By Dave Hohler
Chronicle contributor
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The Cumberland County Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) varsity squad placed third out of 56 squads in trap competition at the TNSCTP state championships held at the Montgomery County Shooting Complex in Southside, TN on June 4-6.
Over 1000 student athletes competed with their teams for state titles in trap (788 shooters), skeet (123) and sporting clays (152) with several students competing in all three disciplines. Cumberland County students compete only in trap.
The Cumberland County varsity squad was led by Seth Peterson with an excellent 192X200, followed by Jacob Jarrett at 188, all-state shooters Amanda Server and Keisha Smith at 185 and 183 respectively, and Jamie Weismuller at 182 for a 930X1000 total.
Server’s score of 185 was runner-up to the high overall women’s score of 187 posted by McKenzie Shults of the Jefferson County Patriots White squad.
The winning varsity squad with a 947X1000 total was the Jefferson County Patriots Blue squad.
High individual male shooter was Blake Triplett of the Henry County “No Fly Zone” blue squad with a 197X200.
Cunberland County also sent an Intermediate Advanced (IA) squad and an Intermediate Entry (IE) squad.
The IA squad was composed of all-state shooter Meghan Server who shot 83X100 followed by Thomas Branch (82), Andy Carey (77), Nathan Wattenbarger (75) and Luke Kemmer at 68 for a 385X500 total and eighth place out of 23 squads.
Server’s 83 was high gun, female in the IA division.
Middle Tennessee Christian School in Murfreesboro took home the IA state title with a 441X500.
The IE squad fired a 319X500 total to place ninth out of 16 squads.
The IE shooters were A.J. Melton with a 72, Trevor Carter (70), Andy Smith (69), Casey Clark (68) and Ally Peterson at 48.
The Hoodlum Alley Claybusters of Bedford County took home the IE championship with a 439X500.
The Haywood County Young Guns (three person squads) won the varsity skeet championship with a 289X300, while the Tri-County Claybusters took the varsity sporting clays title with a 253X300.
Multiple scholarships were presented at this event, including $10,000 in funds awarded to five high school seniors.
Mallory Martin of Union City won the Davis P. Rice Memorial scholarship, the statewide TNSCTP scholarship and the Region I scholarship worth a total of $5500.
Amanda Server won the $1000. Region III scholarship award based on her essay, “TNSCTP – A Life Changing Experience."
She also won a $1000 scholarship from the Georgia Amateur Trapshooting Association for her essay, “What is Public Virtue and what does it mean to me."
Server and Keisha Smith were again named to the all-state senior division women’s team.
Coach Doug Server was pleased with the varsity squad’s high finish and especially proud of the shooting of Peterson. Coach Server is planning on taking a varsity squad to the SCTP National Team Championships in Sparta, IL on July 21-24. Team members have yet to be named.
