Finger Lakes Community College’s clay target club returned from a national championship with a division podium finish, a fun-shoot title and a top-20 individual result.
Ash Terry of Wolcott, Lawson DeMay and Naomi Weed of Shortsville, and Richard Walton of Shortsville represented FLCC at the USA College Clay Target League National Championship, the college announced. The event took place Oct. 29-31 at Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill, Illinois.
The American trap shooting competition drew 189 athletes from 25 colleges and universities in 10 states. New York had five participating schools, the most of any state.
Terry reaches the podium
Terry hit 182 of 200 targets to take third place in the Silver Female Division.
Walton, president of the FLCC Clay Target Club, hit 192 of 200 targets. That placed him 19th overall nationally and fourth among competitors from New York.
DeMay won the Cosmic Clay Fun Shoot, a Friday evening competition using glow-in-the-dark targets. He also recorded his first streak of 50 consecutive targets during the championship weekend, while Walton hit 25 consecutive targets.
Faculty adviser John Foust said the students represented the college well through both their participation and their results.
“Competing at a national championship is an outstanding accomplishment in itself, and to come home with a podium finish, a fun shoot championship, and a top-20 national finish demonstrates the talent and dedication of our students,” Foust said.
Club welcomes part-time and full-time students
The FLCC Clay Target Club has 10 members this fall and is open to all current students, whether they attend part-time or full-time.
The club brings together students from different academic programs who share interests in competitive shooting, outdoor recreation and safe firearms handling. Members use shotguns to hit moving clay targets launched into the air.
Through the USA College Clay Target League, members can develop their skills and compete during the fall and spring semesters. The club’s flexible schedule may also allow students to participate while playing another FLCC sport.
The trip to nationals received support from FLCC Student Corporation, fundraising and community donations. Club members held a chicken barbecue, and local rod and gun clubs contributed more than $2,000.
Prospective and current students interested in joining can contact Foust, a professor of environmental conservation and horticulture, at John.Foust@flcc.edu.
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