Hear Their Stories
Your support has helped and continues to help young athletes all around the nation. Team-based youth shooting sports provides a level playing field to all, with no such thing as being benched. Incredible stories of triumph, resolve, growth, and more arise from our programs. We’ve highlighted a few of those stories here to share with the rest of the world.
100-Straight, 100 Dollar Bill
Rowan Crandall is $100 richer thanks to a lot of hard work and the loving support of his family, coaches, and teammates. Born with a condition that effectively limits his vision to just one eye, Rowan has pushed past roadblocks, showing us all that shooting sports is truly and even playing field.
A Team Like Family
The Hub City Top Shots are a relatively new team, yet have already built great success both on and off the range. Adhering to a family-like team dynamic and striving to do things the right way, they are a outstanding example of what can be achieved and gained by participating in youth shooting sports.
Finding Purpose On The Field
Kat Jushchenko, once a talented air rifle athlete has found a higher purpose behind a shotgun. Moreover, her determination to succeed has paved they way for others at the James Madison University shotgun team.
How Junior Athlete Joined Team Ruger
Abby Jackley’s father planned to start her off shooting trap…she had other plans.
From Broken to Champion: A Safe Haven In Shooting Sports
A terrible accident left an SCTP athlete with a spinal fusion, two rods, and eight screws. No more contact sports…ever.
Young athletes who may not find success or attention in traditional sports often find a home in clay target sports where your size, strength, or gender have no basis in becoming a champion. For that same reason, Texas athlete Dylan Little was able to find continued purpose in his participation in the SCTP:
Action Shooting Athlete Goes for Gold
With two gold medals under his belt from the 2023 USA Shooting Junior Olympic Pistol Championships, Blaine Simpson can’t wait to represent the United States on the international stage.
In Her Element
During the first day of team practice for Emily Ferguson, she promptly told her coach she was left-eye dominant. When questioned her confidence in that answer before the drill had even begun, she playfully replied, “I only have one eye, trust me on this one.”
Emily’s many accomplishments include the Rudy Cup, an award for the top shooter from Tennessee at Nationals, becoming the first female in history to claim the title.
MAKAYLA SCOTT BRINGS SCTP TO WEST VIRGINIA YOUTH
Makayla Scott’s incredible achievements on the field include team CZ-USA shotgun ambassador and Guinness World Record holder…. But her introduction as a Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) athlete came from a simple desire: to go to college.
A True Success Story: Jack’d up for Trap
Five years ago seems like so long ago for Jack Gerstmeier. At the age of 10 1/2, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Type 1 diabetes means that your pancreas no longer produces insulin that turn sugar and carbs into energy your body can use. It meant from now on he would require at least 4 shots a day to control his blood sugar for this chronic disease.
© Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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.