Nashville, Tenn - Ten athletes from Tennessee competed in the National Junior Olympic Shotgun Championships (NJOSC) held in Colorado Springs, Colorado July 18-22, in the disciplines of international skeet, trap, and double trap. There were a total of 116 trap competitors, 56 skeet competitors, and 24 double trap competitors at the NJOSC.

Tennessee brought home three silver Olympic medals thanks to Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP) athletes William Dunnebacke of Columbia, TN, who placed 2nd in Trap with a score of 100 out of 125 and in Skeet with a score 99 out of 125 in the J3 division and Conner Rinker of Union City, TN, who placed 2nd in Double Trap with a score of 88 out of 150 in the J3 division.

TNSCTP is a program of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, with vital partner support from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The program was began in 2001 and provides Tennessee's youth, grades 5-12, an opportunity to compete in clay target shooting competitions with their peers from across the state. TNSCTP strives to teach youth the importance of safe firearms handling, academic excellence, personal responsibility, leadership, and teamwork, as well as to promote healthy competition and introduce them into an outdoor lifestyle.  For more information, visit www.tnsctp.org or contact Matt Simcox at (615) 353-1133. 

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation was established in 1946 and its mission is to champion the conservation, sound management and enjoyment of Tennessee's wildlife and natural resources for current and future generations through stewardship, advocacy and education.