Greenville's Clay Trap Team is off to an incredible start in their second season - they are currently holding steady in first place in week two of competition. This week, Nick Gerken and Jack Kropp earned their place in the “Straight 25 Club,” after each shot 25 clay targets in a row. Kropp is ranked 18th in the State and 1st in Greenville’s conference for males. Eian Lafferty and Nick Gerken are ranked 5th, Griffin Wells 16th, Chris Hoch 24th, and Christian Close and Cooper Hulbert #25. Additionally, Molly Klob is ranked #8 in the female division and Simone Beaumont #16. The team has three more scoring nights: May 10, May 17 and May 23. All scoring nights are at 3:30pm at the Rensselaerville Rod and Gun Club at 196 CR 353, Rensselaerville, NY 12147.
Last year, the team was named New York State's High School Clay Target League's spring season conference champion. Greenville's team is one of over 150 in the NYS Clay Target High School League. At the National level, the USA Clay Target League has over 49,000 athletes across 1,625 teams. According to their website "The League is the safest sport in school, with not one reported injury since the inception of the League in 2001. Each athlete must complete firearm safety certification before participation."
The aim of the sport is simple in concept: each athlete uses a shotgun to shoot at clay "pigeons" launched by a machine. Pigeons are launched at different angles and heights each time. On scoring nights, each athlete competes in two rounds, each round consists of firing 25 shots from five different positions. Hits and misses are recorded and reported electronically based on the honor system. Athletes who successfully hit all 25 pigeons in a single round, an incredibly difficult feat to accomplish, are affectionately dubbed members of the “Straight 25 Club.” On any given scoring night, the highest possible score is 50 out of 50.
The team, comprised of 14 middle and high school students, practices weekly at the Rensselaerville Rod and Gun Club, and is funded entirely by donations, local sponsors, and the players themselves. Coach Sara Statham was able to secure a grant that allowed the team to purchase three guns - lessening the cost for students to participate. The $175 fee for students covers their registration with the league and helps offset ammunition costs. Students do not need their own firearm to participate. All team-owned guns are stored inside a locked safe, in an off-site location, with 24-hour surveillance. This year, the team raised nearly $7,000 for their operational costs.
"Safety was the first and foremost aspect of the club and the league..." Statham said. "Students were required to take an online safety course that covered gun safety as well as specific trap rules and safety regulations. Students also had a range safety day where myself and the other club members went through all the rules and safety regulations." The USA Clay Target League has a strict one-strike safety policy.
When asked why she started the team, Statham shared, "This team is an opportunity for students who are not currently involved in athletics to feel the comradery of being part of a team at Greenville." Shewent on to say, " The sport teaches far beyond the lessons learned on a traditional athletic field. It provides students with the opportunity to learn responsibility, accountability and respect. Responsibility by means of handling a firearm and fully understanding its capabilities and how to keep themselves, and those around them safe through self-discipline. Accountability in that students must be attentive to detail, good listeners, and know their target and beyond because of the responsibility that comes with being a marksman. Lastly, it teaches respect for the firearms and for the people and environment around them."
While the Clay Trap Team is an official Greenville club, it comes at no cost to the District as it is self-funded and the coaches generously volunteer their time.