The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) State Championships will kick off on Friday, June 5, at 1 p.m., and continue through Sunday, June 7, until 4:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony for all events immediately following. This is the first year that 17 South Rod and Gun Club will participate after launching a new SCTP league earlier this year.

Comprised of girls and boys from middle school to high school and even college, the 17 South team has a total of 31 athletes who will be shooting for targets and competing against youth from all over the state of Georgia in the hopes of winning the state championship. This event is free to attend and open to the public. 

Shooting sports are growing in popularity, which is evidenced by the fact that 153 youth shooters participated in last year's championship, which has more than doubled in 2020 with roughly 450 shooters signed up. Only two local clubs are participating: 17 South Rod and Gun Club and Forest City Gun Club. 

The mission of the SCTP is to provide kids from elementary grades through high school and college with the opportunity to participate in the fun and challenging sports of Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays, as well as the Olympic disciplines of Bunker Trap, Trap Doubles and International Skeet. 

These disciplines are led by trained and dedicated adult coaches in a supportive environment, with a focus on the safe handling and use of firearms.

Coaches from the 17 South team mentioned that they were pleased to be able to offer this new program to their members' families because they are a fairly young club, established only five years ago.

"It's so exciting to be teaching the art of shooting to these young athletes," said Ronnie Chambers, a 17 South coach. "This is a sport where the outcome of the competition depends on your skill level and hard work. Your height, size and gender won't hinder your success. Every single team member will get to participate and is scored individually, so you're always working to improve your personal score. But then that score is combined with the team's for a collective total. So, you're also supporting each other and building one another up."

17 South will shoot Trap together at 1 p.m. on Friday. Throughout the rest of the weekend, the team members will be shooting sporting clays individually. Then on Sunday at 3 p.m., the team will come together once again to shoot Skeet.  

For more information about SCTP, including active teams in Georgia, visit www.sssfonline.org/scholastic-clay-target-program/.