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

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.