Competing in this year’s Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program’s state championship were more than 1,600 athletes. When the dust settled, Spring Hill Middle and High School squads walked away with 5 state championships and 4 Academic All-State honors.
Spring Hill High brought home the championship trophy for the trap division when the co-ed squad broke 957 of 1000 targets. Blake Keller, Caleb Lindsey, Samantha Smith, Alicia Smits and Bobby Ussery comprised the team. “This is one of the toughest competitions in America, and many of the other teams have been shooting for several years,” said Head Coach Chad Whittenburg, who also serves as an alderman in Spring Hill. “For our team to accomplish what they did in their second year together is unbelievable, and we are very proud to bring a state title home to Spring Hill.” Lindsey lead the squad with an impressive 196/200 score and Smith won High Overall Lady State Champion with a score of 192/200.
Spring Hill Middle also excelled with 8th grader Grant Porter earning a space on the Academic All-State team for the third year in a row. Sixth grade shooters Chase Bland and Luke Wilson were named to the sporting clays Rookie Academic All-State Team as well. “The most prestigious honor this sport awards to an individual is the Academic All-State,” Whittenburg said. “It takes a high academic grade point average and high on-the-field scores just to be in the running.” Both squads will be practicing hard this week in preparation for the National Championships in Sparta, IL in July.
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