Area Athletes Medal at the 2023 Commissioner's Cup

Hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Commissioner's Cup is the Arizona youth trap, skeet and sporting clays championships. The White Mountain Clay Busters (WMCB) sent 15 athletes and medaled in multiple events. The three-day event started April 22nd in Tucson at the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club with athletes shooting 100 clay targets in the trap event. An over simplified description of trap would be targets flying away. Categorized by age and experience, WMCB’s Ethan Kerr won the silver medal in the Men's Senior Varsity division. The WMCB squad of Tali Applegate, Ethan Kerr, Georgia Kerr, Mackayla Riesop, and Morgan Riesop placed 2nd in Open Team. Teams or squads are co-ed with medals for individual men’s and ladies' divisions. The Open Team category is comprised of team members from different individual categories.

The next day, Georgia Kerr was one target away from a three-way tie for gold and a 3-pete in the Skeet Championship. She took the bronze medal in Ladies’ Senior Varsity. Her Senior Varsity Squad of three including Ethan Kerr and Mackayla Riesop, placed 3rd. The WMCB Intermediate Squad, consisting of Morgan Riesop, Nichols Terrill and Nolan Terrill, placed third as well. Sienna Patterson and Noelle Basinger took gold in Ladies Jr. Varsity and Ladies’ Intermediate respectively. An over simplified description of skeet would be targets flying sideways and overhead.

The following weekend, the Ben Avery Shooting Facility Clay Target Center hosted the sporting clays competition. Designed to simulate wild birds, sporting clay targets come from every direction and angle. Ethan Kerr tied for first place and took the silver after a shoot off in Men’s Senior Varsity. His varsity squad took silver with the help of Georgia Kerr and Mackayla Riesop. The WMCB Intermediate Squad of Morgan Riesop, Nicholas Terrill and Nolan Terrill took silver, also. Outstanding individual efforts in sporting clays include Joscelyn Ortega, bronze in the Ladies Jr. Varsity division; Morgan Riesop, bronze in Men’s Intermediate division; Noelle Basinger, gold in the Ladies Intermediate division.

The White Mountain Clay Busters are part of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) supported by the White Mountain Clay Targets Club and Arizona Game and Fish Department, with grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and others. Their season starts in October and meets every other weekend with smaller tournaments throughout the season. Since its inception, hundreds of local youth have benefited by learning firearm safety, responsibility, sportsmanship, self-confidence, and teamwork. Clay target shooting provides a level playing field in which males and females may compete on the same team; in 2021, the WMCB intermediate trap squad consisting of five girls took gold over all the other co-ed and boys squads in the state. The volunteer coaching staff of Tony Komasa, Tom Johnson, Don Softly, and Joe Christopher as well as past coaches Mike Thrasher, Greg Scnepp, Chris Lewis and others, put in countless hours of time and effort to create this opportunity for area athletes.

To the White Mountain Clay Busters athletes and coaches, we extend a hearty job well done and thank you!

Click to See Some Pictures

Scholastic Clay Target Program

                      SCTP Highlight  Video              White Mountain Clay Busters History

    Overview        The Arizona Game and Fish Department Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is a team-based youth development program that uses the shotgun sports of trap, skeet, and sporting clays to instill life skills such as discipline, safety, teamwork, ethics, self-confidence and other life values. The program utilizes these disciplines to teach hunting skills through the safe use of hunting equipment including firearms and their relationship to hunting situations. Team members can participate in any or all three of the clay target disciplines; trap, skeet, and sporting clays.

SCTP was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in conjunction with the firearms industry and shotgun shooting governing bodies and is now nationally governed by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) to provide team participation to youth in the shotgun shooting sports.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department sponsors the program in Arizona and invites students from age 9 though graduation of college to an opportunity to learn about safe use of hunting firearms, and teamwork in a safe environment by certified shotgun coaches.

Participants may choose not to become competitive or may compete in a variety of events from Fun Shoots to State Championships to National Championships.

Benefits

Arizona’s SCTP teaches youth the importance of the safe use of hunting equipment while instilling values they will use through their lives. The program provides team leaders and team members with the opportunity to participate in an activity that promotes the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Parents and participants are enthusiastic about the benefits of the program.

How to Join

There are 31 SCTP clubs state wide that are run entirely with volunteer help. Each club is independently organized setting their own practices dates, times, and location. You can contact your local shooting range or gun club to find out if they offer the program. White Mountain Clay Busters:  TonyKomasa   (928) 242-8013  or Cherri Thresher (928) 537-8614

 

 You may also contact the SCTP Coordinator at 623 236-7305, or through email at AZSCTP@azgfd.gov.

Shooting Season

The season runs from October 1 through May 1. 

National Scholastic Clay Target Program