Walhalla Sporting Clays Team qualifies for State Competition

High school students have different interests and abilities so schools offer different extracurricular choices in order to engage as many students as possible. Reports show that the shooting sports are some of the fastest growing sports in schools over the past few years. Because of this, Walhalla High School began offering a Sporting Clays Team in the fall of 2015 as one option. Although this is its first year, the team started competing right away. On Dec. 12, 2015, the Walhalla High School Sporting Clays Team competed in the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) qualifying skeet event. This competition is the largest youth skeet event in South Carolina and more than 270 shooters from all over the state competed for four team spots per division with three shooters per team. Walhalla’s registered team consisted of Austin Barnum, Kagan Justice, and Abram Kirby, filling in for Matt Barker, who was ill. Their score was high enough to advance the team to the SCDNR Youth Skeet Championship 100 Target Event to be held on February 12-13, 2016 at The Palmetto Shooting Complex in Edgefield, SC. On Jan. 16, 2016, the team competed in the SCDNR trap qualifying event along with 236 other shooters. Again, each division was fighting for four spots that would advance to the SCDNR Youth Trap Championship 100 Target Event. Once again, the Walhalla High School team advanced to the final round. This team was made up of Matthew Barker, Austin Barnum, and Chase Wells. Both teams will be part of the two-day championship event on Feb. 12-13, 2016. For the two seniors on the team there is more at stake than just winning another competition. They will also be vying for the thousands of dollars in scholarship money, which will be awarded over the two days. “These young men have represented Walhalla High School extremely well. I have accepted many compliments on behalf of the team from parents and other coaches from across the state,” said Coach Chad Kirby. “Ryan Bass, Billy Downer, and SCDNR have done an outstanding job organizing these events where students can have fun competing for medals as well as scholarships. The team’s success also would not have been possible without Rick Wiley and Clemson University,” added Coach Kirby. Unlike most district sports teams, the Sporting Clays Team is 100% self-funded. Several national youth shooting organizations have developed team fundraising programs for school teams; however, this is a sensitive subject for school districts. Kirby feels that as this sport continues to grow, consistent funding will certainly be a factor in success.