Uncategorized Archives - SSSF - Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

From SCTP Athlete to Back-to-Back U.S. Open Champion

Written by Amber Meyer on September 14, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

From SCTP Athlete to Back-to-Back U.S. Open Champion: Todd Hitch

When Todd Hitch captured the 2026 NSCA U.S. Open Sporting Clays Championship, it marked another major accomplishment in an already impressive shooting career. But for those involved with the Scholastic Clay Target Program, Todd’s story has an especially meaningful beginning.

It started with SCTP.

Todd, from Maryville, Tennessee, began shooting a shotgun at age 12 when he joined the William Blount Shooting Team and became involved with SCTP. At the time, he was completely new to clay target shooting. He has recalled that before joining the program, he had never shot a clay target and wasn’t familiar with SCTP or NSCA.

That introduction would eventually help launch one of the most successful young careers in sporting clays.

Todd began shooting registered NSCA competition in 2017, entering his first event as an E-Class shooter. His progression through the sport was remarkably quick.

In 2018, Todd returned to the SCTP National Championships representing William Blount and produced an extraordinary performance, shooting 198 out of 200 targets to become an SCTP National Champion in Sporting Clays.

That same year, Todd also won the Make-A-Break competition at SCTP Nationals, another early indication of the talent that was beginning to emerge.

By the end of that summer, the young shooting sports athlete who had entered his first registered tournament as an E-Class competitor had advanced all the way to NSCA Master Class.

And he was just getting started.

Todd went on to establish himself among the country’s elite sporting clays competitors, collecting state, regional and national victories while competing against many of the best shooters in the sport.

In 2025, Todd reached another milestone when he captured his first NSCA U.S. Open Sporting Clays Championship.

Then, in 2026, he did it again.

At Game Unlimited in Hudson, Wisconsin, Todd successfully defended his title, shooting 192/200 to become the back-to-back NSCA U.S. Open Champion. He also won Super

Sporting and captured the Gold Cup based on his combined performance in the Main Event, FITASC and Super Sporting.

For SCTP, however, Todd Hitch’s story represents something even bigger than championships.

It demonstrates what can happen when a young athlete is introduced to the shooting sports through a local team, dedicated coaches and a program designed to give young people opportunities to learn, compete and grow.

Todd didn’t enter SCTP as an accomplished competitive shooter.

He entered as a 12-year-old who had never shot a clay target.

From the William Blount Shooting Team in Tennessee to an SCTP National Championship and ultimately to becoming a back-to-back U.S. Open Champion—Todd’s journey is a wonderful example of the opportunities youth shooting sports can create.

Thousands of young athletes step onto SCTP fields each year. Some will simply discover a sport they enjoy. Some will make lifelong friends. Some will become coaches, volunteers and ambassadors for the shooting sports.

And every once in a while, one of those young athletes may become a U.S. Open Champion.

Congratulations to SCTP alumnus Todd Hitch on another outstanding accomplishment and thank you for showing today’s SCTP athletes just how far their own journey can take them.

SSSF Nationals Passport Winners

Written by Amber Meyer on August 7, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

745 Participants. Countless Sponsor Connections.

The 2026 SSSF National Championships Passport was a tremendous success, with 745 athletes, coaches, families, and spectators visiting at least 15 sponsor booths throughout the nine day event.

The National Championships Passport gives attendees the opportunity to learn more about the companies that support our youth shooting sports.

Congratulations to our 2026 Passport Prize winners:

C. Hoelting, KC Steel Raiders (KS) – Certificate for GLOCK of your choice

H. Johnson, Wilmot Shooting Team (WI) – BERETTA A300 Ultima

J. Bradley, Team Henges (MO) - SIG SAUER M400 TRD V2 AR-15

A special thank you to GLOCK, BERETTA, and SIG SAUER for generously providing these incredible prizes.

SSSF would also like to thank every sponsor who participated in this year’s National Passport by welcoming attendees, sharing information about thier products/services and stamping passports throughout the week.

Thank you to: BERETTA, WINCHESTER AMMUNITIONS, WHITE FLYER, BROWNING, MidwayUSA Foundation, TACTICAL GRIT, TIPPMANN ARMS, GLOCK, MOUNTAIN BILLE GUN LAB, FIOCCHI, BAD OSCAR SHOOTING SPORTS, CAESAR GUERINI, SILENCER CENTRAL, MOS MANUFACTURING, AXIL, TAKE AIM TECHNOLOGIES, TETRA, HUGE X.

Your continued partnership helps make the SSSF National Championships an unforgettable experience for thousands each year.

We look forward to seeing even more nationals attendees participating in next year's National Passport when the 2027 National Championships return to the Cardinal Shooting Center July 9-17, 2027.

Against All Odds: Grit, Determination, and Podium Finishes for The Hoosier Daddys at SCTP Nationals.

Written by Amber Meyer on August 6, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

MARENGO, Ohio — Competing at the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championships is demanding under the best circumstances. It requires sharp focus, steady nerves, and flawless mechanics. But for one Central Indiana youth shooting team, the 2026 Nationals became an unforgettable story of grit, resilience, and true sportsmanship.

The Hoosier Daddys, a competitive youth clay target shooting team based out of Central Indiana, traveled to the Cardinal Shooting Center with high hopes and months of practice under their belts. They left with national hardware, many personal bests, and a lot of incredibly proud coaches and parents.

The Podium Success: Intermediate Entry Division

Competing in the highly competitive Intermediate Entry Division, the squad consisting of Alex Rodgers, Kasen Weddle, and Lyle Comer proved they belong among the nation's elite.

The trio locked in and delivered outstanding performances across multiple disciplines:

American Skeet: The squad captured a 5th place National podium finish, navigating the stations with remarkable consistency.

Skeet Doubles: Pushing their skills even further, the team secured another spectacular 3rd place podium finish.

While the trophies and medals are a testament to the hard work all three young men put in throughout the season, the pathway to those podiums required overcoming an obstacle nobody saw coming.

Adapting and Overcoming:

The entire tournament shifted on day one when disaster struck. Alex Rodgers broke his dominant hand.

For most athletes, a broken hand on the first day of a National Championship means an immediate trip to the sidelines and a heartbreaking end to the season. Initially, there were doubts about whether Alex should—or even could—continue shooting.

But Alex had other plans. Driven by an unrelenting passion for the sport and a fierce loyalty to Kasen and Lyle, he refused to let his squad down.

After a trip to the medical facility to get a cast put on, Alex didn't head back to rest. Instead, just an hour after getting his cast, he was right back on the practice field. Because his index finger was immobilized, Alex had to completely re-learn his hand placement and adapt his mechanics on the fly, forcing himself to use his middle finger as his trigger finger.

The sheer display of grit and determination that followed was impressive. Pushing through immense physical pain and the frustration of altered mechanics, Alex stayed on the line, breaking targets right alongside his teammates to help secure their 3rd and 5th place National finishes.

Unbreakable Spirit

An injury like that would have defeated many competitors, but Alex definitely didn't let it get him down. His unbreakable spirit served as an inspiration.

"We at the Hoosier Daddys couldn't be prouder of how he competed," said a team representative. "His unrelenting passion is a testament to his unbreakable spirit."

Congratulations to Alex, Kasen, and Lyle on an unbelievable run at the 2026 SCTP Nationals. You represented Central Indiana with class, talent, and a level of toughness that defines what it truly means to be a champion.

2026 All Scholastic Team

Written by Amber Meyer on June 11, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is proud to announce the
2026 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!

2026AllScholasticTeam

Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Scholarship Program

Written by Amber Meyer on June 5, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

As part of its commitment to youth development and the advancement of youth shooting sports athletes, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Scholarship program.

We are especially excited to recognize the 10 recipients of the Bruno Butti & Mae (Domenica Careri) Butti Scholarship. Awarded to outstanding participants in the Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program, each recipient will receive a $3,000 scholarship thanks to the incredible generosity and support of the Butti family.

In addition, the SSSF Scholarship Program has awarded $500 scholarships to 166 student-athletes for 2026, providing a total of $83,000 in scholarship support. These scholarships recognize young athletes who have demonstrated dedication both on the range and in the classroom.

Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients. We wish these exceptional student-athletes continued success in their academic pursuits and future endeavors.

2026-SSSFScholarshipRecipients.pdf

SSSF Hires Meyer as Marketing and Communications Specialist

Written by Amber Meyer on May 21, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) hires Amber Meyer; she will join the SSSF team as its new Marketing and Communications Specialist. Selected from a pool of applicants, Meyer stood out with her experience in marketing, communications, and leadership; she also grew up participating in the SSSF programs and continues to do so as a coach and volunteer.

“We are fortunate to welcome Amber to the team,” said SSSF President & Executive Director, Rick Leach. “The combination of her professional skill set and genuine passion for youth shooting sports will bring meaningful content and strengthened engagement when representing our programs.”

“I’m incredibly excited to join the SSSF team,” commented Meyer, “Having experienced the positive impact that youth shooting programs have on athletes first hand, I understand the value of SSSF’s mission and am honored to help shape the story while supporting the continued growth of the foundation and its programs.”

SSSF Hires Haigh as Compliance & Inventory Manager

Written by Amber Meyer on May 17, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has named Holly Haigh as our Compliance and Inventory Manager. Among the applicants for the position, Holly stood out with her hands-on experience in Federal Firearms License (FFL) administration, and her proven ability to manage regulated inventory systems in licensed environments. Her background includes experience in purchasing, vendor relations, and inventory reporting. Additionally, she was an SCTP athlete who continues to support youth shooting through volunteering on the Union Grove Broncos Shooting Club Board of Directors and as a coach.

“We are very excited to welcome Holly to the SSSF team,” said SSSF President & Executive Director, Rick Leach. “Her attention to detail, professionalism, and commitment to excellence will be a tremendous asset to our organization.”

“I’m incredibly excited to join the team,” commented Haigh. “I look forward to supporting the organization’s mission and helping ensure our programs continue to operate and grow efficiently for our athletes, coaches, and families.”

SSSF Seeking Marketing and Communications Specialist

Written by John Leach on April 29, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

Job Description Marketing and Communications Specialist Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Location: Remote, Contiguous USA Reports To: President / Executive Director Status: Part Time, Non-Exempt

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is seeking a highly motivated individual to assume the role of Marketing and Communications Specialist. The successful candidate will be responsible for content creation and day-to-day execution of all foundation and program related communications.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is a 501c (3) not-for-profit organization and is the national leader in youth development shooting sports programs. Using a combination of education and athletics our mission is to enhance the growth and personal development of student athletes throughout the nation through the shooting sports.

Through a variety of fun, team-based shooting events in both our Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), we provide student athletes aged elementary through college with a supportive environment where shooting sports serve as catalysts for teaching life lessons and skills that emphasize positive character traits and citizenship values. Throughout all training, practice and competitions, we instill in our participants a commitment to safe firearm handling, teamwork and leadership.

Job Description
The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of marketing and communications for the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program. The Marketing and Communications Specialist will be responsible for key messaging to current members/supporters as well as external audiences using a variety of methods and tools. Successful candidate will play a key role in the organizations ability to recruit and retain members and supporters.

Primary Responsibilities Include: Develop and implement marketing and communication strategies and policies with input from leadership team Creation and management of annual communications calendar based on key events Interacting with management, staff, membership, contractors and others to execute job duties Managing and auditing mailing lists related to members, supporters, media and prospects Write, edit and develop content for various foundation and program media platforms including blogs, press releases, email blasts, social media posts, streams, stories, magazines, etc. Audience engagement (monitor and respond to questions), growth and exposure of foundation and program social media sites Create and coordinate all internal, direct email communications with staff, supporters, state advisors, coaches, athletes and parents based on program needs Manage all aspects of a regular e-newsletter for members, supporters and prospects Monitor external media in order to promote news generated by local member teams, partner organizations, etc. to leverage member generated content Creation of print and digital ads, flyers, media guides, informational packets and other marketing assets required for program and foundation needs Utilize advertising systems such as GoogleAds to recruit new members and supporters Manage all aspects of the SSSF All Scholastic Team and leverage team membership for program marketing efforts Management of all content on foundation, program and club websites Management of image and video libraries required for foundation and program needs Manage all aspects of the annual National Championships program including creative, ad aggregation, content, printing and distribution Manage all aspects of on-site event communications for the annual National Championships including promotion of special events, daily schedules, text messaging, etc.
Desired Qualifications and Experience
5+ years’ experience in a similar marketing/communications role 4-year degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related field Demonstrated ability to be productive in a remote work environment, self-manage and meet deadlines Ability to communicate well in a variety of settings including in person, web and conference calls Excellent organizational skills Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and multi-task Familiarity and experience with organized youth shooting sports programs, preferably the Scholastic Clay Target Program and/or the Scholastic Action Shooting Program Excellent written and verbal communicator with strong editing skills Experience in developing creative content Advanced experience with MailChimp or equivalent mailing and automation tool Advanced experience with social media aggregation app Advanced experience with Facebook, X, Instagram and other social media for business use Experience with GoogleAds and/or other marketing tools Experience with business analysis tools such as Google Analytics Experience in management and synchronization of data sets for large mailing lists Experience growing media lists through a variety of methods and tools Familiarity with database queries through SQL or SQL reporting tools a plus Advanced experience with software including Word, Excel, Publisher and Adobe suite Experience working with Dropbox and in MS Cloud environments Ability to travel up to 25-30% including overnight and weekends Valid driving license
Compensation and Benefits
Competitive pay based on experience and qualifications.
Estimated hours 25-29 hours per week.

How To Apply
Send resume, cover letter, and pay requirement, recent samples of work including writing, creative content, websites, social media sites, marketing plan, etc. to Rick Leach via email at jobs@sssfonline.com. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. First interviews will be tentatively scheduled for the week of May 11, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; early submission is encouraged.

SSSF is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This posting does not constitute a contract of employment. Employment with SSSF is at-will.

2026 SSSF All Scholastic Team Applications Open

Written by John Leach on April 28, 2026. Posted in Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is proud to invite all qualified 2026 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) athletes to apply for the SSSF All Scholastic Team. The All Scholastic Team recognizes the achievements of student athletes in the shooting sports for their accomplishments in the classroom, in their communities, and on the range. Eligible athletes of all ages are invited to apply.

Requirements for application are as follows:

·Must be a 2026 registered athlete in good standing with the SCTP or SASP national office. This requires athlete payment and consent/waiver form is on file with the national program administrative office.

·Must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average. Applications must include transcript or most recent grade reporting information available. Transcript for 9th grade and above must include cumulative GPA for academic career.

·Must meet one of the following shooting qualifications and supply proof of official match record. Match record must be from official shoot bulletin, SCTP/SASP leaderboard, ATA, NSSA/NSCA athlete history or equivalent. Copies of scoresheets or statements of scores from coaches will not be accepted. Clay target scores must be from a whole event, for example one 200 target event, two 100 target events or four 50 target events. Picking and choosing individual rounds from different events is not acceptable. Applicants must submit 200 targets for American shotgun disciplines.

1. SCTP (skeet or trap) in a competition between April 1, 2025 and May 22, 2026:
-200 target event with a score of at least 190/200
-2 x 100 target events with TOTAL score of at least 190/200
-4 x 50 target events with TOTAL score of at least 190/200

2. SCTP (sporting clays) in a competition between April 1, 2025 and May 22, 2026:
-200 target event with a score of at least 170/200
-2 x 100 target events with TOTAL score of at least 170/200
-4 x 50 target events with TOTAL score of at least 170/200

3. SCTP (bunker trap, international skeet, or international doubles trap) – achieved 100/125 targets in a competition between April 1, 2025 and May 22, 2026

4. SASP – achieved a total match score of 50 seconds or less in an SASP match between April 1, 2025 and May 22, 2026.

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· Must supply two letters of recommendation from a coach, teacher, or adult third party

The deadline for applications is June 5, 2026, 5:00PM central time; no exceptions.

Apply