The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is a team-based program for students in elementary, middle/junior, and senior high school whose goal is to introduce youths to clay target sports that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Teams can compete in trap, skeet, and/or sporting clays. It also provides a supportive team-based environment using clay target sports as a catalyst. Each team has squads based on academic year and experience within their respective divisions, Rookie, Intermediate, Junior Varsity, and Senior Varsity. To be an officially recognized SCTP squad, the minimum squad size for sporting clays and skeet is three. For American trap, the squad size is five. Scoring is done using the combined scores of the squad members.

This year’s Oregon SCTP State Championship was held at Siuslaw Gun and Rod Club in Florence, Oregon, on June 5th. One could not have asked for a more magnificent day for shooting sports with clear blue skies, sunshine, and a mild ocean breeze. Our hosts, Jerry, Diane, and Amy Harpole of Siuslaw Sporting Clays, provided a great venue of competitive clays shooting in a beautiful setting on the Oregon Coast.

Two SCTP teams, the Eddyville Eagles and the Emerald Empire Eagles, competed in a 100-target race that began with a shotgun start at 10am. There were 12 first-time competitors as well as assorted lower division athletes that "bumped up" and competed in a higher level to create active squads. These first-time clay target competitors all achieved individual scores to win 2010 Junior USA Shooting Team patches, courtesy of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

The course that was set up by Jerry Harpole was both a challenge for all the athletes as well as accommodating for first-time shooters and pump-gun users. "It was great to see team members and parent observers, from competing squads, offering positive individual support to both teams," said Jim Wiota, head coach for the Emerald Empire Eagles. "This worked out great! It was wonderful to see this kind of interaction from the athletes and parents." Parent volunteers acted as score keepers, safety officers and field judges.

A fine "all-you-can-eat" lunch was provided. This was followed by the presentation of SCTP State Championship awards. The team medals for the Intermediate, Junior Varsity, and Senior Varsity were well done and a fitting award for a game well fought. In the Intermediate division, first place went to David Leavitt, Josiah Ogg, and Dylan Malpass. In the Junior Varsity Division, first place was won by Logan McGann, Bailee Prater, and Grace Diaz. Top honors for Senior Varsity was won by Tim Ogg, Paul Leavitt, and Dusty Harrold.

Appreciation and thanks go out to all parents, volunteers, head coaches, and assistant coaches. Without these committed, dedicated individuals and their unending support, events like this could not take place. Additional thanks to White Flyer for their donation of targets via Dennis Crowell of the Cottage Grove Eugene Sportsman Club. Special thanks to Jerry, Diane, and Amy Harpole for their hospitality and flexibility. The sponsoring organizations for each team, Eddyville Charter School and Emerald Empire Gun Club (www.emeraldempiregunclub.org), deserve recognition for their support of these fine athletes as well. Jerry Snider, one of the athlete’s grandparents said, "It was a wonderful day, a wonderful, fun event. It was great to see everyone giving positive cheers to kids on both teams, not just their own."

"I look forward to next year’s match," said the Eddyville Eagles head coach, Dave Boyce. "I didn’t see a sad face on any of the kids at the end of the day."

Other Oregon clubs and youth shooters wishing to learn more about SCTP as well as field a SCTP team for next year can check out the SCTP website at www.sssfonline.org.