Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers Shotgun Sports team second in nation

 

[October 15, 2024] 

The Mt Pulaski High School Hilltoppers Shotgun team placed second in the 2024 USA High School Clay Target League National Tournament over the summer and the team was recognized at the school’s homecoming in September.

According to Coach Ryan Mott, athletes and teams representing 456 high schools from across the nation participated at the 2024 USA High School Clay Target League National Championship. The event was held at the Michigan Trapshooting Association in Mason, MI and featured 3,000 athletes participating in team and individual qualifying events, culminating in a final championship round that awarded the top ten male and female athletes and top five teams in the country.

There were 37,158 student athletes representing 1,795 high school teams across the country participating in USA Clay Target League programs this spring. Only the top athletes and teams qualified to register for the National Championship, based on season averages at the completion of the spring season.

This summer at nationals, there were 260 teams competing. The top three schools all tied with a score of 487/500 targets in the finals. The league process for breaking a tie is to use the highest individual score and work down to the lowest score.

Top 3 teams in the nation:

Yamhill-Carlton High School, Oregon 487 (100-99-98-97-93)

Mount Pulaski High School, Illinois 487 (99-99-98-96-95)

Chaparral High School, Kansas 487 (99-98-97-97-96)

“This year’s Hilltoppers just kept improving throughout the season,” said Mott. “In the state tournament, our top five shooters shot a combined 484/500 and finished second behind Teutopolis High School. To shoot a 487 in the Finals at Nationals is outstanding work.”

“We had compliments from other coaches, student-athletes and staff working the tournament about how well-disciplined and courteous our shooters were while competing on the trap line,” continued Mott. “They encouraged each team member and during the individual events they encouraged athletes from other schools. Our community should be very proud of our student-athletes' conduct at the national tournament.”

Team event:

Alec Marten 99/100

Hayden Hartman 99/100

Jackson Geriets 98/100

Beau Tschantz 96/100

Hawken Clampet 95/100

Colton Romines – alternate

Isaac Pulliam – alternate

"We are allowed to make a squad of five with two alternates. We can substitute one of the alternates if we choose."

Individual competitors:

Alec Marten 100/100

Hayden Hartman 100/100

Jackson Geriets 96/100

Hawken Clampet 96/100

Colton Romines 95/100

Beau Tschantz 94/100

Issac Pulliam 94/100

Reed Marten 88/100

Kenneth Cooper 87/100

Rohan Alspach 86/100

Four shooters made the final round:

Alec Marten 97/100

Jackson Geriets 97/100

Hayden Hartman 95/100

Hawken Clampet 95/100

No Hilltoppers made the podium as individuals according to Mott.

[Teena Lowery]