For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing and PR Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: November 9, 2021

Clay target team wins championship

Fennimore -

After a top tier finish during the regular season, the Southwest Tech Clay Target Team bested the competition during last week’s USA Clay Target League Championship. Greg Miller, Muscoda, Wisconsin, was the high overall champion. Cooper Rounds, Boscobel, Wisconsin, took third place ­– varsity (male). Will Callahan, Woodman, Wisconsin, finished in third place – junior varsity (male), while Shelby Bedward, Boscobel, Wisconsin, finished in third place – JV (female). As a team, Southwest Tech struck 481 out of 500 targets during the championship. The championship team score consists of the top five competitors. The team competed at the Muscoda Sportsman’s Club, their home club. All scores were then submitted and ranked against the competitors.

The team competes in the USA Clay Target League, with practices and competitions each Thursday during the semester. They finished in fourth place during the regular season, an impressive effort against a 14-team field. Miller was the top male finisher, while Caitlyn Blume, Dodgeville, Wisconsin, was the top female competitor. “I’m very proud of the way the team came together,” said Dan Imhoff, executive director of facilities, safety and security, and co-coach. “I saw improvement out of everyone, especially the improvement from our returning shooters was very evident.”

This fall’s team included 21 members – 13 males and eight females, representing 10 campus programs. “I think the diversity of our team participation is really cool,” said Matt Schneider, advisor and co-coach.

“You see friendships form that normally might not happen, because they have this opportunity,” added Imhoff. “This group was very supportive of each other.”

This spring, the Southwest Tech team will compete in the USA Clay Target League again. However, there will not be a championship competition, but rather, solely the five-week regular season. They expect returning competitors and are open to bringing on new members.

As an advisor, Schneider spends a great deal of time speaking with high school students as they try to figure out their next step, academically. He sees many students who are involved with clay target competitions at the high school level. “It’s fun to see those students come in with their high school (clay target team) shirts on,” he said. Of the 30 high schools in the Southwest Tech district, 21 have an official clay target team and the other districts allow their students to compete with neighboring schools.

In addition to their roles at Southwest Tech, Imhoff and Schneider are also the directors of the Wisconsin State High School Clay Target League. “We have contact with a lot of students,” said Schneider. “It’s fun for us as state directors seeing them there and then having an opportunity to coach them here at the next level.”

Vortex Optics, Barneveld, Wisconsin, has been a strong partner of the team over the years. This year, they donated jerseys and hats to each member of the team. In addition, the team will be touring the facility and shooting in their indoor range before the end of the semester.

Imhoff and Schneider are organizing the first annual High School Invitational Trapshoot at the Muscoda Sportsman’s Club. The event is planned for Saturday, May 7. Pre-registration is required. Additional details will be finalized as the event draws closer.

For more information about the team, visit www.swtc.edu/athletics.