MCS Clay Target Team has Successful Spring Season

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Central School's clay target team had a very successful first spring season, Coach Carl Kochersberger told school board members last month.

With 14 members, the team finished up the regular season fourth overall in their conference (Class 1A, Conference 8), Coach Kochersberger said at the June 11 school board meeting.

For individual achievements, for boys, Connor Sells finished 18th in the conference, Ransom Echtner finished 20th, and Luke Wood finished 21st. For girls, Elizabeth Echtner finished fourth, Kalynn Layton finished 11th, and Stella Ioannou finished 14th, the Coach said.

At the State tournament on June 6, they finished in eighth place out of 66 teams.

Collin Layton and Connor Sells both earned 25 straight patches in the pouring rain, Coach Kochersberger told board members. Kalynn Layton beat her previous all-time high score, four times in a row and took home the second place medal in the Novice Female category. She was actually tied for first in score, but was barely edged out in a tie-breaker (highest # of clay pigeons broken in a row). The shooting in the pouring rain was "some of the best shooting you've ever seen," he told school board members.

The team, which had its first season in the fall, has two members from Gilboa-Conesville, two from Schoharie, and one homeschooler in addition to MCS students. There are three girls on the squad

Coach Kochersberger thanked school board members for the opportunity to have the sport at MCS.

"It's growing in popularity," he added. "Everyone is having a good time."