It is not a myth that interest in youth clay target shooting competitions is on the rise nationwide, and Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program’s (Tennessee SCTP) first annual Bigfoot Blast this past weekend proved to be a thrilling addition to the calendar of events.
Tennessee SCTP’s First Sporting Clays-Only Competition
On Friday evening, the event kicked off with a dinner and the introduction of a unique twist—glow clays, a 5-stand competition conducted under backlights.
“Glow clays has gone viral on social media in recent months, and the participating teams were ecstatic when we announced this segment of the competition,” said Ashley Tone, Tennessee SCTP Manager. “The demand was even enough that we had to include an additional competition on Saturday night.”
Saturday morning and afternoon saw competitors engaging in sporting clays and super sporting clays, followed by glow clays under the cover of night. The action-packed weekend concluded Sunday with the awards ceremony, where the HOA Varsity and HOA Intermediate Grand Champions were awarded Bigfoot statues. The inspiration behind all of the trophy designs and the competition’s name draws from Cross Creek Clays’ long history with the mysterious Bigfoot. In true fashion, Sasquatch made an appearance on Sunday for the awards ceremony.
This event marked not only the inaugural Bigfoot Blast competition but also Tennessee SCTP’s first sporting clays-only competition.
“Sporting clays has quickly become the fan favorite in Tennessee. Participation at Regionals and State Championships continues to rise, as do our team’s requests for more opportunities to compete,” said Tone.
Ashley Tone, Tennessee SCTP Manager
More than 170 athletes from 33 different teams competed in the various disciplines for a total of 373 entries. Due to popularity, the dates have already been set for next year’s Bigfoot Blast— April 4-6, 2025.
Tennessee SCTP looks forward to returning next year and extends heartfelt gratitude to Joe Calabrace, owner and general manager of Cross Creek Clays, and his staff, including Zach Wilhelm, for their remarkable generosity towards the youth participants and their amazing facility. Here are the weekend’s top scorers.
2024 Bigfoot Blast Winners
HOA: High Overall
HOA Varsity Grand Champion: Charles Cherry, Henry Co. No Fly Zone
HOA Intermediate Grand Champion: Cooper Carver, Henry Co. No Fly Zone
HOA Collegiate Champion: Chris Keller, University of Tennessee Knoxville Clay Target Team
HOA Collegiate Runner-Up: Dalton Berry, HSSC Crush
HOA Varsity Team Champion: Henry Co. No Fly Zone
HOA Varsity Team Runner-Up: Santa Fe Sharpshooters
HOA Varsity Lady Champion: Morgan Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
HOA Varsity Lady Runner-Up: Gabby Worthen, Dickson Clay Commanders
HOA Varsity Men Champion: Ben Yarbrough, HSSC Crush
HOA Varsity Men Runner-Up: Anderson Clayborne, Santa Fe Sharpshooters
HOA Intermediate Team Champion: Henry Co. No Fly Zone
HOA Intermediate Team Runner-Up: T-County Clay Busters
HOA Intermediate Lady Champion: Taylor Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
HOA Intermediate Lady Runner-Up: Lexi Orr, McKenzie Shooting Sports
HOA Intermediate Men Champion: Logan Price, Clarksville Academy
HOA Intermediate Men Runner-Up: Carson Spurgeon, Houston County Lucky Shots
HOA Rookie Champion: Peyton Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
HOA Rookie Runner-Up: Owen Banet, The Farm
Main Event
Main Event Collegiate Champion: Chris Keller, University of Tennessee Knoxville Clay Target Team
Main Event Collegiate Runner-Up: Dalton Berry, HSSC Crush
Main Event Varsity Team Champion: Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Main Event Varsity Team Runner-Up: Columbia Academy GunDawgs
Main Event Varsity Lady Champion: Morgan Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Main Event Varsity Lady Runner-Up: Caroline Cashion, Columbia Central High School
Main Event Varsity Men Champion: Charles Cherry, Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Main Event Varsity Men Runner-Up: Anderson Clayborne, Santa Fe Sharpshooters
Main Event Intermediate Team Champion: T-County Clay Busters
Main Event Intermediate Team Runner-Up: Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Main Event Intermediate Lady Champion: Taylor Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Main Event Intermediate Lady Runner-Up: Lexi Orr, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Main Event Intermediate Men Champion: Cooper Carver, Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Main Event Intermediate Men Runner-Up: Logan Price, Clarksville Academy
Main Event Rookie Champion: Peyton Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Main Event Rookie Runner-Up: Owen Banet, The Farm
Super Sporting Clays
Super Sporting Collegiate Champion: Chris Keller, University of Tennessee Knoxville Clay Target Team
Super Sporting Collegiate Runner-Up: Dalton Berry, HSSC Crush
Super Sporting Varsity Team Champion: Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Super Sporting Varsity Team Runner-Up: Columbia Academy GunDawgs
Super Sporting Varsity Lady Champion: Morgan Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Super Sporting Varsity Lady Runner-Up: Caroline Cashion, Columbia Central High School
Super Sporting Varsity Men Champion: Ben Yarbrough, HSSC Crush
Super Sporting Varsity Men Runner-Up: Charles Cherry, Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Super Sporting Intermediate Team Champion: Henry Co. No Fly Zone
Super Sporting Intermediate Team Runner-Up: McKenzie Shooting Sports
Super Sporting Intermediate Lady Champion: Lexi Orr, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Super Sporting Intermediate Lady Runner-Up: Taylor Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Super Sporting Intermediate Men Champion: Robert Strain, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Super Sporting Intermediate Men Runner-Up: Owen Banet, The Farm
Super Sporting Rookie Champion: Owen Banet, The Farm
Super Sporting Rookie Runner-Up: Peyton Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Glow Clays
Glow Clays Collegiate Champion: Chris Keller, University of Tennessee Knoxville Clay Target Team
Glow Clays Collegiate Runner-Up: Dalton Berry, HSSC Crush
Glow Clays Varsity Lady Champion: Olivia Nickens, Dickson Clay Commanders
Glow Clays Varsity Lady Runner-Up: Katie Beth Brown, Columbia Academy GunDawgs
Glow Clays Varsity Men Champion: Nash Dray, USJ Sport Shooting Team
Glow Clays Varsity Men Runner-Up: Curtis Sykes, Houston County Lucky Shots
Glow Clays Intermediate Lady Champion: Taylor Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Glow Clays Intermediate Lady Runner-Up: Lexi Orr, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Glow Clays Rookie Champion: Peyton Hilliard, McKenzie Shooting Sports
Glow Clays Rookie Runner-Up: Wiley Evans, Haywood Young Guns
Coach/Parent 5 Stand
Coach/Parent 5 Stand Showdown Champion: Reggie Spurgeon, Houston County Lucky Shots
CoachParent 5 Stand Showdown Runner-Up: Justin White, HSSC Crush
