The Scholastic Clay Target Program is
pleased to announce the addition of two new SCTP College Scholarship Awards at
the SCTP National Championships, July 13-20, 2019 at the Cardinal Shooting
Center in Marengo, Ohio.
Browning (a longtime supporter of SCTP)
has for the last 3 years been the sponsor of the “Browning Scholarship”. This
scholarship is awarded to the top athlete in Trap Singles (male or female) shooting a Browning Shotgun. In the past, this
scholarship has been as much as $7,500!
For 2019, Blaser USA will be
sponsoring the “Blaser Scholarship”! This scholarship will be awarded to the
top athlete in Sporting Clays (male or female) shooting a Blaser
Shotgun!!
In addition, also for 2019 SCTP
National Championships, Beretta USA will be sponsoring the “Beretta
Scholarship”! This scholarship will be awarded to the top athlete in Skeet (male or female) shooting
a Beretta Shotgun!
Athletes competing in these events at the SCTP National Championships just need to complete an online survey before their event starts.
Tom
Wondrash, SCTP National Director made the following statement. “We are thrilled
that Browning, Blaser USA and Beretta USA wanted to provide scholarship
opportunities for our SCTP high school aged athletes. Providing scholarships is
a mainstay of the SCTP program and adding these additional opportunities will
impact even more of our SCTP family’s. We cannot thank Browning, Blaser USA,
and Beretta USA enough for their support of SCTP and these scholarship
opportunities”.
The tour is designed so SCTP youth will be able to participate in premier skeet and sporting clays events, perhaps outside of their regular SCTP season. The tour provides opportunity for SCTP youth to compete for special awards while also experiencing the environment and excitement of the top skeet and sporting clays tournaments across the country!
SCTP athletes participating in NSSA and/or NSCA registered events, (including tour events) will also be eligible for NSSA-SCTP and/or NSCA-SCTP All American Teams!
For more information or to register for the Northbrook Skeet Classic go to: http://bit.ly/NSCSkeet
Looking back to April 2019,there were 26,678 student clays-shooting competitors from 1,042 high school teams across 25 states who participated in the USA High School Clay Target League.
That program isn’t the only game in town for youngsters looking to become the next George Digweed, Kim Rhode, Bill McGuire or Anthony Matarese, Jr.
There’s the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), which offers kids from elementary grades through high school and college the opportunity to participate in all the major clays sports.
Tom Wondrash, National Director of the SCTP.
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation introduces school-age youth to the shooting sports. To a large extent the SSSF has become a de facto feeder program to USA Shooting and the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team.
Likewise, the USA Shooting Youth Programs is focused on grooming junior athletes to someday represent the U.S.A. in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Shooting Championships, Paralympic Games and other international competitions.
And let’s not overlook the National 4-H Shooting Sports and Boy Scouts of America as pioneers that initiated kids into shotgunning sportsmanship and safety.
It seems that everyone credits women with the biggest percentage revenue gains in the shotgun sports. However, a comparative perspective might show that youth shotguns and related purchases might be just as lucrative – or even greater.
Some of the Pointer Phenoma semi-automatic shotguns that are available in youth models.
When the influential National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) released its Industry Intelligence Report on the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) in 2016, the results were a real eye-opener regarding the potential of the youth market in sporting clays, skeet and trap.
The NSSF survey indicated that SCTP participants had spent more than $8 million dollars in 2016. Better yet, 93 percent of SCTP parents surveyed said that the program had had a positive influence on their children.
From 2014 to 2016, the publicly available National Rifle Association Foundation’s tax returns showed that the organization allocated more than $4 million in cash and equipment grants to schools and groups that support scholastic shooting sports.
America’s boom in youth shooting programs hasn’t been lost on Andy McCormick, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Legacy Sports International in Reno, Nevada. Through their Pointer line of over/under and semi-automatic shotguns made by Zafer Arms Company of Izmir, Turkey, Legacy Sports International has quietly become possibly the largest provider of kid-friendly shotguns.
“We’ve always focused on the youth market and we’ve done well in that department because it’s something we believe in,” Andy explained. “There’s a way of looking at it as a future market for customers, but it’s also the future of the industry. It’s the stewardship of trying to make it easy to get people out in the field with a quality product.”
Andy McCormick, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Legacy Sports International.
Legacy Sports International imports and distributes firearms and shooting accessories in the U.S. In addition to the Pointer shotguns, their brands include Citadel pistols and tactical shotguns, Howa Precision Rifles, Lithgow Rifles and Nikko Stirling optics.
Of the 54 Pointer models sold by Legacy Sports International, 12 of their over/unders and semi-automatic shotguns are specifically designated for youth. These models are characterized by a shorter barrel, shorter stock and sub-gauge ammunition. The packaging reduces felt recoil and helps improve results through better fit and softer ballistics.
For example, the Pointer Arista over/under is available in all popular gauges with 28-inch barrels. The youth model has 26-inch barrels and only comes in 20 gauge and .410.
Price-wise, new Pointer youth shotguns are hitting the sweet spot – costing from $539 to $1,279, although the average is about $880.00.
The 20-gauge Pointer Arista youth over/under.
“Last year we sold a surprising number of 20-gauge over/under youth models – as many as our standard models,” Andy said. “Dealers are really stocking them. We try to keep production ramped up especially during the summer into fall, and the holidays.”
The thing about Andy is that he’s an avid hunter who fully understands the importance of getting youngsters outdoors.
Legacy Sports International just signed on as an SCTP Gold Sponsor in response to the interest in the Pointer line by youth shooting coaches at the 2019 industry SHOT Show held in Las Vegas January 21-25.
“We had a lot of the coaches stop by looking for 12-gauge youth models,” Andy said. “We have entry-level Pointers that cost under $1,000 with adjustable combs, ejectors, ported, five extended chokes, mechanical triggers and high ribs. We’re working on getting sample guns out to them in the next few weeks.”
The youth version of the Pointer SCT Deluxe single-barrel 12-gauge trap gun.
Sporting shotguns priced at the wallet-friendly $500 to $1,000 are a critical factor in enabling families to get their kids enrolled in scholastic clay target programs.
For example, CZ-USA, which also sells affordable shotguns, is again sponsoring the SCTP Top Gun Challenge in Marengo, Ohio July 13-20. While CZ-USA doesn’t have youth shotguns per se, they sell several models marked as “reduced length.” And the mid-range Italian shotgun maker F.A.I.R. became an SCTP Silver Sponsor for 2019 through its American importer, the Italian Firearms Group.
When it comes to getting kids involved in the shotgun sports, few people understand the calculus of affordability and participation better than Tom Wondrash, National Director of the SCTP.
“At first, the parents don’t know how serious their kids will be about it,” he explained. “And parents don’t want to spend a lot of money on a shotgun unless they know their kids will be serious about the sport.”
At the 2019 SHOT Show, Andy explained that he learned from SCTP coaches one of the appeals of clays shooting to kids and parents is that, unlike school team sports where parents invest a lot of money in gear only to find their kids sitting out the season on the bench, everyone on a youth shotgun squad gets to participate.
“Everyone is engaged and in the game,” Andy said.
Regardless, when it comes to introducing kids to the shotgun sports, spreading urbanization, higher hunting costs, habitat loss and draconian regulations can dampen parents’ enthusiasm for getting their kids engaged. Even when it comes to clays shooting, youngsters today are suffering from the decades-long, downward spiral in hunting.
The Pointer SCT Deluxe Clay over/under has a model designed to fit youngsters.
In 1970, more than 40 million Americans bought hunting licenses. By 2016, America’s hunting population fell to 11.5 million. Today, fewer parents can simply reach into the safe for a family shotgun that will get junior out on the skeet field.
“We’re getting more and more athletes and their and families involved in our program that have not been involved in the shooting sports and they don’t own a shotgun,” Tom said. “They’re not from hunting backgrounds.”
And here’s where Legacy Sports International is filling the breach.
Of their 12 youth shotguns, the Pointer SCT Basic clays gun features an adjustable comb on an oil-finished walnut stock, five extended chokes, ported, ejectors, raised rib and fiber-optic front sight for $989. The standard models come with 30-inch barrels but the youth version has 28-inch barrels. The Pointer SCT and SCT Deluxe are the only 12-gauge shotguns they sell as youth models.
The Pointer SCT Basic Trap 12-gauge for kids.
The Pointer Arista over/under youth field gun is available with 26-inch barrels in 20 gauge and .410 with engraved nickel action and walnut stock and forend. It sells for $589.00.
The black synthetic Pointer Break Action shotgun for kids is a 20 gauge or .410 with 26-inch barrels priced at $223.00
Although the Pointer Phenoma semi-automatic line features several different models in 12, 20, 28 gauge and .410, the youth models are 20 gauges with prices that start at $539.00.
And the prices get better for SCTP parents. Legacy Sports International is cooperating with SCTP for pricing incentives that will get more kids into clays shooting.
“What we’ve put together with Legacy is buying program if you will,” said Tom. “The teams or families can purchase these guns at a reduced price. It gets more people involved and families involved who all stay involved longer. I think the relationship will help fill the niche of purchasing a firearm that won’t break the bank because the youth are the future of our sport.”
Irwin Greenstein is the publisher of Shotgun Life. You can reach him at contact@shotgunlife.com.
The
SCTP is hosting the Scholastic Clay Target Program’s International Style
National Championships on July 22-27, 2019 in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the
International Shooting Park on the Ft. Carson Army base. Registration by SCTP
team coaches opens on Saturday, June 15 in the SHOT System.
Here
is the event schedule for the competition:
Monday July 22rd – Open Training
for Bunker and Skeet
Tuesday July 23rd –Open Training for Bunker and Skeet
Wednesday July 24th – I-Skeet
Competition 75 Targets
Thursday July 25th – I-Skeet
Competition 50 Targets & Finals
Friday July 26th – Bunker Trap 75 Targets
Saturday July 27th- Bunker Trap 50 Targets & Finals
*There will be an awards ceremony and banquet being
held at the Hotel Elegante on Saturday, July 27th starting at 6:00pm
following the Bunker Trap portion of the National Championships. Please contact
Amanda Wondrash at awondrash@sssfonline.com to make reservations
and confirm your attendance. Parents and kids 12 years of age or older are $20
and kids under 12 are $10. Participating athletes and coaches are free!
Coaches: The competition
registration will open on June 15th for this
tournament. You will need to squad your athletes prior to Thursday, July 19th so that they can be placed
on random shooting squads for the competition. Walk on’s will generally not be
allowed unless there is room available.
Top 3
placing athletes in Men’s and Ladies Bunker Trap as well as top 3 placing
athletes in International Skeet (12 total athletes) will earn a spot on the
2019 SCTP National Team. Athletes must meet a minimum qualifying
score (MQS) of a 90 x 125 or better in the qualification rounds, regardless of
finals placing, in order to be eligible for a National Team spot.
If
all athletes in the final have achieved the MQS, then finals placement will
determine the top 3 athletes. However, if there are athletes in a discipline
final who have not attained the MQS, those athletes will not be
eligible for the National Team, regardless of finals placement. At their
discretion, The Head Coach and National Director will then fill any open Team
slots with eligible athletes.
A
limited block of hotel rooms has been secured and are available for immediate
booking at the Hotel Elegante’ – Colorado Springs. Room rates are $99 for
a single or a double. Please contact the Hotel Elegante’ directly at
1-719-576-5900 or 1-800-981-4012. When making your reservations, please
reference “USA Shooting / SCTP Nationals”, code #2392040. (this
includes breakfast) The cutoff date is July
1st but we would not recommend
waiting that long as these rooms will fill up fast, especially at these prices!
You can upgrade to different rooms at additional price. See additional information for booking your room and
about the Hotel Elegante.
Hodgdon powders has been a long-time sponsor of the Scholastic Clay
Target Program and continues to do so again in 2019. Providing powders for all
reloading applications, Hodgdon Powders has everything you need from target
shooting to hunting powders!
“Hodgdon is proud to partner with the Scholastic Clay Target
Program again for 2019,” said Chris Hodgdon, Sales/Public Relations Manager for
Hodgdon Powder. “SCTP has a proven track record of safety and ethical character-building
coaching for thousands of youth athletes that have fun enjoying shotgun
sports.”
Chris Hodgdon currently serves on the Board of Directors of the
Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) and is a past coach of an SCTP
team in Shawnee, KS.
“Chris Hodgdon and Hodgdon Powders has been involved with SCTP
for many years” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director. “Chris’s sponsorship
and support of SCTP reflects the time he spent coaching in our program and the
desire to get more young adults involved in shooting sports. We are blessed to
have good people like Chris and the entire Hodgdon family involved and supportive
of the SCTP!”
The
Scholastic Clay Target Program would like to thank
Browning yet again for their continued sponsorship, support and trust in our
national youth shooting program and staff!
“The SCTP is one of the great organizations that we’re honored to support each year,” said Rafe Nielsen, Browning’s communications manager in marketing. “The work they do to develop youth shooting is second to none. Their commitment to healthy competition, developing advanced shooters, and bringing new shooters to the sport is vital to keeping the shooting sports strong. We’re proud to be sponsors and look forward to a great 2019 with them. "
Come
see Browning and many other shooting Industry reps at the SCTP National
Championships July 13-20 at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio!
“We are humbled by Browning’s continued support, sponsorship and
confidence in SCTP maintaining the best youth shooting program in the world,”
said Tom Wondrash, National Director for the SCTP. “Browning and SCTP strive to
find ways to support our teams, athletes and families. We are very thankful for
companies like Browning who share this same dream and understand the importance
of youth involvement in the shooting sports!”
On Friday, May 31, 2019 Ben Berka, Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation President and Executive Director announced that SSSF has entered into an agreement with the Cardinal Shooting Center to host their July Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program National Championships through the year 2029.
The Cardinal Shooting Center,
one of this country’s largest features 52 Trap Houses, 14 Skeet Fields, 2 Sporting
Clays Courses an International Bunker Trap and a 5 Stand! They also have 14
Pistol & Rifle Bays, as well as an Archery Practice Range and 3D Archery
course for the Pistol, Rifle and bow enthusiasts alike! For 2019, the Cardinal
Shooting Center will have completed their state-of-the-art “Shot Curtain
System’, providing a common background for all trap shooters as well as an
efficient platform to reclaim lead shot.
Tom Wondrash, SCTP National
Director stated “Everyone involved with SCTP is excited about our new 10-year
contract with The Cardinal Shooting Center. Beginning in 2020, the Cardinal
Shooting Center will add 6-8 additional skeet fields as well as the possibility
for additional American Trap and Bunker Trap facilities in the future. We
couldn’t be happier to have agreed upon a long-term deal with Cardinal knowing
they welcome our athletes, teams and families with open arms each and every
year!”
In addition to the SCTP and
SASP National Championships in July, the Cardinal Shooting Center is also home
for The SCTP College National Championships, SCTP Spring Regional and the SASP
Fall Regional Competition. The Cardinal Center also plays host to some of the
country’s largest open shooting events including Karen’s Cup, the Ohio state
shoot, the Buckeye Open, Cardinal Classic and the “Red Bird” Sporting Classic!
Luke Spengler, Trap manager
and tournament director at the Cardinal Shooting Center made the following
statement following the completion of the new 10-year agreement. “We are extremely
excited to know our youth athletes will be at the Cardinal Shooting Center
competing on a national level through 2029. The July SCTP and SASP National
Championships have been and will continue to be the largest shooting event in
the world and we are honored to host them” For
more information on the Cardinal Shooting Center, visit www.thecardinalcenter.com
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation(SSSF) is proud to announce members of the 2019 All-Scholastic Team!
Over 230 student athletes from 24 states have been named to the team this year and will be recognized at the opening ceremonies of the SSSF/SCTP/SASP Team Championship event on July 17 in Marengo, Ohio.
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, 2019 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.
Lakewood Products, a Division of Midwest Textile Manufacturing Corporation and the leader in shooting, hunting, and fishing protective cases, proudly announces the company’s support of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) and the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP).
As steadfast believers in maintaining options for America’s youth to participate in the shooting sports, Lakewood Products is proud to announce their support of the SSSF and the SCTP. The SCTP’s mission of providing youth from elementary grades through high school and college the opportunity to experience the fun and challenges of the Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays marries well with Lakewood’s product line and business ethos of supporting shooting sports. “We believe in the shooting sports and our youth’s participation, as such. The format that the SSSF and SCTP provides is an excellent opportunity for today’s young people to gain experience in shooting and an exceptional pathway to various specialties in competitive arenas,” stated Lakewood Products’ President, Steve Wagnitz.
By providing young athletes a forum to safely and enjoyably participate in a high quality, team-based sports program, each of the SCTP’s exciting disciplines are led by trained and dedicated adult coaches in a supportive environment focused on the safe handling and use of firearms. “What a better way to get kids involved in shooting than to have them bust clay targets in a safe and structured environment that lacks the additional pressure of hunting and other common barriers to entry. It starts out with having fun and opens the pathway to see what’s next – with tracks that can potentially lead to Olympic-level competition,” Wagnitz added.
Lakewood Products 2019 product introductions included the B136 Takedown Shotgun case, a perfect fit for the needs of participants in shotgun-related shooting sports. In addition to this recent offering Lakewood has also introduced the B136 Takedown Shotgun Case in a 1 Barrel, 2 Barrel, and 3 Barrel option in addition to the perennial shot gun specific offerings like the D330 Range Bag and B140 Shotgun Case.
The soft-sided hard case composition of Lakewood cases make them perfect for all methods of travel thanks to construction of rugged and durable TSAand airline compliantmaterials. Available at www.lakewoodproducts.com and at the best retailers nation-wide, Lakewood cases are a protective vault for expensive firearms and the ultimate companion for any hunting or range travel. Lakewood Cases combine 100% Made in the USA construction with exclusive designs that are purpose-built to be lightweight, convenient and durable with exceptional protection. Each case is backed by a Lifetime Warranty and manufactured to deliver an unparalleled combination of construction and convenience with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Lakewood cases are proudly made and assembled in the USA at a factory in Suamico, WI. The truth is, most companies outsource their manufacturing to China or some other foreign country. Not Lakewood. We manufacture our own products, so we have total control over what we make. As the only manufacturer of soft-sided hard cases in the U.S., all Lakewood cases are covered by a lifetime warranty against product defect through our Better Case Guarantee. If your Lakewood case does not give you easier access and better protection, we will refund your money, no questions asked!
4602 targets shot in 12 hours by a team of 5 shooters
Shooters / Requirements
One Female shooter & one Male shooter 16 years of age or older on Oct 12st, 2019 from the SCTP program sssfonline.org
One Female shooter & one Male shooter 16 years of age or older on Oct 12st, 2019 from the AIM / ATA program aim4ata.com
Dave Miller of CZ-USA and current Guinness World Record holder makes the 5th shooter
Qualification process for student athletes
Shooters will sign up and participate in a 50-target special qualification shoot held at the 2019 SCTP Nationals and or the 2019 A.I.M / Grand American. It will cost the athlete $20 for each round they choose to shoot and/or submit for the qualifier as re-entries are allowed. These two very special events provide a unique clay shooting challenge that is equal to 50% of the individuals score (max score at qualifier is 50/50). Shooters will be judged on the following:
Score at qualifier (50% of total application score)
Written essay explaining what shooting sports means to them, and why they deserve to be on a World Record Team. (Submitted electronically to fieldsports@cz-usa.com ). Essay must be 400-500 words in length on a single page (50% of total application score)
Conduct reviewed at qualifier (Reminder this is a professional, televised event with global coverage) and will be considered when reviewing final scores.
Qualifying at SCTP and/or AIM- Grand American
SCTP Qualifier: July 13-20, 2019 (Pre-register at sssfonline.org) 10:00am-4:00pm each day
AIM/ATA Qualifier: July 29-August 4, 2019 (Pre-register at aim4ata.com) 10:00am-4:00pm each day
Waivers must be signed at the event.
50 targets ( 25 pairs )
Chandelle / Teal type presentations at 30 meters
Scores will be kept and calculated with the remaining application processes
Athletes will compete with their own guns at qualifiers, but winners will receive and shoot the new CZ 1012 semi-auto at the World Record attempt.
Athletes must not use any shot shell loads greater than 1 1/8 ounce of 7.5 shot at the qualifiers. Athletes must bring their own ammo.
Guinness World Record Attempt Winners
Winners chosen based on combined score from application process and qualifiers. One female and one male will be chosen from each SCTP and AIM.
Must be willing to travel to the Lenexa Kansas on October 10-13, 2019
100% travel expenses covered for athlete plus one guardian (travel and lodging only). Food and other expenses are not covered.
Winners should understand that this is a 12-hour record event. This extremely physical process consists of standing and shooting.
Winners will receive a CZ 1012 Semi-automatic shotgun courtesy of AIM and SCTP that they will shoot with during the Record Attempt.
Winners to receive a World Record Shooting Vest and World Record Shirt to wear during the attempt.
Ammo and targets provided
If current record is broken, each winner will receive his or her own Guinness World Record Certificate.
Winners to be part of the World Record Special to air on TV a later date.
Winners to be part of the media and other press coverage from all around the world, and will undergo multiple interviews.
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.
