18 Schools, 214 Student-Athletes To Compete At 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Championship

Student-athletes and teams representing 18 colleges and universities will participate in the 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Championship, which will be held at the Brittany Shooting Park outside of Bunker Hill, Illinois, from November 1-3.

A total of 214 college athletes from those 18 schools will take part in the 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Championship, a two-day competition awarding the top clay target athletes and teams in the country.

With nearly 52,000 participating student-athletes in the 2023-2024 school year, the non-profit USA Clay Target League is one of the biggest competitive shotgun shooting organizations in the U.S., offering clay target sports to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are provided to qualifying seniors by the League and post-secondary institutions each year. (Photo courtesy USA Clay Target League)

Schools that have registered to compete in the 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Championship include Illinois College, Lake Land College (Illinois), University of Illinois, McPherson College (Kansas), Maine Maritime Academy, Ferris State University (Michigan), Mid-Michigan College, Montcalm Community College (Michigan), Western Michigan University, Bethany Lutheran College (Minnesota), Lake Superior College (Minnesota), University of Minnesota-Crookston, Lindenwood University (Missouri), Williston State College (North Dakota), Alfred State College (New York), Paul Smith’s College (New York), Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and Western Technical College (Wisconsin).

After team check-in and practice on Friday, November 1, the first day of competition will commence on Saturday, November 2. All student-athletes will shoot 100 targets on day one, along with an “Annie Oakley” contest for coaches and athletes after competition concludes. On Sunday, November 3, the athletes will again shoot 100 targets. The title of 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Champion will be based on the cumulative scores after the two days of competition.

The 2024 USA College Clay Target League National Championship is presented by SCHEELS. Additional sponsors include Friends of NRA, the Bass Pro Shops-Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Walker’s, Mark Zauhar, Sportsman’s Guide, Guns.com, Spandau Arms and Winchester.

15,823 Student-Athletes Compete in USA Clay Target League Fall Season

The season is complete and the awards have been shipped for the nearly 16,000 student-athletes that participated in USA Clay Target League programs during the fall 2024 season. Those 15,823 student-athletes are competing on a total of 873 high school, college and homeschool teams nationwide.

According to the USA Clay Target League, “Every year 95% of non-graduating students return to participate in the League’s programs, and more than 13,000 new athletes joined the League this year through their school’s teams. In the League there are no benchwarmers—everyone participates thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches and parents that make teams flourish.”

The USA Clay Target League’s co-ed and adaptive nature make it attractive to schools and student-athletes nationwide.

“Athletes and parents want safe, school-based, non-traditional outdoor activities in which to participate,” John Nelson, the president of the USA Clay Target League said. “The League’s school-approved programs provide a sense of team, belonging and camaraderie without the high costs and limited playing opportunities of traditional high school sports.”

Learn more about the USA Clay Target League and the USA College Clay Target League.