The newly formed Mount Pleasant ISD Clay Target Club has begun their first season as members of the Texas High School Clay Target League. Team members compete with other teams from across the state from the convenience of their home range. The league’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship and students in junior high and high school are allowed to apply to participate in the club.

“The club is fortunate to have support from the community and other organizations,” said club coach, Joshua Blackstone. “Mr. Shawn Roberts of Clays-N-More LLC has graciously donated the use of his facilities to the MPISD Clay Target Club members for team practices and competitions. The Club also received a grant from the Friends of the NRA that provided supplies and funding to help offset the cost of targets.”

Team members meet once per week to complete 3 practices and 5 competitions but must satisfy safety requirements before being allowed to compete. Competitive clay shooters attempt to break clay targets from 7 positions along the curved edge of the semi-circular field and from 1 additional station. Once the competitors have attempted all 8 stations, they have completed one round and have attempted to break 25 targets. A full competition includes two rounds for a total of 50 possible target breaks. Team members will complete 5 competitions to determine the conference champion with 6 other Texas schools in their conference. At the end of the season, all league members are allowed to register for the State Tournament held in Waco in June.

The MPISD Clay Target Club is currently in the spring season which runs from March 31-May 27. Charter members of the MPISD Clay Target Club include eighth grader George Fite, freshmen Lance Albin, Carson Bell, and Cooper Rider, sophomores Donald Cole and Blake Humber, and juniors Trent Milam and Rolston Morton.

Photos:

The charter members of the MPISD Clay Target Club (L to R) George Fite, Carson Bell, Lance Albin, Cooper Rider, Rolston Morton, Trent Milam, Blake Humber, Donald Cole, Coach Josh Blackstone