August Is National Shooting Sports Month!

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

NEWTOWN, Conn. — There are countless celebration days and months in America, and now the shooting sports have one of their own. The National Shooting Sports Foundation has declared August to be National Shooting Sports Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s great pastimes — target shooting — and to encourage newcomers and experienced shooters to #LETSGOSHOOTING. NSSF developed the celebration month to focus the attention of everyone in the shooting sports community — shooting ranges, firearms retailers, manufacturers and recreational shooters — on the fun and excitement of target shooting. An estimated 50 million Americans participate in target shooting sports, and millions more have expressed interest in learning about rifle, shotgun and handgun shooting, according to NSSF research. “With so much going on in people’s lives today, the shooting sports offer an opportunity to tune out distractions, learn a new skill, socialize and share their experiences,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “It’s important to remember to pass on our traditions and to reflect on our unique freedoms that make participating in them possible.” Experienced shooters are encouraged to introduce family members and friends to this rewarding lifetime activity, and newcomers without mentors will discover a safe, supportive introduction to recreational shooting at a range near them. To help people find ways to celebrate, NSSF has launched www.ShootingSportsMonth.org. Among its many interactive features, the site contains an easy range search by state, events and sales promotions across the country and many other resources for target shooters of all skill levels. Safety, of course, goes hand in hand with enjoying the shooting sports. Following safe firearms handling procedures and securely storing firearms when not in use are priorities for shooters. Find more about firearm safety at www.ShootingSportsMonth.org. “It’s going to be fun month,” said Zach Snow, NSSF Director, Shooting Range Services. “And we want to know how everyone is celebrating. Tell us on our Facebook page, share your Instagram and Twitter posts with the hashtag #LetsGoShooting, let’s make this month one to remember.” Learn more at ShootingSportsMonth.org. -30- About NSSF The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 12,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.

A look at the “numbers” for the 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) & Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships

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

The 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships, held at the Cardinal Shooting Center, July 8 thru 15, in Marengo, Ohio  are officially “in the books” and here’s a look at the final numbers. The 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships brought together competitive shooters, ages 8 to 23, from 32 states to compete for national titles in the shotgun disciplines of American Trap, Handicap Trap, Bunker Trap, Trap Doubles, Skeet, Skeet Doubles and Sporting Clays. Pistol and rifle competitors competed for steel shooting titles in Rimfire Pistol, Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sight Rifle and Optics Rifle divisions. The Numbers At-a-Glance:
  • 1,043,100 Competitive rounds were fired by 2,687 shooting sports competitors from 32 states during the 8 day event (Approx. 1.4 million including the games and practice)
  • Participation in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) increased 119%, from 2013 to 2017 (from 199 to 436 athletes)
  • Participation in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) increased 19.5%, from 2013 to 2017 (from 1883 to 2251 athletes)
  • Women are the fastest growing segment of the shooting sports, making up 18% of the National Championship competitors (16% of SCTP shooters, 30% of SASP shooters)
  • $425,000.00 (SCTP) and $84,750.00 (SASP) MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Funds earned at the 2017 National Championships
  • SSSF has awarded $100,000 in scholarships to SCTP and SASP participants this season and over $300,000 in total scholarships since 2013
  • SCTP and SASP make up the largest youth shooting program in the country with over 16,211 youth athletes in 45 states (14,854 in SCTP, 1,357 in SASP)
  • 6.3 million clay targets were thrown during the 2016-17 SCTP competition season as recorded by the SSSF’s SHOT 5 team registration and event management system
Awards presented during the 2017 National Championships:
  • Trophies - 186
  • Plaques - 90
  • Medals – 1,290
  • Cups - 10
  • Belt Buckles - 60
  • Leather Bags and shell box holders (HOA Awards) - 20
  • Cases of Shotgun Ammo - 170
  • Firearms - 67
Now for the Important Stuff:
  • Free Pizzas handed out on Thursday evening - 500
  • Free Hamburgers and Hotdogs handed out on Wednesday night - 578
  • FREE Ice Cream (Sponsored by Browning) served - 450 in 25 minutes
  • Rifle & Pistol rounds consumed in SASP demos and side matches >8,000
 

Featured All-Scholastic Team Member Landon Sievers

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

Name: Landon Sievers State: Illinois Program: SCTP Team: Golden Eagle Gun Club How the SCTP has helped me as a young person: The Scholastic Clay Target Program has taught me many things.  It has taught me focus and discipline.  It has taught me responsibility and teamwork skills.  Another thing that it has taught me is to have confidence and always challenge myself.  I have also enjoyed making new friends.  These are some of the reasons that I love competing in this program.

About the NRA/SSSF All Scholastic Team

The All-Scholastic Team recognizes the top student athletes in the SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting Program for their achievements in the classroom, on the range and in their communities. Through an application process, 2017 All-Scholastic Team Members have proven academic excellence by posting 3.0 or better grade point averages, shooting excellent scores in recent competition (95% in trap or skeet, 85% in sporting clays, 88% in international trap/skeet or 75 seconds or less for SASP) and by demonstrating outstanding community involvement.

See profiles for the 2017 SSSF/NRA All Scholastic Team Members

Over 1,000 SCTP Athletes Compete In Last Competitor Standing

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in Events, SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

One of the highlights of Nationals week for SCTP athletes is the opportunity to compete in a massive Last Competitor Standing (i.e. "Annie Oakley") event that gives them the opportunity to win guns, gear, and even a scholarship. In this miss-and-out fun competition, up to 30 athletes per trap field try to eliminate each other by capitalizing on the previous competitor's misses. Over 500 athletes competed each evening. The event has two components on each of two nights: a competition for anyone who wishes to compete, with men’s and ladies winners taking home guns and other prizes, followed by a competition just for 2017 graduating seniors who competed for $1,000 scholarships presented by the NRA. Last Competitor Standing - Wednesday LADIES Victoria Hendrix AZ Ben Avery Sarah Schwacker WI Waterford Wolverines Molly Olson WI Flyway Clay Slayers Jessica Strasser WI Waterford Wolverines Kiera Wood WI Hudson Raiders Mikaela Leach WI Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting Morgan Clark WI Flyway Clay Slayers Zoe Goodwin KY Northern Kentucky Top Guns MEN Austin Jacob OH Greene County F&G Andrew Troje IA North Scott Trap Team Riley Hasler WI Waterford Wolverines Thomas Keeshan IA North Scott Trap Team Blake Conrad MN Lakers Trap Team Eyan Marx WI Flyway Clayslayers Aaron Copelan GA Lake Oconee Shotgun Team Jordan Persinger WI Hudson Raiders COLLEGE Tyler Bong WI Flyway Clayslayers Brennan Kamer KY Northern Kentucky STC Ladies NRA $1,000 Scholarship Sarah Villarreal NE Marian High School Mens NRA $1,000 Scholarship Austin Jacob OH Greene County F&G Last Competitor Standing - Friday LADIES Erin Lautzenheiser OH North Lawrence Claybusters Harley Graves TN T-County Claybusters Lauren Hartwein MO Gateway Claybusters Chloe Uhlenhake WI BHS Demons Sabrina Peterson IL St. Charles Shot Crew Grace Marlen MO Team Henges Morgan Clark WI Flyway Clayslayers Kaylinn Wilken WI BHS Demons MENS Tyler Regner WI BHS Demons Brian Baca CO Rocky Mountain Claybusters Zachary Hanson WI Central Falcons William Browning IA North Lawrence Claybusters Josh Muellenbach WI BHS Demons Hunter Block IA North Scott Trap Team Jack Schoepke WI BHS Demons Thomas Keeshan IA North Scott Trap Team COLLEGE Danielle Greene PA Evans City Taya Bower MI Straight Shooters Ladies NRA $1,000 Scholarship Chloe Sterner PA Mason Dixon Claybusters Mens NRA $1,000 Scholarship Hunter Conrad WI Central Falcons

2017 Nationals Gun Raffle Winners

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

The 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program National championships had many winners, both on and off the range! A total of 67 firearms were awarded during nationals and below are some of the highlights. Congratulations to everyone who participated and supported the SCTP and SASP! Browning X-Bolt White Gold Winner  – Nichole Baumann, Saukville WI This raffle supported the Browning scholarship winner, Woodrow Glazer who earned the $6,600 college scholarship. Blaser F16 Winner at Nationals – Bruce McGaha, Clarksville TN The Blaser F16 raffle supports SCTP scholarship recipients and the SCTP! Kolar Gun Winner – Connie Hobbs, Florida 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. Here are the top teams earning MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Funds via the Kolar raffle: $8,000 - 1st place - BHS Demons, WI (803 tickets sold) $7,000 - 2nd place - Young Guns @ Quail Creek, FL (632 tickets sold) $6,000 - 3rd Place - Hillsdale College, MI (600 tickets sold) $5,000 - 4th Place - Ben Avery Clay Crushers, AZ (440 tickets sold) $4,000 - 5th Place - Central Falcons, WI (420 tickets sold) SASP National Raffle Winners Dan Wesson Pointman Nine -  Martin Lowery, OH Sig Sauer 1911 -  Jim Koetting, MO Mossberg MMR Tactical - Barbara Seevers, MO Browning 1911 - Cathi Selden, TN Taurus - PT 111 - Ed Gaines, OH Here are the top teams earning MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Funds via the SASP raffle: $5000 - Three way tie for 1st Place Team Loco Motion, VA Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting Sports, WI Buckeye Bullet Busters, OH $2,000 - 4th Place Arnold Junior Shooters, MO $1000.00 - 5th Place Ross County Steel Ringers, OH

Iowa Girl Scout builds trap shooting range for entire community

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

BROOKLYN, IA Never giving up. One eastern Iowa teen wanted to quit many times. But she kept going, and now she is just about done building a new trap shooting range all for her community. Brooklyn teenager, Lizzy Worthington, was on a trap shooting team in high school. The problem was the closest range to practice at was about 45 minutes away. So, for her Girl Scout's Gold award project, she decided to build a trap shooting range closer to home. She built a range in Malcom, Iowa. Lizzy hopes more schools and people in the surrounding towns can use the range. She also hopes it can promote gun safety by teaching people the safe way to shoot. She says the range took two years and many hours to build. The project cost more then 50 thousand dollars. Lizzy is now up for the Girl Scout's National Young Women of Distinction Award for her efforts with this project. There will be an open house at the shooting range on August 5th from 9 in the morning until 11. It is located at 1157 U.S. Highway 6 Malcom, Iowa. Written by Amanda Gilbert, Multimedia Journalist, News 7 KWWL. Republished with permission. Watch the video segment here. Lizzy Worthington is a member of the BGM Shotgunners, a Scholastic Clay Target Program member-team.

Featured All-Scholastic Team Member Aaron Copelan

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

Name: Aaron Copelan State: Georgia Program: SCTP Team: Lake Oconee Shotgun Team How the SCTP has helped me as a young person: I started shooting SCTP in the 3rd grade. I remember the support and help I was given by the coaches and older shooters on our team. This has made me become more mindful of new shooters on our team now. I try to be helpful to the young shooters because of the help I was so graciously given when I started. About the NRA/SSSF All Scholastic Team The All-Scholastic Team recognizes the top student athletes in the SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting Program for their achievements in the classroom, on the range and in their communities. Through an application process, 2017 All-Scholastic Team Members have proven academic excellence by posting 3.0 or better grade point averages, shooting excellent scores in recent competition (95% in trap or skeet, 85% in sporting clays, 88% in international trap/skeet or 75 seconds or less for SASP) and by demonstrating outstanding community involvement. See profiles for the 2017 SSSF/NRA All Scholastic Team Members

Shoot Off!

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

When it comes to gunning for the national title in Handicap Trap, it's one of those 'been there, done that' situations for the North Scott Trap Club. North Scott took the title last year, one of the five national titles the team from Eldridge, Iowa claimed. This year it's a slightly different story. After breaking 881 of their 1,000 targets, North Scott had to go to a shoot off. But the odds were definitely in North Scott's favor considering the shoot off pitted North Scott's Red Squad against their Gray Squad. According to Coach Eric Long, this too was a 'been there, done that' situation as his shooters have often faced each other in both individual and team shoot offs throughout the season. "It's something we run into once in a while," Long explained. And though he admitted having two teams in the shoot off for the national title is awesome, he conceded it's also "kinda bittersweet" watching one of his squads defeat another in head-to-head competition.
Coach Eric Long of the North Scott Trap Club looks on as two of his squads once again face each other in a shoot off.
So how did the shoot off go? After the flip of the coin the five member Red Squad took the field to face their 125 targets, dropping 15 to finish with 110. Then it was the Gray Squad's turn. After three rotations and just 10 targets left to shoot, the Gray Squad had dropped 12 targets. Then the official's "lost bird" call put them 13 down with just seven targets remaining. Then another "lost bird" call came, putting the Gray Squad four targets from the title, three from another shoot off and anything less put them second, handing the title to their teammates. With the title on the line the Gray Squad took four shots and broke four targets, giving them a final count of 111 targets and, most importantly, the 2017 SCTP Varsity Division National Handicap Trap Title.

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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.
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