Published: June 28, 2009 08:32 am      

County trap team competes at state championships

The Cumberland County Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) sent four squads (5 shooters per squad) plus four alternates to the Tennessee State Trapshooting Championships held at the Montgomery County Shooting Complex in Southside, TN on May 28-31.

The Varsity (V) squad placed 6th out of 61 squads with a total of 697X750, with each shooter firing at 150 targets. Keisha Smith and Amanda Server each fired 143X150, followed by Jimmy Weismuller at 139, Jacob Jarrett (137), and Jacob Jerrolds at 135. Server and Smith’s 143 total tied for the high individual girl runner-up award. State champs in Varsity was the McKenzie Caba Crushers of McKenzie HS with a 718X750 total.

Cumberland County did not field a squad in the Junior Varsity (JV) division this year. Jefferson County 4-H Patriots won this division over 34 other squads with a score of 676X750.

The Intermediate Advanced (IA) squad placed 16th out of 28 squads with a total of 385X500. David Stallworth led the way with an 85X100 with help from Luke Kemmer (84), Seth Petterson (82), Meghan Server (69) and John Skeen at 65. IA state champs was the Carroll County Claybusters with a 469X500.

Two Intermediate Entry (IE) squads also competed. IE No.1 squad finished 5th out of 15 squads with a 375X500. Andy Carey led the way with an outstanding 95X100 followed by Nathan Wattenbarger (77), Andrew Smith (76), Sara Stallworth (69) and Dustin Bartley at 58. Carey’s 95 was high individual boy’s score for the IE group while Stallworth’s 69 was high runner-up girls score.

IE No.2 finished 13th with a 299X500. Derick Taylor had the high score of 68X100 followed by Mason Hill (65), Trevor Carter (57), Thomas Branch (56) and Samantha Potter at 53. IE state champs was the Coffee County Middle Claybusters No.2 with a 401X500.

Cumberland County did not enter a squad in the Rookie (R) division. Hoodlum Alley No.3 won this division over 8 other squads with a score of 410X500.

Competing as alternate (individual) shooters in Varsity were Nick Seabok at 135X150, Spencer Music (122), Carl Kerley (117) and Terry Potter at 105.

Amanda Server was awarded the 5th post on the Senior Women’s, grade 9-12, All-State SCTP team while her sister Meghan was awarded the 4th post on the Intermediate, grade 6-8, All-State SCTP team for both boys and girls. Meghan was the only girl on this team. All-State honors recognize a students dedication to academics, citizenship and shooting skills.

Amanda and her team-mate Keisha Smith were each awarded $500.scholarships.

Coach Doug Server stated that he was proud of the entire team and specially the varsity squad. He believes next years varsity squad will even be better and a solid contender for the championship, however much depends on the squads dedication to improve during the off-season and the shooters moving up from the junior levels.

Tennessee fielded roughly 2500 shooters in 100 programs this year – more than any other state. In addition to the 907 students (including 172 alternates) that shot in trap competition at the state this year, 102 also shot in sporting clays and 32 in skeet. Many shooters, specially in the V and JV programs shot in all three disciplines.

The SCTP Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays National Championships will be held at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, IL on July 23-26. Coach Server is unsure at this time how many of his team will compete. For more info visit www.tnsctp.org