Not only did each Scholastic Pistol Program shooter take home more than $60 in goodies supplied by our sponsors, but many of the shooters and squads also won valuable prizes in random drawings throughout the SPP Junior/Senior National Championships. Among the more than $16,000 in prizes given away were PARA USA pistols, Beretta Neos pistols, Glock pistols, a Mossberg .22 LR rifle, a Browning Buckmark pink pistol, Americase pistol cases, Brownells shooting accessories, NextLevel training pistol, Blade Tech knives and holsters, products from Otis Technology, gift certificates from XS Sights, Atlanta Arms, Tactical Solutions, and GT Targets, and much more. See the SPP Nationals Prizes and Winners.
More than 2500 young shooters, along with thousands of coaches, family members, and supporters, descended upon the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill. last week for the largest youth shooting event ever held, the SCTP and SPP National Championships. The July 14-19 event saw significant increases in virtually every metric over 2013's record-setting Nationals. In the SCTP event alone, competitors shot 715,000 targets, a 35% increase over last year. Shooters from 175 SCTP teams came from 26 states. SPP also saw its own increases. In only its second Junior/Senior National Championship, SPP experienced an increase of 62% in participant numbers, hosting 326 shooters representing 39 teams from 15 states. Earlier this year, SPP hosted a separate Collegiate National Championship with close to 100 shooters from 24 squads.
With the largest contingency of shooters, Trap had almost 1900 participants, a 19% increase. A total of 736 shooters shot Skeet for a 29% growth, and the 677 Sporting Clays shooters represented a 30% increase. Of the 2180 SCTP shooters, 1818 were male and 361 female. "An event of this magnitude could only take place so successfully with a great deal of hard work and dedication from our student athletes, coaches, parents, team volunteers, and our own staff," said Ben Berka, President and Executive Director of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), which powers SCTP and SPP. "We are especially grateful to our many sponsors and benefactors who make it possible for us to create an unforgettable experience for our athletes. We also owe kudos to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, a remarkable venue that hosted our thousands of shooters and spectators with ease. We look forward to hosting our 2015 National Championships there."
On behalf of the Scholastic Pistol Program / Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, we are saddened to announce the death of longtime SSSF supporter Joe Meis. Joe was on his way to the SPP Nationals in Sparta, IL on July 19 and was involved in an automobile accident. Joe was one of the founding coaches of the Arnold Junior Shooters (Missouri) SPP and SCTP teams. He also assisted many other teams in the area. "Joe was greatly respected in the Eastern Missouri/Western Illinois shooting family and was responsible for several generations of shooters," said Scott Moore, SPP Director. "We are very grateful for all he gave to youth shooting sports. He will be missed."
Larry and Brenda Potterfield, founders and owners of MidwayUSA and founders of the MidwayUSA Foundation, spent last Thursday at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex with SCTP and SPP shooters, touring the National Championship event and even taking time to shoot a round of trap with three lucky SCTP competitors. Anticipating the visit, many teams brought along autographed photos, cards, and other gifts -- including a pair of letter sweaters -- to express their appreciation for the Potterfields' generosity to SSSF programs.The Potterfields watched teams shoot, talked with shooters and coaches, posed for photos, and demonstrated the warmth and interest in young shooters for which they are known. SSSF also had a presentation to Larry and Brenda, a pair of hand-engraved leather shooting bags, in recognition of their being named "Founding Life Diamond Members" of the Champion’s Roundtable, which recognizes donors who have made major contributions to our mission. They are also Charter Members of the SSSF Legacy Society, which honors our donors who have included SSSF in their estate plans through deferred gifts. See more photos on our SCTP Facebook page and SPP page.
Congratulations to Dan Rex of Audubon, Penn., drawn as winner of the Krieghoff Vintage Scroll K-80 shotgun worth more than $20,000. The drawing was held last Saturday night during the National Championships. Raffle tickets for the gun drawing were sold for $50 each to raise money for the SSSF Scholarship Fund. SCTP and SPP teams also had the opportunity to sell the tickets to earn endowment funds. Our congratulations to Mr. Rex!
You left Sparta without buying an official event t-shirt, or you liked them so much you want one in another color -- or even if you missed the event but don't want to miss the t-shirt -- no worries! The Great Outdoors Company at the WSRC still has a limited supply of shirts available. The black shirt has the full, colorful design on the back, with the World Shooting and Recreational Complex logo on the front left chest. Black t-shirts are available in Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL, and 3XL. The other t-shirt style has the entire event design on the front and is offered in four colors in the sizes indicated:Heather Blue - Small, Large
Heather Green - Small, Medium, Large, XL
Heather Pink - Small, Medium, Large, XL
Heather Coral - Small, XL Price for the t-shirts is $15.99 each with free shipping in the contiguous 48 states. For credit card orders, call The Great Outdoors Company at 888-529-5130.
You can win a GLOCK pistol in our Scholastic Pistol Program raffle this week at the SPP Junior/Senior National Championships! The winner will receive a certificate that's good for your choice of a G17 / 17Gen4, G19 / 19Gen4, G26 / 26Gen4, G22 / 22Gen4, G23 / 23Gen4, G27 / 27Gen4, G32 / 32Gen4, or G22 / 33Gen4. Tickets for the GLOCK raffle are 1 for $5, 3 for $10, or 7 tickets for $20. You may purchase tickets at the Cowboy House office building located at the pistol range. The drawing will be held on Saturday, July 19.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation and National Rifle Association (NRA) are pleased to announce the 2014 SSSF / NRA All-Scholastic Team, which recognizes SCTP and SPP athletes meeting high standards in both shooting and academics. To be considered for the All-Scholastic Team, SCTP and SPP athletes were required to have a 3.0 grade point average in the 2013-2014 school year, meet shooting qualifications of 190/200 SCTP targets in a competition in the current season or achieve a match score of 75 seconds or less in SPP, and have letters of recommendation. “The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation promotes youth development and well-rounded student athletes through our SCTP and SPP programs, and this is just another way we like to recognize our athletes for performance on the range AND in the classroom,” said Ben Berka, SSSF Executive Director. The student athletes being named to the SSSF / NRA All-Scholastic Team are:
Scholastic Clay Target Program
Aaron Wilson, Kansas City Crushers
Abby Hooper, Unaka Shooters
Abigail Stoner, Team Henges
Alicia Dale, Wilmont Panthers
Andrew Meier, Bolton High Trap
Andrew Wilson, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Andy Campbell, Unaka Shooters
Anthony Simon, Team Henges
Austin Ainsworth, Bolton Trap team
Austin Brown, Southern Shooting Sports
Austin Jacob, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Ben Moyer,Alton Wood river
Benjamin Kintner, The Rangers
Benjamin Schroeder, Central Falcons
Blake Horner, Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Brad Mcfarlane, Jefferson County 4-H
Brandon Kade, Flat River Conservation Club
Braxton Rider, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Brent Older, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Caleb Miller, Wildcat Trap Team
Cameron Cernuska, Hunting Hills Hawkeyes
Cameron Mehmken, Allen High School
Cannon Lamb, Hoodlum Alley Claybusters
Carah-Beth Maddux,Haywood Young Guns
Carlos Bailey II, Oak Tree Junior Claybreakers
Carson Ledford, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Cecilia Young, Team Henges
Christopher Jensen, California Jr. Claybreakers
Colton Evans, Sandy Cross SCTP
Connor Simmons, St. Charles Sportman's Shot Crew
Connor West, Nashua Fish and Game Club
Conrad Cunningham, Oskaloosa Shooting Team
Dalton Dyer, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Dana Bonney, Gateway Gun Club Youth Shooters
Daniel Proben, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Elizabeth Burks, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Ethan Boyer, Wildcat Trap Team
Ethan Kaufman, Kosko Dust Devils
Ethan Vinyard, Wildcat Trap
Garrett Percer, Bolton Trap Team
Grace Hambuchen, Central Arkansas Shotgun Team
Griffin Black, Bolton Trap Team
Gunner Hall, Bead Deamons
Hunter Rowland, Eagleville Clay Target Team
Isabelle Worrall, Charles City High School Trap Shooting
Jack Belding, North Macomb Eagles
Jack Koury, Team Henges
Jacob Casey, Carroll County Longspurs
Jacob Harrison, Badin Clay Busters
Jacob McInturff, Unaka Shooters
Jacob Wilson, Arnold Junior Shooters
Jake Gardner, Freedom Fire Shooting Sports
Jay Bunn, Tampa Bay Clays
Jeffrey Casey, Carroll County Longspurs
Jill Harmston, Carroll County Longspurs
Joel Proben, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
John Hallada, Flat River Conservation Club
John McRae, Wilmont Shooting Team
John Zeitler II, Wilmont Panthers
Jonathon Saul, Brookline Top Shots
Joseph Golden, Jefferson Co 4-H Patriot Shooters
Joseph Leonard, Wildcat Trap Team
Joseph Polacek, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Josh Dintleman, Gateway Claybusters
Josh Gallaway, Wildcat Trap Team
Justin Scarlett, 4-H Patriots
Kaden Waack, Marquoketa Cardinals Varsity
Keaton Clark, Wildcat Trap
Kennedy Loveday, Jefferson County 4-H
Kole Loveday, Jefferson County 4-H
Kramer Ennis, Gateway Claybusters
Kyle Goke,Trousdale Trap Team
Kyle Lazarski, Team Henges
Lake Heaton, Oskaloosa Shooting Team
Landon Cremeens, Gateway Gun Club
Lawrence Cooper, Bolton Trap Team
Luke Heinzen
Luke Schlesselman, Oskaloosa Shooting Team
Matthew Davis, St. Joe County Straight Shooters
Max Weiser, Team Henges
Michael Adkins, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Mitchell Box, Gateway Gun Club
Morgan Goette, Brookline Top Shots
Nathan Patterson, Kansas City Crushers
Ned Stabnick, Fin Fur & Feathers Club of Wesley
Nicholas Koury, Team Henges
Nicholas Ostrander, Grand Blanc High School
Nolan Loughry, Chippewa Youth Trap Shooting Club
Norm Hezlep, The Rangers
Olivia Stecker, Gateway Claybusters
Peyton Deane, Bolton Trap Team
Phillip Segner, Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team
Robert Cornell, FRCC Flat River Conservation Club
Ryan Patterson, Hoodlum Alley Claybusters
Sam Carson, Kosko Dust Devils
Sam Fowler
Sam Lama, Centerburg Youth Shooting Sports
Sean Laurent, Arnold Junior Shooters
Shane Marshall, Chippewa Trapshooting
Shelby Evans, Sandy Cross SCTP
Thomas Bernard, Arnold Junior Shooters
Trey Stephens, Gateway Gun Club
Tricia Cook, Gateway Claybusters
Tristian Fenwick, Bolton Trap Team
Ty Harmston, Carroll County Longspurs
Tyler Fix, Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting Club
Tyler Taylor, Ben Avery Clay Crushers
Tyler Yost, California Jr. Claybreakers
Warren Scott, Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team
Will Singleton, Tampa Bay Clays
William Faeth, Ft. Madison Clay Crushers
Scholastic Pistol Program
Anders Rider, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Benjamin Kokotovich, Arlington Junior Shooters
Brandi Stroud, Red Dawn Junior Marksmanship Academy
Brian Hiltunen, Target Busters
Daniel Busch, Arnold Junior Shooters
Dylan Bray, Red Dawn Junior Marksmanship Academy
Harold Monical, Red Dawn Junior Marksmanship Academy
To honor our 2014 SSSF / NRA All-Scholastic Team, SSSF is hosting a reception on Tuesday, July 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Main Events Building (room 143 and 144) at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL during the SSSF National Championships. You will be recognized and will receive your certificate, patch, and pin. We welcome your parents and/or coach to accompany you to the reception. If you would like to attend, R.S.V.P. to Jennifer Rumpf, jrumpf@sssfonline.com, with a head-count no later than Monday, July 14 at 5:00 p.m. If you are unable to attend, your certificate, patch, and pin will be mailed to you at the address listed on your application.
SSSF made contributions this week to the MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. endowment accounts of 21 Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) teams. The teams earned the endowment funds while competing in the Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, and Wisconsin state matches in June. The contributions for the month, totaling $43,800, bring SPP’s total contributions to $230,050 to date in 2014. SPP expects to contribute more than $250,000 additional through state, regional, and national championship events in the remainder of 2014. SPP teams are awarded endowment funds through participation in sanctioned shoots. SSSF contributes the funding to the MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account Program on behalf of the teams. The purpose of the endowment program is to provide sustained financial support for youth shooting teams. Teams with an endowment account are able to draw a grant each year to use for team expenses. The teams whose endowment accounts received funds for June are:
Indiana State Match
Blue Grass Sportsmen's League Steel Cats
KY
$ 1,800.00
Smokin Dragons
KY
$ 2,200.00
Hoosier Daddy's
IN
$ 3,000.00
Hamilton County Hot Shots
IN
$ 1,000.00
Target Busters
IN
$ 1,800.00
Michigan State Match
WWCCA Straight Shooters
MI
$ 3,200.00
Union Grove
WI
$ 2,200.00
Michigan State University
MI
$ 1,800.00
Iowa State Match
Ft. Madison Steel Crushers
IA
$ 1,400.00
Carroll High
IA
$ 1,000.00
Glidden Ralston
IA
$ 1,000.00
Kuemper High
IA
$ 1,000.00
SST of Traer
IA
$ 2,600.00
Two Rivers Jr. Pistol
IA
$ 1,800.00
Central Iowa Scholastic Shooters
IA
$ 3,000.00
Wisconsin State Match
Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting Sports
WI
$ 2,400.00
Wilmot
WI
$ 1,400.00
Southwest Tech
WI
$ 2,600.00
Burlington
WI
$ 1,800.00
Ft. Madison Steel Crushers
IA
$ 1,000.00
Union Grove
WI
$ 2,000.00
Hartford Conservation/Gun Club Youth Trap/Pistol Team
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.