate to have support throughout the outdoor industry," said SCTP National Director, Tom Wondrash. "The Dallas Safari Club continues to invest in our youth, who will be the next generation of hunters and conservationists. Through our youth development programs, we aim to shape those next generations into the best possible citizens they can be. The grant funding from multiple DSC chapters is an incredible gesture and we hope to continue our work with the support of the DSC for years to come."
With a year-round season, this funding is put to immediate use for the SSSF's youth programs. Conducting its largest National Championship event to date with over 10,000 event entries, the SSSF looks to continue its mission to facilitate youth development through its team-based clay target, action shooting, and international disciplines. As the official youth feeder program for USA Shooting, the scope of athlete success can be realized at the highest levels through the SCTP and SASP. Athletes can begin their shooting sports journey at a young age and continue through college, which is encouraged and supported by scholarships offered by both of the SSSF's youth development programs.
Athlete safety and support is critical to the SSSF's mission. In 2020, the foundation launched its modernized coach education programs to help expand the nationwide network of youth shooting sports adult volunteers. With new teams being activated through programs such as the SCTP and SASP every day, the need for a simple, efficient and comprehensive path to coach certification is realized as the SSSF Basic Coach Certification Program. With the DSC grant support, the SSSF plans to expand its training offerings with advanced coach curriculum and focused training for international disciplines of skeet, bunker trap, air pistol/rifle, and sport pistol.
The focus of the SSSF and its youth development programs is just that: to produce high quality citizens for our country and communities. We are proud of former Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program athlete, Talo Marston. Talo stepped up in a situation when needed most!
Iowa is considered by many to be one of the premier white-tailed deer hunting destinations in the United States. Dreams come true in the Hawkeye State every year as hunters consistently harvest mature, corn fed bucks that reach well over 200". Getting a tag, however, is easier said than done. Now you can guarantee your tag and promote state and local conservation efforts through the Iowa Scholastic Clay Target Program Non-Resident Deer Tag Auction, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
This auction is for One Iowa Special Non-Resident Deer Tag, good Statewide for Archery, Gun season one, Gun season two, or the Late Muzzleloader season during either 2022 or 2023 Iowa deer season (hunter's choice). The deer tag includes 1 'any sex' deer and 1 'antlerless' deer. For seasons and hunting information, go to: http://www.iowadnr.gov/
The auction showroom is currently open for preregistration and the auction officially opens on August 1 at 12:00PM CST and ends on Friday, August 12 at 6:00PM CST.
The winner of the auction receives a tag that includes 1 any-sex deer and 1 antlerless deer. This non-resident deer tag is good statewide; however, Landowner Permission is required before hunting on private land. The winner of the auction is required to purchase an Iowa nonresident hunting license and pay the non-resident habitat fee.
The tag may be used either in the coming 2022-2023 season, or next year in the 2023-2024 season. The hunter must declare which year and one of the following standard seasons at the close of the auction and no later than September 25th, 2022.
2022-2023 season dates can be found at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/DeerHunting.aspx . 2023-2024 dates have not been confirmed at this time but will be similar to 2022-2023 dates.
In this episode, we recap SASP Collegiate Nationals and SCTP International Team Members share their stories of qualifying for their respective US National Teams.
In an effort to engage with the public about firearm safety, the The Arizona WildGats, a Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) team, put on a "1st Shots" educational event. This National Shooting Sports Foundation | NSSF-sponsored program creates responsible new firearms owners via training received from experienced coaches and athletes currently participating in the SASP. This shows our mission of youth development through shooting sports reaches beyond our youth organizations and provides positive change in local communities.