Clay Target Ready for New Season

Cayuga Community College's Clay Target team returns an experienced roster as they enter the program's third season of competition this weekend.

The Spartans are back in competition this fall after taking substantial individual and team strides in 2023, including capturing first place in the Novice Division, the first team title in the program's short history. 

Coach Shea Beachner, entering her second season as the team's head coach, said the Spartans have already demonstrated great progress leading up to their first competitive shoot. The team begins competition Sunday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. at the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club.

"We've been consistently putting in the time and effort while shooting multiple rounds in practice. We're posting solid scores, consistently in the 20s, which is what we need when you're shooting out of 25 targets," she said. "This early in the season, those are good scores and show good promise for us to build on."

Four of the six students on the roster have competed previously with the Spartans, and all six have experience, said Beachner.

Two returning students, Hunter Kot and Dylan Bull, finished in the top 10 in the High Gun Novice Overall category in the 2023 national competitions. The other two returning students, Darwin Warner and Kyle Wise, finished just outside the top 10 in the same category.

The two new competitors, Griffin Dewitt and Kyle Lampman, have also either shot competitively or have extensive experience.

This year, Cayuga will compete against six out-of-state colleges: Black Hawk College in Illinois; Black River Technical College in Arkansas; Blackhawk Technical College in Wisconsin; Ferris State University in Michigan; and Dakota College at Bottineau and University of Mary, both in North Dakota.

Only two other New York colleges, Alfred State College and Paul Smith's College, are competing in other conferences.

After the first competition on Sept. 22, the Spartans compete the next four Sundays, ending the regular season on Oct. 20. All competitions are at the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club.