By Max Oppen
TANNERSVILLE — The Hunter-Tannersville Central School District (HTC) has officially joined the New York State High School Clay Target League (NYS HSCTL), a branch of the nationwide USA Clay Target League. The district was recently welcomed into the program, marking an exciting new opportunity for students to participate in a unique extracurricular sport.
The USA Clay Target League is a nonprofit organization that leads clay-target shooting sports programs for schools nationwide. Its primary focus is ensuring safety, fostering fun, and promoting marksmanship, all within a supportive and structured environment.
HTC Superintendent Vincent Butera expressed enthusiasm for the district's new participation, highlighting the benefits of the sport. "The league provides our students with a unique opportunity to direct their passion and interest into a sport that fosters discipline, focus, and responsibility," Butera said. "We hope that through participation, students not only develop their skills but also build a strong sense of camaraderie and personal growth, all within a safe and supportive environment."
Clay target shooting offers a non-traditional alternative to typical school sports, opening up a world of benefits for students who may not gravitate toward conventional athletics. The league, which emphasizes equal participation and ethical behavior, helps students develop life skills like teamwork, responsibility, and respect while also fostering academic growth.
The USA Clay Target League has experienced rapid growth since its inception. From humble beginnings in Minnesota, the league has now expanded to include 37 states, with more than 49,000 participants across 1,625 teams during the 2022-2023 season. The league's continued expansion introduces thousands of students each year to clay target shooting, and it's estimated that nearly 40 percent of league athletes participate in no other school-based extracurricular activities. This growth is a testament to the increasing interest in shooting sports and the potential for the league to reach even more students in the future.
Hunter-Tannersville's inclusion in the NYS HSCTL follows a broader trend of increasing interest in shooting sports across the U.S. The league plays a vital role in recruiting the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, particularly as hunting and shooting sports face declining participation rates. By partnering with local schools and gun clubs, the league has reinvigorated shooting ranges that were once struggling and has strengthened the connection between families, communities, and outdoor heritage.
As HTC joins this growing league, students have the chance to embrace a sport that offers both personal and communal rewards while also supporting a long-standing outdoor tradition. The program aims to continue growing nationwide, with a vision of reaching 100,000 student-athletes by the end of 2025.
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