Tennessee Wildlife Federation, one of the largest and oldest nonprofits dedicated to conserving the state’s wildlife and natural resources, hosted 80 teams from across the state with almost 3,000 individual entries at its 2023 Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) State Championships from June 19-24 at the Nashville Gun Club.
It was an action-packed competition for athletes who could compete in seven different events—Sporting Clays, Super Sporting, American Skeet, Doubles Skeet, American Trap, Doubles Trap, and Extended Yard-Line Trap. Participation in nearly all categories increased from last year, resulting in 284,050 targets thrown and shattered by the athletes.
New Addition: College Recruiting Day
“These teams display their unmatched skills each year at the State Championships. We want them to know their hard work should not and does not go unnoticed.”
JW Worthen, Director of Programs, Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Athletes and their guardians had the opportunity to speak with collegiate shooting sports programs from around the country at Tennessee SCTP’s College Recruiting Day on Thursday, June 22.
“Our program hopes to see its athletes excel in all phases of their lives,” said Ashley Tone, Tennessee SCTP Manager. “This new addition to the week provided them with an invaluable platform to explore potential collegiate shooting sports opportunities they may not have known about.”
The week concluded Saturday evening with free venison burgers and hot dogs courtesy of the program’s title sponsor, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, followed by the final awards ceremony where many individuals and teams walked away with trophies, medals, and rings.
The high over all and high all around winners are as follows. For the complete list of winners click here.
High Over All
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
Joseph Autry on CCTA – No Option (Montgomery Co.)
Rookie Lady Champion
Peyton Hilliard on McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Men Champion
Cody Stanford on Clarksville Christian School (Montgomery Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Lady Champion
Taylor Hilliard on McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Team
Columbia Academy GunDawgs (Maury Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Men Champion
Charles Cherry on Henry Co. No Fly Zone (Henry Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Lady Champion
Morgan Hilliard on McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Team
HSSC Crush (Williamson Co.)
Collegiate Men Champion
John Crutcher on University of Tennessee Southern Clay Target (Giles Co.)
Collegiate Lady Champion
Jami Giarrizzo on Emmanuel College Clay Target Shooting (GA)
Men’s Grand Champion
Dalton Berry on HSSC Crush (Williamson Co.)
Ladies Grand Champion
Ashley Sellers on William Blount Shooting Team (Blount Co.)
High All Around
Awarded to the individuals 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
Channing Garrett on Middle Tennessee Christian School (Rutherford Co.)
Rookie Lady Champion
Peyton Hilliard on McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Men Champion
Caden Harris on CCTA – No Option (Montgomery Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Lady Champion
Taylor Hilliard on McKenzie Shooting Sports (Carroll Co.)
Intermediate (Entry Level and Advanced) Team
Columbia Academy GunDawgs (Maury Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Men Champion
Luke Lankford on Warriors (Knox Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Lady Champion
Gabby Worthen on Dickson Clay Commanders (Dickson Co.)
Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Team
Henry Co. No Fly Zone (Henry Co.)
Collegiate Men Champion
John Crutcher on University of Tennessee Southern Clay Target (Giles Co.)
Men’s Grand Champion
Dalton Berry on HSSC Crush (Williamson Co.)
Ladies Grand Champion
Ashley Sellers on William Blount Shooting Team (Blount Co.)
This week was made possible by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Grizzly Ears, Allegiant Wealth Partners, Guns Unlimited, Hunt Brothers Pizza, Tristar Medical Group, Gamaliel Shooting Supply, and Tennessee Sporting Clays Association.
Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program provides youth ages 9 through the 12th grade and college an opportunity to participate in the three main shotgun shooting disciplines—trap, skeet, and sporting clays—with peers from across the state. To learn more visit: https://tnwf.org/tennessee-scholastic-clay-target-program/.
