Youth trapshooters from Rapid City won National titles at the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships held August 8 and 9 in Sparta Illinois. More than 1500 youth shooters from 26 states participated in the events held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta. The two day competition was held in conjunction with the world’s largest shooting competition- the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships.

      Rapid City sent three young trapshooting teams to the National competition, after winning at the SD State Championships. The two SD Senior Experienced teams earned first and second places in their division at Nationals for their great shooting. The Junior Experienced team returned home tied for 12^th place in the nation.

      The Senior Experienced division included shooters in grades 9 -12 and had 102 teams from around the country competing, while the Junior Experienced division had 49 teams in grades 6-8.

      The Rapid City Straight Shooters Senior Experienced team shot a score of 979 targets out of 1000 total, and Ziggy’s Straight Shooters, also from Rapid City, came within 2 targets of the champion team with a score of 977 of 1000.

      The Champion team included Foster Bartholow, of Rapid City, Donny Quinn of Hermosa, Matt Bartholow, Matt Ziegler and Wes Kintigh, all of Rapid City. Their combined scores led the pack of over a hundred teams. Foster Bartholow received special recognition for being the only SCTP shooter to hit a perfect score of 200x200 targets during the competition. Donny Quinn hit 195; Matt Bartholow broke 195, Matt Ziegler had a near perfect score of 199 and Wes Kintigh smashed 190 targets. The team is coached by John Bracken and Don Quinn.

      South Dakota was well represented with the Senior Experienced runner up team as well. Ziggy’s Straight Shooters include: Ryan Temme, Matt Jones, Brian Bormes, Skyler Burke, all of Rapid City, and Adam Girtz of Black Hawk. Ben Gust of Rapid City was the team’s alternate and Kim Ziegler is Ziggy’s team coach.

      Their scores were also exceptional with Ryan Temme shooting 197, Matt Jones hitting a near perfect 199, Brian Bormes breaking 194, Skyler Burke hitting 195 and Adam Girtz exploding 192.

      According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Bill Christy, this was the first time that two teams from the same state have placed first and second in the same division. He also said it was even more remarkable that they were from the same town.

      The Toby’s Straight Shooters Junior Experienced team also made a good showing at the National competition. The team was made up of Jacob Reichert, Kylie Kintigh, and Melissa Johnson, all of Rapid City, Colton Kant of New Underwood and Colton Reichert of Sturgis. Their scores were as follows: Jacob Reichert 186, Kylie Kintigh 187, Melissa Johnson 172, Colton Kant 194, and Colton Reichert 175. Their total score of 914 put them in a tie for 12^th place. Don Quinn is the Jr. Team coach.

      SCTP was developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to offer young men and women in grades 12 and under an opportunity to compete as a team in trap, skeet and sporting clays. The program is administered in partnership with the national governing bodies for each of the three shotgun disciplines, the Amateur Trapshooting Association, National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association. The ultimate goal is instilling in young participants a commitment to safe firearm handling, teamwork and leadership.