Several local shooting teams competed for their chance to win the title of State Trap Champions on January 19th, 20th and 28th. There were so many teams vying for the chance to compete for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Scholastic Clay Trap Championship that the qualifying event scheduled for two days was delayed by weather and ended up taking 3 days to give all teams a chance to qualify for the championship event . Local teams sending squads to The Palmetto Shooting Complex in Edgefield to compete were Dillon Christian School, Dillon County 4-H and Pee Dee Academy as well as others from the Pee Dee Area.
The Dillon County 4-H Sr. Club came in 2nd place in their division which qualifies them to return on Feb 10th to compete for the State Championship. Only the top 5 teams in each division are being invited back to compete for the title. The Dillon County 4-H squad was made up of Walker Brumble who scored 43 out of a possible 50, Mason Powers with 38 and Zack Arrington with 35 for a total squad score of 116. Belton Bird Busters came in first with a score of 126.
The Pee Dee Academy Jr. School squad also came in 2nd place in their division. Squad members were Briar Spivey scoring 41, Dylan Hotaling scoring 37 and Coleman Kimbrell scoring 32 for a total of 110. First place went to Strom Thurmond Career Technology Center with a score of 116. This should make for a close competition in the championship as Jefferson Davis School also scored 110 and Strom Thurmond scored 106.
The Pee Dee Academy Sr. School squad came in 6th place, just one bird behind the 5th place team, but because of a shortage of Ladies teams will get to go back and compete for the Championship.
That squads score was 109 with Seth Owens scoring 27, Jason Person scoring 47 and Hayden Penos scoring 35.
Pee Dee Academy also fielded a another Sr. School division squad that came in 18th place with a score of 66; DuBree Ammons led this squad with a score of 30 with Cameron Hayes scoring 23 and Sophia Kirkley scoring 13.
Dillon Christian School participated with a squad in the Middle School division and that squad came in 14th place. This squad was led by Connor Collins with 30, Walt Bailey with 27 and Gabe Bissell with 16.
The Dillon County 4-H Club JV squad came in 8th in their division with Justin Herring breaking 36 targets, Davis Lockamy breaking 32 and Cole Gasque breaking 24.
Dillon County 4-H also had a Middle Club squad who came in 9th place in their division. Squad member Gately Bethea led this squad by breaking 29 targets; Jacob Edwards broke 20 targets and David Camp broke 19 targets.
Dillon Christian School also had a Ladies squad to compete with only 2 squad members. Even though they were 1 shooter short of a full squad they managed to tie for 5th place. Only full squads are eligible to return to compete for the Championship. The squad members were Sarah Freeman who scored 7 and Sarah Stone who scored 18.
The teams will be sending squads to the State Trap Championship on Feb 10 followed by the State Skeet Championship scheduled for Feb 11.
The SCDNR is providing all ammunition for the State Championships. The Dillon County 4-H would like to thank the South Carolina Friends of the NRA for providing grant funds which were used to purchase ammunition and clay targets for their practice to prepare for these qualifying events.
Dillon Christian School and Pee Dee Academy teams are made up of youth attending those academic facilities. Dillon County 4-H is open to all youth and has members from Dillon, Marion, Horry, Darlington, and Robinson Counties.
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