AU G UST 202 1
Right on Target Photo by David Norris
BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • CHIEF COMMUNICATION OFFICER
Bethany senior Tyler Stolt.
Latest co-curricular addition will be first in region Bethany is set to make history as the first four-year college in Southern Minnesota to add the sport of clay target to its co-curricular program. Clay target involves shooting a firearm at cylindrical flying objects known as clay targets. Hitting the target requires skill, timing, and hand-eye coordination. Clay target competition is conducted through high school programs, at local clubs, national and international competitions, and all the way through to the Olympics where it's known as skeet shooting. The sport is safe, exciting, challenging, and fun. Competitive clay target participants generally obtain their state's hunter education certificate and complete the Student Athlete Firearm Education (SAFE) Certification program. Minnesota is known as the national leader regarding youth involvement in clay target sports (Gregory, Time Magazine, 2019). In 2008, the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League (MNSHSCTL) was started with three teams and thirty student athletes, and it's grown quickly. Recent numbers show over 12,000 high school students and 450 schools participating. The MNSHSCTL Championship is regarded as the largest sport shooting event in the world. With the Minnesota league's popularity, neighboring states inquired about joining. As a result, the USA High School Clay Target League (USAHSCTL) was 22
incorporated in 2012 as a non-profit organization geared towards duplicating Minnesota's remarkable success in the sport. By the end of 2018, nearly 26,000 students on over 800 teams in twenty states were participating in USAHSCTL programs. Also
