While thousands gathered for the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Dallas on May 4-6, about 300 sixth through twelfth graders comprising two dozen youth shotgun teams convened at Ellis County Sportsman’s Club only 20 miles away for the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) 2018 Texas State Shotgun Championships.
Hundreds of medals, trophies, and belt buckles were awarded to student-athletes competing in their respective classifications. For most, this was the pinnacle of their season, having battled the elements throughout the six-month league which started back in November. Many will compete in the Lower Midwest Regional Tournament in San Antonio, TX, on June 16-17, along with athletes from OK, AR, and LA. A few will go on to represent Texas at the SCTP American Team Nationals on July 18-22 in Marengo, OH, versus 3,000-plus shooting athletes from across the nation. Among the Eagles who have already qualified for the All-State-Team representing Texas at Nationals are Rob Beach (Trap), Trevor Christensen (Skeet), Sean Packer (Sporting Clays), and Grant Stelmach (Sporting Clays). Beach and Packer also qualified as All-Americans in Sporting Clays, while Morgan Scott and Brandon Stone qualified as All-Americans in Skeet.
The Allen Eagles Competitive Shooting Team won the High Overall Team Championship by a margin of 42 targets out of 1500 over the Southlake Carroll Target Program who earlier this year placed first in the North Texas League by 29 targets over the Eagles out of 4500 shot in nine league events.
Also in the running for the HOA team state crown, one target separated third place Red Oak High School Shotgun Team from fourth place finisher Grace Cougars, with newcomer Keller High School Clay Target Team in fifth place by just four more targets.
Allen and Southlake tied for the Skeet team award. But, Allen got the win in a shootoff with Southlake veterans Nicholas Godfrey and Tyler Hall demonstrating exceptional sportsmanship. The Eagles took the Sporting Clays team award by three targets over the Dragons. Additionally, Pleasant Grove Shotgun Club bested Allen by one target out of 500 for the Trap Team Championship.
Learn more about the Scholastic Clay Target Program here.
