Tennessee Wildlife Federation’s Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) reached new heights last week with its 2024 State Championships bringing in 1,151 youth athletes.
Held from June 17-22 at the Nashville Gun Club, the event showcased the growing popularity and success of youth shooting sports in the state.
The competition featured seven disciplines: trap, skeet, sporting clays, super sporting, doubles skeet, doubles trap, and extended yard line trap. All disciplines experienced an increase in participation as athletes each engaged in multiple events. With 3,331 total individual entries, this historic event marked Tennessee SCTP’s highest participation numbers to date.
Growing in Popularity
“This year’s turnout demonstrates our athletes’ enthusiasm for branching out across disciplines,” said JW Worthen, director of programs, Tennessee Wildlife Federation. “It highlights their growing passion for shooting sports and commitment to involvement.”
The surge in interest mirrors a broader national trend. PBS reported last year that “shooting sports are exploding in popularity amongst young people,” a sentiment echoed by Tennessee SCTP’s record numbers.
“We want to maintain this positive momentum for our sport so we always prioritize the safety and enjoyment of all participants,” said Ashley Tone, Tennessee SCTP manager. “Having TriStar Health at our State Championships provided the necessary peace of mind so that we could focus on making the competition the best it could be.”
Throughout the week, TriStar Health’s medical personnel were onsite, offering essential support to ensure the well-being of athletes and spectators amidst rising temperatures.
“It’s not easy to host and execute a competition with [over] 1,100 athletes and 82 teams in 90+ degree heat but JW, Ashley, the Regional Directors, Tennessee Wildlife Federation staff, the Nashville Gun Club, and all the volunteers made it look easy.”
Terry Dewitt, former Olympian and current southeast regional director of development for National SCTP
Thank You Sponsors
TriStar Health was among the sponsors of the 2024 Tennessee SCTP State Championships, alongside Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Grizzly Ears, Allegiant Wealth Partners, Tetra Hearing, Guns Unlimited, Hunt Brothers Pizza, and Gamaliel Shooting Supply.
The event concluded Saturday evening with a lifetime license giveaway by TWRA, the program’s title sponsor, to the overall Last Competitor Standing winner. Shortly after, complimentary hot dogs and venison burgers were provided to all by TWRA and Hunters for the Hungry. This was followed by the last awards ceremony, where teams and individuals were honored with trophies, medals, and state championship rings—a tradition initiated last year. The rings, sponsored by Allegiant Wealth Partners, are awarded to only four recipients for their outstanding performances.
The high over all and high all around winners are as follows. For the full list of winners click here.
High Over All (HOA)
Awarded to the individuals and teams who shot the highest score out of 300 targets totaled from the main three disciplines: Sporting Clays, American Trap, and American Skeet.
Rookie Men Champion
Wiley Evans, Haywood Young Guns (Haywood Co.)
Rookie Lady Champion
Peyton Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Men Champion
Ian Fife, Str8 Shooters Clay Team (Sequatchie Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Lady Champion
Taylor Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Team
McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Men Champion
Taylor Sims, Columbia Academy GunDawgs (Maury Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Lady Champion
Morgan Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Team
Henry Co. No Fly Zone (Henry Co.)
Collegiate Men Champion
Nathaniel Myers, UT Southern Clay Target Team (Giles Co.)
Collegiate Lady Champion
Ashley Sellers, William Blount Shooting Team (Blount Co.)
Men’s Grand Champion (pictured right)
Charles Cherry, Henry Co. No Fly Zone (Henry Co.)
Ladies Grand Champion (pictured left)
Gabby Worthen, Dickson Clay Commanders (Dickson Co.)
High All Around (HAA)
Awarded to the individuals and teams who shot the highest score out of 650 targets totaled from all seven events: Sporting Clays, Super Sporting, American Skeet, Doubles Skeet, American Trap, Doubles Trap, and Extended Yard-Line Trap.
Rookie Men Champion
Liam Lawson, East Tennessee Straight Shooters (Sullivan Co.)
Rookie Lady Champion
Peyton Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Men Champion
Carson Spurgeon, Houston County Lucky Shots (Houston Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Lady Champion
Taylor Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Team
Henry Co. No Fly Zone (Henry Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Men Champion
Jacob Sexton, Unaka Shooters (Washington Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Lady Champion
Morgan Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Team
Henry Co. No Fly Zone (Henry Co.)
Collegiate Men Champion
Dalton Berry, HSSC Crush (Williamson Co.)
Collegiate Lady Champion
Mercie Ashmore, UT Southern Clay Target Team (Giles Co.)
Men’s Grand Champion (pictured right)
Luke Lankford, Warriors (Knox Co.)
Ladies Grand Champion (pictured left)
Gabby Worthen, Dickson Clay Commanders (Dickson Co.)
