Published on May 28, 2025 9:14 am
Last Updated on May 28, 2025 9:14 am
High school athletes and teams representing schools from across Illinois are scheduled to participate at 2025 Illinois State High School Clay Target League State Tournaments in June.
The State Tournaments are proudly sponsored by The Bass Pro/Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Walker’s, Sportsman’s Guide, SCHEELS, Guns.com, Illinois College, Ducks Unlimited, Outdoor News, and Friends of NRA.
Two-thousand, nineteen student athletes representing 111 high school teams across the state participated in the Illinois State High School Clay Target League (ILSHSCTL) this spring. The ILSHSCTL is a part of the USA Clay Target League, which offers high school and college programs in 40 states.
The top athletes in the nation this season will be eligible to compete at the USA High School Clay Target League National Championship in July.
Area high schools who have athletes are Altamont, Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, Cumberland, Dieterich, Effingham, Effingham St. Anthony, Newton, St. Elmo/Brownstown, South Central, Windosr/Stewardson-Strasburg and Teutopolis.
About the USA Clay Target League
With over 54,000 participating athletes in the 2024-25 school year, the non-profit USA Clay Target League is America’s largest clay target shooting organization. The League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, and 5-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country.
The League the only 100% school-approved clay target shooting sport program in America. Every team must have school approval to participate. Most participating schools have lettering programs as well as yearbook inclusion for the teams. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are provided to qualifying seniors by the League and post-secondary institutions each year.
The League’s co-ed and adaptive nature are key attractions to schools nationwide: it’s fully Title IX compliant with both male and female athletes competing on the same team, and it’s an ‘adaptive’ sport, which allows students with physical disabilities to take part.
The League’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.
The League is the safest sport in school, with not one reported injury since the inception of the League in 2001. Each athlete must complete firearm safety certification before participation.