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Tag: World Shooting and Recreational Complex

Plan Your Lodging for Nationals in Sparta

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

If the SCTP-SPP National Championships in Sparta, Illinois are a part of your team's plans for this year -- and why wouldn't they be? -- it's a good idea to start considering accommodations for the week of July 13-18. To make it easier for you to know your options, especially if this will be your first trip to the Sparta area, we have some resources for you. We've accessed a Google map that shows lodging in the vicinity of the World Shooting & Recreational Complex, so you can not only see your lodging options, but also where they are relative to the complex.

See local lodging near the WSRC



In addition, the World Shooting & Recreational Complex offers 1001 camping sites for those of you who want to stay right on the premises in an RV or tent. Click the link below to learn about the WSRC campground options and to access online reservations. You can also make campground reservations by calling Sherry Flowers at the WSRC, 618-295-2700, ext. 486.

See WSRC campground options



Don't know when you need to be there? Below is the schedule for each discipline:
    Sunday, July 12 - Registration Monday, July 13 - Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Tuesday, July 14 - Skeet, sporting clays, pistol Wednesday, July 15 - Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Thursday, July 16 - Skeet, skeet handicap/doubles, sporting clays, pistol Friday, July 17 - Trap, skeet doubles, pistol Saturday, July 18 - Trap, skeet doubles, pistol

Registration Open for SCTP College Regional “Spooktacular” Tournament, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

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

Online registration is now open for the SCTP College Regional "Spooktacular" Tournament planned for Halloween weekend at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. The 400-target tournament is open to any college team registered with the Scholastic Clay Target Program. The shoot will open on Friday, October 31 with sporting clays and 5-stand competition, as well as a Last Competitor Standing event and Halloween costume contest. Saturday will feature skeet, wobble trap, and 5-stand events. Trap and an awards ceremony will fill Sunday morning, November 2, before teams' departure in early afternoon. More than $80,000 in endowment funding will be available for contribution to participating and winning teams' MidwayUSA Foundation endowment accounts.

Click here for costs and complete event details


Plan for Our SCTP College Regional Spooktacular, October 31 – November 2

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

Plans are coming together for the SCTP College Regional Spooktacular Tournament on October 31 – November 2 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. The tournament is open to any college registered with SCTP and will offer 400 targets. On Friday, teams can shoot a 100-target sporting clays course ($55) and 50 5-stand targets ($25). Shooters can enter a Last Competitor Standing event ($5) for a chance to win a shotgun. We're also planning a Halloween costume competition for Friday. Saturday's events will include 100 skeet targets ($50), 50 wobble trap targets ($25), and a second day of 5-Stand. An early dinner at the Main Events Building will also be included. On Sunday, teams will shoot 100 trap targets ($50) before awards at noon. All events, including the early dinner on Saturday, will be $225 per person. We expect to offer two divisions: Class AA for larger or more established teams and Class A for newer or smaller teams. Over $80,000 in endowment money will be available at this tournament, including $1000 in attendance endowment funding for each team. Online registration will open September 15.
Art Ashbrook, Ben Berka

SSSF Extends Agreement with WSRC to Host Nationals Through 2017

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

Art Ashbrook, Ben Berka
Art Ashbrook, left, and Ben Berka
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation has contracted with the World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) to hold its National Team Championships at the Sparta, Illinois facility through 2017. Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director, and Art Ashbrook, WSRC Executive Director, signed the agreement recently to formalize the three-year extension of the foundation's relationship with the complex. "We are pleased to call Sparta 'Home of the SSSF National Championships' and look forward to meeting our SSSF extended family there each year during the second full week of July," said Berka. "The Illinois Department of Natural Resources staff at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex are great to work with and are committed to working together with the SSSF to accommodate our growth, both in numbers of participants and in the diversity of events we are offering." WSRA's Ashbrook echoed those sentiments. "The World Shooting and Recreational Complex and the IDNR are extremely pleased by the commitment of the SSSF to hold its National Championships here for the next three years, and hopefully for the next 100," said Ashbrook. "We think we work very well together, serving the community and young shooters alike." More than 10,000 people came to Sparta for the 2014 SCTP National Team Championship and SPP Junior/Senior National Championship at the WSRC in July, including approximately 2500 shooters plus coaches, family members, and other supporters.

SCTP and SPP Make History with National Championships

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

More than 2500 young shooters, along with thousands of coaches, family members, and supporters, descended upon the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Ill. last week for the largest youth shooting event ever held, the SCTP and SPP National Championships. The July 14-19 event saw significant increases in virtually every metric over 2013's record-setting Nationals. In the SCTP event alone, competitors shot 715,000 targets, a 35% increase over last year. Shooters from 175 SCTP teams came from 26 states. SPP also saw its own increases. In only its second Junior/Senior National Championship, SPP experienced an increase of 62% in participant numbers, hosting 326 shooters representing 39 teams from 15 states. Earlier this year, SPP hosted a separate Collegiate National Championship with close to 100 shooters from 24 squads.

See National Championship Scores and Results


With the largest contingency of shooters, Trap had almost 1900 participants, a 19% increase. A total of 736 shooters shot Skeet for a 29% growth, and the 677 Sporting Clays shooters represented a 30% increase. Of the 2180 SCTP shooters, 1818 were male and 361 female. "An event of this magnitude could only take place so successfully with a great deal of hard work and dedication from our student athletes, coaches, parents, team volunteers, and our own staff," said Ben Berka, President and Executive Director of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), which powers SCTP and SPP. "We are especially grateful to our many sponsors and benefactors who make it possible for us to create an unforgettable experience for our athletes. We also owe kudos to the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, a remarkable venue that hosted our thousands of shooters and spectators with ease. We look forward to hosting our 2015 National Championships there."

2014 National Championships Will Be Largest Ever!

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

SSSF Nationals It's official: the 2014 National Team Championships at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL, will be the largest one in our history! With five days remaining in the registration period, we have blasted through 2013 registration numbers, which were also record-setting. More than 2200 athletes, representing more than 170 teams, at least 26 states, and over 3800 event registrations, have signed up. In SCTP alone, the registrations account for 688,500 targets to be shot! For the Scholastic Pistol Program, its second National Championship will experience a 50% increase over last year. If you haven't registered, there is still time. Check out our National Championships page to find registration information, schedules, and most everything else you need to know. See you in Sparta! Updated July 10, 2014

SCTP’s National Team Championships Open Registration with Record Numbers

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

Registration is now open for next month’s SCTP National Team Championships, and if the first day of registration is any indication, it is sure to be a record-shattering event. During the first 24 hours that teams could register for the National Championships, more than 627 student athletes were signed up for SCTP events, representing 40 teams from 15 states. Almost 1000 event registrations were completed during the first day. The event will be held July 14-19 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL. In addition, SCTP will host shooters at our National Championships for international events on July 25-29 in Colorado Springs, CO. As in previous years, SCTP teams will compete in Skeet, Trap, and Sporting Clays during the weeklong event. For this year’s Nationals, teams can also compete in Doubles Trap, Handicap Trap, and Skeet Doubles events. A new College Open category will allow college students to compete at the National Championships with their former high school teams. Sharing the spotlight with the Scholastic Clay Target Program during Nationals will be the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP), concurrently holding its second Junior/Senior National Championships. The two programs will award $713,000 in endowment funds to competing teams at our national events, representing $450,000 to SCTP teams at the Sparta tournament; $156,000 at SCTP’s National Championships for international events; and $107,000 to SPP teams at Nationals. Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation will donate the endowment funds to team accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. In addition to a week of shooting competition, other activities are planned to benefit our student athletes, including College Recruiting Day to provide recruiting opportunities to colleges with shooting teams, and Youth Conservation Day, when athletes will learn about various conservation organizations and opportunities for involvement. “We’re off to a tremendous start with registrations for our National Championships, and we’re expecting another record year, following a record 2000-plus shooters in 2013,” said Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director. “The SCTP staff and our dedicated sponsors work on this event year-round to ensure it is the nation’s premier youth shooting competition. With its wide range of shooting events and activities, abundant endowment funds the teams can earn, and opportunities for teams to compete against the nation’s best, we’re confident this is an event without equal.” SCTP head coaches can log in to their accounts at www.sssfonline.org to register.

Register Now for SCTP National Team Championships <br>July 14-19

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

Registration is open for the biggest event of the year! The 2014 SCTP National Team Championships will be held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL, July 14-19. Log onto your account at sssfonline.org to register today!
  • Afer logging in, go to the calendar tab
  • Scroll to July 14th and click on the Nationals shoot
  • Click “register here”
COACHES: Please read the following information carefully. You will be responsible for squadding your athletes on the days and times that you see fit. Please ensure that you pick the correct dates and times. If competing in more than one discipline on the same day, make sure you allow ample time between events. You will have 10 days to fill squad times and pay for your slots. If not populated and paid, they will be erased, and that slot will be reopened to the general public. There will be no "hoarding" of time slots; only squad what you are sure will be attending for that event. It will be the Head Coach's responsibility to ensure that your athletes are squadded properly, and you will sign off on that at registration. Once signed, the squads are set and there will be no more changes to that squad. Squads with a mixture of athletes from different divisions will be placed in the "Open" category. Squads with athletes in the wrong division may be disqualified. Please see the SCTP Handbook for details. If you have any questions pertaining to any of the above, please contact an SCTP staff person. Additional InformationOpen Category - This will consist of athletes from the same team but from different divisions. Last Competitor Standing - This year we will have two of these competitions, Tuesday evening and Friday evening! ALL competitors must purchase and wear a colored wristband to compete in these events. Opening Ceremonies - An Olympic-style march in front of the grandstands for all states and teams will start at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16.
  • State Advisors: Please ensure that you or someone from your state brings a state flag for ALL of your state teams to walk in behind.
College Recruiting Day - This will be Thursday, July 17, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., in the main building. Meet the Potterfields - Brenda and Larry Potterfield will be on-site all day on Thursday, July 17. Please come up to the main building from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. to say hello and thanks to them for their support of our programs. Youth Conservation Day - On Friday, July 18 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., come up and meet the folks from the different conservation groups, and learn how you can partner with them to help grow your team. Make a Break - Daily winners/high scores will compete in an exciting shoot-off for prizes on Saturday, July 19 at 2 p.m. in front of the grandstands. NEW in 2014: College Open Category - This will consist of athletes who have participated on their former team through high school and are returning to compete on that team. This category will allow these athletes to form a competitive squad as long as they are attending any college on a full-time basis. They do not have to attend the same college but must have competed with this team in the past. NEW in 2014: Doubles Trap - You will be able to have your athletes compete in shooting Trap Doubles as a concurrent event. We will shoot this event on a Monday/Tuesday rotation OR a Wednesday/Thursday rotation, with 100 targets each of the two days. NEW in 2014: Handicap Trap - You will be able to have your athletes compete in shooting Handicap Trap as a concurrent event. We will shoot this event on a Monday/Tuesday rotation OR a Wednesday/Thursday rotation, with 100 targets each of the two days.
  • All Rookies will shoot from the 19-yard line
  • All Intermediates will shoot from the 21-yard line
  • All Senior Division athletes will shoot from the 25-yard line.
NEW in 2014: Skeet Doubles - Athletes will be able to compete in Skeet Doubles, shooting 100 targets on Friday. Beretta will be sponsoring the Skeet Doubles Competition this year. After the scores come in, we will be drawing up to 3 numbers, depending on the number of registrations. Athletes whose score ends in that number will be invited to a shootout on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. for a grand prize: an A400 shotgun donated by Beretta! Awards - SCTP will have a full listing of all awards (medals and trophies) and endowment awards posted at the registration area. Food Vendors - We will have several food vendors on-site, located behind the grandstands. They will be serving items including steak sandwiches, hamburgers, pulled pork, jambalaya, shrimp baskets, catfish, and many other options. Cooling Tent - This year, we will have a cooling tent located behind the grandstands. T-Shirts - Commemorative t-shirts may be purchased at the "Great Outdoor" store, located in the main building. Golf Cars - If you are interested in renting a golf car, you may reserve one at the Little Egypt Golf Car website. Be sure to select the option for SCTP Rental Agreement. Reservations must be made by June 30 to ensure that a cart will be available. If you wish to bring your own golf car, please read the attached rules carefully. Ammunition - Gamaliel will once again be running the Ammo Barn. You may purchase ammo from them during the week. Day Sponsors
  • Sunday, July 13                  Promatic Day
  • Monday, July 14                Browning / SKB Day
  • Tuesday, July 15                Remington Day
  • Wednesday, July 16          CZ-USA Day
  • Thursday, July 17               MidwayUSA Day
  • Friday, July 18                    Beretta Day
  • Saturday, July 19               Zanders Sporting Goods / Nobel Sport Day
Coaches, athletes and families, wear your favorite sponsor shirts and hats on those days to support our fantastic top 8 sponsors! You never know, you might get singled out for a prize! Updated 6/19/2014