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BRIGHAM CITY — Clayton Myers' shotgun is nearly as big as he is. Most people might have a hard time believing 8-year-old Myers could be competitive. However, doubts are soon blown away like the 62 clay pigeons Myers destroyed at the Scholastic Clay Trap Program State Finals. Myers and his older brother, Colton, were both part of this year's first-place Rookie team at the state shoot, representing Ogden Gun Club.
The Scholastic Clay Trap Program sponsors a yearly event for students to compete in trap shooting across the country. This year, 95 students from elementary to high school age met at the Golden Spike Trap Club in Brigham City for the Utah state competition.
At 9 a.m., the first teams of five approached their trap houses. Athletes took turns shooting at clay pigeons, small disks similar in size to a tea cup saucer. Teammates rotate through five stations, once every five shots, for a total of 25 shots each round. After all the team members have taken their shots, 125 shots total, points are scored for every bird hit. A short water break is followed by another round.
After finishing the second round, the team moves to another trap house to begin the process again. By lunch break, each player has taken 100 shots, 500 for a team total. Several had bruised shoulders from four rounds of shooting. The break from the pounding heat was short-lived for all but the Rookies; fifth grade and younger only shoot 100. The others shoot another four rounds.
By 3 p.m., the main shooting was done. The next hour was spent calculating scores. Shoot-offs then took place for any significant ties. Fortunately, there were only two, the Class B and C Buckles. The winner was the best of 25. Rounds continued until someone came out on top.
While the shoot-offs continued, the winners were announced. With a score of 959, Golden Spike Trap Club Clay Dusters 1 took first in the varsity division. Among teammates Craig Stitt, Bryce Brown, Raymond Palacios, Kyle Fellenz and Coltin Dickamore, there were only 41 birds dropped of 1,000.
"I knew going into this that they were ready," coach Ardith Stitt said, "They performed to my expectations." Stitt supervises all the GSTCteams.
Clay Dusters 2 and 3, two junior varsity teams, took first and third in the JV division. They tied with the Ogden Gun Club, which also had three teams qualify, second in varsity and first in Rookie and Intermediate.
Cache Valley took second in JV and Intermediate, and the Spanish Fork Spuds took third in Intermediate and second in Rookie. All teams that placed qualify for the national trap shoot in Sparta, Illinois.
The Clay Dusters lead the pack in Individual scoring. Four of the club's members were also individual champions; Craig Stitt, Raymond Palacious, Nolan Stokes and Craig Sheanshang.
Craig Stitt, 17, was the highest overall with 197 of 200. Stitt has won six of the past seven events he has competed in and placed second in the one he didn't.
Raymond Palacious was the highest in the Junior category with 195, Ty Anderson took Sub Junior with 195, and Nolan Stokes took Class A with 195. The two shoot-offs ended up with Trevor Neumand, 182, taking Class B and Craig Sheanshang, 171, with Class C.
Class D was awarded to Braxton Dorrity,141, and The High Lady was Rachel Hunsaker,185.
"I felt good coming into this," Hunsaker said, "and when I won I felt great." Hunsaker was one of only a few girls at the competition. "Its fun when you beat the boys because the don't expect you to."
Buckles were given to all the individual award winners, and plaques that looked like wooden clay pigeons were given to teams that finished first through third.
Trap shooting is on the rise, largely due to the SCTP set up by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Event director Leon Robinson said that approximately 12,000 students participated this year. There were two trap clubs in Utah that participated in the SCTP tournament for the first time, evidence that the youth program is growing in the state.
SCTP provides local athletic programs that are helping students progress academically, as well. Participating in the scholastic meet is similar to a high school event. Participants must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and participate in community service activities.
Ron Sellers from the Utah Trap Shooting Hall of Fame offered two $500 scholarships for college-bound seniors at the event.
Ardith Stitt has been working for the past two years to get the group recognized by the high schools. This year, for the first time, Weber County School District students could letter in trap shooting.
"I hope it can keep building throughout the state," Stitt said.
Students in Davis County School District, such as Palacious from Layton High, can letter at their own schools through the Weber County Program.
E-mail: hlebaron@desnews.com