USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-18 Progress Report

USC-Aiken, a comprehensive university in the University of South Carolina system, offers undergraduate and master’s degrees to more than 3,500 students in 50 programs of study.

USC-Aiken is ranked the #1 public regional college in the South by U.S. News & World Report’s guide "America’s Best Colleges."

The 2018 distinction marks USC-Aiken’s 20th consecutive ranking among the top three in this category and its 13th time in first place.

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Feb. 2018, Alex Richardson & Bradley Carter with newest member Zach Brown (middle)

September 2017, (L-R front) Calvin Moore, Rex Pierson, Alex Richardson, Travis Keisler; (L-R back) Chris Raynor, Walter Lewis, Dalton Hill, and Bradley Carter USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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A word from the President & Founder Our second full academic year as a team has been a very busy one! We participated in more tournaments than ever before, including several East Coast and Southeast Regional Collegiate Championships. We have made new friends from other collegiate teams in other states. In addition to competitions and holding practices to refine our skills, we have been involved in outreach, recruitment, promotion, and community volunteer activities. We have talked with many youth coaches, parents, and high school juniors and seniors looking to continue the sport after graduation.

No longer are we the new kids on the block. Seldom do we now hear, “I didn’t know USC-Aiken has a shooting team.” The clay target shooting community has welcomed us with support and encouragement in our growing years. Thank you!

The mission of the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team is to bring students together with similar interest in the competitive clay target sports. We seek to recruit members who not only grew up like myself competing in the youth shooting sports through the 4H, SCDNR, SCTP, and SCYSF programs and wish to continue at the collegiate level, but to also introduce the sport to those that have shooting experience via duck, dove, quail or rabbit hunting.

Our mission is to also educate people on firearm safety. Responsible gun handling and use is directly proportional to a person’s knowledge of guns and correct behavior with them and around them. There are approximately 80 million gun owners in America, and surveys show that two out of three homes in the United States have a gun in it. Even if you do not personally own a gun, the chances are you will come into contact with one at some point in your life, for instance at a friend’s home, so it’s important to know safe skills. Shooting programs, like those administered through 4H, Scholastic Clay Target Program, the Youth Shooting Foundation, and SCDNR Education Outreach, teach gun safety. Universities like Clemson, Jacksonville, and Liberty have shooting sports courses as a part of their elective credit curriculum, open to all students, not just their competitive shooting teams. End of course surveys show that over fifty percent of students taking these courses say that it was their first experience handling a firearm and they now feel comfortable and knowledgeable on the safe interaction with one. I am advocating for similar courses to be offered at USC-Aiken.

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The mutually beneficial relationship between academics and the shooting sports is also well recognized. The shooting sports embody all of the competitive, personal responsibility, teamwork, ethics, self-confidence and other character-building traits desirable in any sport. The discipline and self-control required for responsible firearms use carries over into many other aspects of life. Our team focuses on education, recreation, and competition aspects of the sport. We teach people new skills, we enjoy and appreciate the physical and leisure aspects of the sport, and we strive for perfection to compete with the best. It’s good exercise and great comradery among members of the team as well as getting to know people from other teams across the state, region, and nation.

We hope you enjoy reading this Progress Report which outlines our endeavors during this past 2017-18 season. Our continued success grows from a commitment to my vision for the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team, dedication from its members, and support from a network of University officials, the clay target shooting community, and partnerships with local, state, and national sponsors.

We have been innovative in leveraging funding to maximize our resources to make the most of them in fulfilling our operating needs. We have built a strong foundation over the past several years to support future growth in knowledge, numbers, and adventures.

If you know of someone interested in joining the team, please send them our way. If you know of a business that would be interested in becoming a sponsor, please share this Progress Report with them and send them our way. Also be sure to follow us on Facebook throughout the upcoming 2018-2019 season‌I promise you we have bigger and even more exciting adventures to experience and share!

Sincerely,

Alex Fischer Richardson President & Founder USC-Aiken Shotgun Team alexfr@usca.edu

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PRACTICES

Rhett Simmons, Manager of the Palmetto Shooting Complex 6 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Our home practice field is thirty minutes away from campus in Edgefield, SC at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Palmetto Shooting Complex, a state of the art facility where many statewide and southeast regional tournaments are held.

Practices are held on Sunday afternoons for the convenience of our members so as not to conflict with student class schedules.

PRACTICES Fall 2017 Semester

PRACTICES Spring 2018 Semester

September 17

skeet

January 14

skeet

September 24

sporting clays

February 11

sporting clays

October 8

trap

February 25

skeet

October 22

sporting clays

March 11

sporting clays

November 5

skeet

April 15

skeet

November 26

sporting clays

April 29

trap doubles

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TOURNAMENTS We had a VERY busy 2017-2018 season for participating in local, state, and regional tournaments: Fall 2017 Semester October 14

SCTP Trap @ Mid Carolina (Orangeburg, SC) (100 targets)

November 4

Palmetto Classic Sporting Clays, Strom Thurmond CTC @ PSC (100 targets)

November 12 Georgia College Invitational @ Sparta, GA (150 targets sporting and skeet) December 2

SCTP Sporting Clays @Live Oaks (Swansea, SC) (100 targets)

Spring 2018 Semester January 13

SCTP Trap @ PSC (50 targets)

January 27-28 Clemson Invitational @ PSC (300 targets) February 2-4

ACUI Collegiate Lower East Coast Championship @ Savannah, GA (350 targets)

February 17

SCTP Sporting Clays @ PSC (100 targets)

March 10

Georgia / SC Border Skirmish, Regional SCTP @ PSC (200 targets)

March 16

Aiken Chamber of Commerce Blastin’ for Business @PSC (100 targets)

March 18—April 29 (6 weeks) Super Sporting League @ PSC April 7

SCTP Sporting Clays @ Backwoods (Georgetown, SC) (100 targets)

April 20-22

SCTP Southeast Regional Championship @ Savannah, GA (350 targets)

May 5

SCTP Trap Doubles @ Mid-Carolina (Orangeburg, SC) (100 targets)

May 26-28

SCTP State Championship @ PSC (300 targets)

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USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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SKEET SKEET dates back to the early 1900s as a way to simulate the crisscrossing hunting action of flying upland birds such as dove. The shooter rotates through 8 different stations along a semi-circle as targets from two opposing houses (one at each corner of the semi-circle) "pass" across the field.

The 2-target presentations are thrown one at a time, and at the same time for an additional challenge. There are a total of 25 targets in a round (2 to 4 per station). Most competitions shoot four rounds for a total of 100 targets.

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TRAP

TRAP dates back to the late 1700s and was designed to simulate the flight path of flushing game birds such as grouse, pheasant, and quail to hone a hunter's skills. The targets are thrown from a single location, in front of the shooter, who moves positions to change the angle and difficulty of the going-away shot. There are a total of 25 targets in a round (5 at each position). Most competitions shoot four rounds of trap singles for a total of 100 targets.

In the game of Trap Doubles, two targets are released simultaneously and one shot is taken at each.

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SPORTING CLAYS SPORTING CLAYS dates back to the early 1900s and is often described as golf with a shotgun. Unlike the confined field of trap and skeet, clays is set on a walking course in a natural environment. The shooter moves from station to station where targets are presented differently at each station to mimic hunting situations for species such as quail, grouse, pheasant, dove, ducks, geese, and rabbits. Target presentation names have root in game species such as "springing-teal" and "running-rabbit." There are a total of 100 targets on the course. Some targets are “true-pairs” and others are “report-pairs.” There are usually 12 to 15 stations with any combination of targets.

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USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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LEAGUE Three of our members participated in the SUPER SPORTING League hosted by the Palmetto Shooting Complex. The 6-week competition among 14 teams ran from March 18th to April 29th.

Week 1: The Produce Boys with Team Epworth 14 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

WHAT IS SUPER SPORTING? As explained by member Bradley Carter, “Super Sporting Clays is Sporting Clays on steroids!�

With Super Sporting, there are three or more traps (target throwers) instead of just two at each station. Instead of attempting repeated target pairs in a set, the targets are various combinations according to a menu card posted at the station. For instance, you may have three singles from different throwers, and then a report or true pair of A/B, A/C, B/A, B/C, C/A, or C/B. Shooters may only view single targets when viewing target presentations (no show birds for pairs). On the singles, you have full use of the gun, meaning you can load two shells so if you miss the shot, you may shoot at it again before it lands. The target will be scored dead if broken by either shot. These rules make it a lot like 5-stand, except on a traveling course like sporting clays. Typically, a complete game is 50 scored targets instead of 100 (but be sure to carry extra shells for second attempts at singles).

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ACUI in Savannah (February 2018) Association of College Unions International The ACUI collegiate events provide opportunities for us to compete with collegiate peers. Members Alex Richardson, Dalton Hill, Walter Lewis and Bradley Carter represented the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team well at the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Lower East Coast Conference Championships held in Savannah, Georgia February 2nd—4th at the Forest City Gun Club, the oldest, continuously-operated shotgun sports club in the United States.

184 students from 16 college teams and 35 juniors and seniors from 9 high school teams (some as far away as Alaska) competed in the 350-target competition.

Collegiate teams from Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and South Carolina participated in four different games at the event.

USC-Aiken, only in its second year, performed quite well compared to these more seasoned teams; we ranked in the top 10% of the highest scores.

Collegiate Teams: USC-Aiken Shotgun Team Clemson Shotgun Sports Eastern Kentucky University Trap and Skeet Club Emmanuel College Clay Target Team Florida State University Skeet and Trap Club Georgia College Clay Target Club Jacksonville University Shooting Team Kennesaw State University Martin Methodist College Clay Target Team Mississippi State University Shooting Sports Club University of Alabama Clay Shooting Team University of Georgia Trap and Skeet University of Kentucky Trap and Skeet University of Tennessee Clay Target Team Vanderbilt Trapshooting Club Virginia Tech Clay Target 16 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

with Hannah Petoia of the Georgia College Clay Target Club

Day 1 was so cold that we warmed our hands by holding the gun barrel.

Day 2 it rained, and rained, and rained some more.

We “praised the sun� whenever it was out.

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ACUI in Savannah—Day One Sporting Clays and Trap

Sporting Clays with John Rowland and Ben Shelley University of Kentucky (left) and Eastern Kentucky University (right)

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ACUI in Savannah—Day Two Super Sporting Clays and Skeet

Super Sporting Clays with the Clemson Shotgun Team (above) and Alaska YESS Varsity Team (below)

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SCTP in Savannah (April 2018) Scholastic Clay Target Program Members Dalton Hill, Alex Richardson, and Bradley Carter traveled back to Savannah April 20th-22nd for the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Southeastern Regional Tournament.

There were 305 athletes representing 23 teams from 5 states —Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina —in all competitive divisions— of which 25 collegiate athletes representing the following 9 teams: USC-Aiken Shotgun Team Georgia College Clay Target Club Brookline Top Shots Forest City Juniors Lake Oconee Shotgun Team

Central Georgia Elite Shooters Georgia Claybusters Stetson University (Florida) Young Guns At Quail Creek (Florida)

South Carolina may have only sent 15 shooters (3 from the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team and 12 from Mid-Carolina 4H Gun Club) to represent our state in this 350-target event in trap, skeet, sporting and super sporting, but the South Carolina athletes performed quite well, making the podium five times, with some of the rising seniors posting impressive qualifying scores that will be used for next year's scholarship applications.

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Look out USC-Aiken Anglers— The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team can fish too!!!

In between events, we had a short break and took the opportunity to reel a few in (but of course released them back).

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SCTP in Savannah—Day One Sporting Clays and Trap

(top left) USC-Aiken shooting SPORTING CLAYS with collegiate friends from Georgia College & Brookline Top Shots (Zach Sanders, Micah Aultman, and Ansley Wallace); (top right) USC-Aiken on the TRAP field with a senior youth athlete from Gator Creek Young Guns

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SCTP in Savannah—Day Two Super Sporting Clays and Skeet

SUPER SPORTING with Forest City and Lake Oconee (above) and Mid-Carolina 4H (below left)

& SKEET with Forest City

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CLEMSON Collegiate Invitational The Clemson Shotgun Team hosted a Regional Collegiate Invitational — a 300 target, two-day event at the Palmetto Shooting Complex.

Participating was: •

USC-Aiken Shotgun Team Walter Lewis Chris Raynor Bradley Carter Alex Richardson Dalton Hill

•

Clemson University Emmanuel College Georgia College Jacksonville University Florida State University

• • • •

January 27th—Sporting Clays and Skeet

January 28th—Trap, in the pouring rain! But that never stops us!

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Clemson Invitational—Day One Sporting Clays (on rotation with Emmanuel College)

Time to Change Chokes!

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Clemson Invitational—Day One Skeet

(above) High 8 Time Lapse

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Clemson Invitational—Day Two Trap

(above) with Georgia College’s Ansley Wallace and Micah Aultman

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GEORGIA COLLEGE Harvest Classic The Georgia College Clay Target Club hosted a Regional Invitational— the Harvest Classic—a 150 target event at the Old Hudson Plantation in Sparta, Georgia—November 12, 2017. 55 shooters representing 9 collegiate and 8 high school senior division individuals/teams braved the cold, rainy weather for this 100 sporting clay and 50 skeet competition.

Participating in the collegiate division was: •

USC-Aiken Shotgun Team Bradley Carter Travis Keisler Calvin Moore Dalton Hill Alex Richardson Walter Lewis Chris Raynor

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• • • • • • • •

Georgia College University of Georgia Jacksonville University Georgia Southern Kennesaw State University East Georgia State College Georgia Military College Gordon State College

Skeet On the field with Jacksonville University

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GEORGIA COLLEGE Harvest Classic

Sporting Clays with Jacksonville University’s Kalie Jones, Kelby Seanor, & Brett Ollila

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Sporting Clays on rotation with Jacksonville University

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GA / SC BORDER SKIRMISH The Georgia and South Carolina SCTP State Coordinators hosted a friendly Border Skirmish Competition—a 200 target event at the Palmetto Shooting Complex—March 10, 2018.

89 shooters representing 13 Georgia and South Carolina teams competed in this 100 sporting clay, 50 skeet, and 50 trap event.

Alex Richardson represented the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team while the rest of its members were away on other commitments during Spring Break. He fought hard and brought home the Collegiate Bronze Medal.... only 12 targets separating 1st from 3rd for HOA (Highest Overall (above, L-R) Alex Richardson Bronze & Average) —a 4 target difference per game.

Zach Sanders (Brookline Top Shots) Silver (below) on rotation with friends from Rocky Knoll

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USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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AIKEN CHAMBER The Aiken Chamber of Commerce fired off its third Blastin’ for Business Clay Shoot at the Palmetto Shooting Complex on Friday, March 16, 2018, for a fun and exciting day of networking and team building.

Dr. Sandra J. Jordan, Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken provided an opportunity for the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team to send a five person squad to attend the Chamber’s Blastin' for Business sporting clays event.

Since the inception of the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team, Dr. Jordan has been supportive of our activities and representation in the community. As an active member of the community herself, Dr. Jordan serves on numerous local, state, and national boards, including being the Vice-Chair of Public Affairs for the Aiken Chamber.

The Team represented the University well at the event, placing 2nd with only 1 clay short of 1st out of a dozen teams competing, but more importantly that day, we made new professional connections within the community.

(L-R) Alumni member Colby Roberts returned to join Walter Lewis, Bradley Carter, Alex Richardson and Rex Pierson for this 5-man squadded competition 34 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Blastin’ for Business

(below) David Jameson, President/CEO of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce and Emily Murphy, Director of Membership Services, welcomes the participants.

(above) various businesses sponsored the 15 shooting stations

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STROM THURMOND CTC The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team sent a squad to the 3rd Annual Palmetto Classic Sporting Clays Tournament hosted by the Strom Thurmond Career Technology Center’s shooting team. The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team supports the efforts of local public school teams such as this one located in Johnston, South Carolina. The competition was held at the Palmetto Shooting Complex, Saturday, November 4, 2017.

Alex Richardson, Dalton Hill, and Walter Lewis came home with the 2nd place team awards in the adult division!

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Palmetto Classic

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South Carolina SCTP & 4H The Scholastic Clay Target Program in South Carolina partnered with 4H and added a collegiate division this year.

We participated in all but three of these tournaments held around the state, shooting alongside and mentoring to 4H / SCTP youth shooters. It was a great way to model to high school juniors and seniors that there are opportunities to enjoy the shooting sports beyond graduation.

December 2 @ Live Oaks (Swansea, SC) SCTP Sporting Clays with Dillon County 4-H

January 13 @ PSC - SCTP Trap with One More Shot Clemson 4H and Walhalla High School

February 17 @ PSC—SCTP Sporting Clays with The King's Academy from Florence, SC (left), and Emerald High School from Greenwood, SC (right) 38 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Rick Willey, South Carolina 4-H Rick Willey is also Head Coach Shooting Sports Director & for the Clemson University Bernie Till, South Carolina SCTP Shotgun Team State Advisor & SE Regional Rep

December 2 - SCTP Sporting Clays Tournament @ Live Oaks, the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team brought home the 2nd Place Team Trophy, Collegiate Division. The trophy is on display in the Student Life Center.

Members shooting that day: Dalton Hill, Bradley Carter, Alex Richardson, Travis Keisler, and Calvin Moore.

April 7 @ Backwoods (Georgetown, SC) SCTP Sporting Clays with Live Oaks Clay Dusters (a team that has since merged with Mid-Carolina 4H)

Bernie Till, when presenting the award, announced to the youth shooters, “These college teams started where you are now with 4H and SCTP.”

May 26-28 @ PSC - SCTP State Championship sporting clays with Rocky Knoll Youth Shooters (left), and skeet with One More Shot Clemson 4H (right) USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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CELEBRATIONS October 14, 2017 at the SCTP Trap Tournament @ Mid Carolina Gun Club, member DALTON HILL shot a 97/100 with a 75 straight!

The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team celebrated together as we honored the tradition of tossing his hat into the air then collectively shooting it with pellet holes to be his bragging souvenir keepsake.

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Link to the video: https://www.facebook.com/ uscashotgunclub/ videos/1945061759100952/

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VOLUNTEERING—Community Service The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team has won several awards, but the best reward has been giving back to the youth programs through community service volunteer hours trapping and scoring targets at youth tournaments.

February 9th and 10th, team members assisted SCDNR with the Skeet and Trap State Championship where almost 200 youth who qualified at the Governor’s Cup Skeet and Trap Open, were invited back as the top shooters for this second-round tournament, of which 14 high school senior ladies and 21 high school senior men competed for over $13,000 in scholarships. SCDNR Scholastic Clay Target Sports is a team-based youth development program that uses the shotgun sports of trap, skeet, and sporting clays to instill life skills such as discipline, safety, teamwork, ethics, self-confidence and other life values.

The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team volunteered again March 3rd for the statewide SCDNR Governor's Cup Sporting Clay Open Championship where over 625 youth shooters participated, with seniors competing for over $38,000 in scholarships plus prizes including shotguns.

Every shooter on a school or club team was invited with no registration fees and ammunition provided to all shooters.

We also volunteered as trappers April 28th for the South Carolina Youth Shooting Foundation’s (SCYSF) 2018 State Championship at the Palmetto Shooting Complex in Edgefield where 547 youth competed. The seniors shot for over $18,000 in scholarships plus prizes including shotguns.

Even while on summer break, members volunteered June 1st for the South Carolina 4H Sporting Clays Tournament Fundraiser, which is designed to appeal to anyone in the community wanting to support the broad and growing statewide youth interest in recreational shooting sports, conservation, hunting and gun safety. Proceeds from the tournament will enhance and expand South Carolina 4-H Youth Development Programs, including 4-H Shooting Sports. We spoke with several adult shooters that day who are in the process of creating 4H youth shooting teams for their counties.

The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team spoke with shooters, parents, and coaches about our team 42 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Trapping for the Youth Events

The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team bridges a connection between the youth and collegiate shooting levels by being engaged in community service outreach efforts to the youth shooting programs.

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IN THE NEWS SCW has been published by the state Department of Natural Resources continuously since 1954 and has for many become a part of our state's outdoor heritage.

SCW, a showcase for the state's natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities, earns respect among its peers and subscribers year after year. A multipleaward-winning publication devoted exclusively to our great outdoors, SCW gets the attention of readers across South Carolina and beyond with excellent feature writing, photography and design.

November/December 2017 issue of the South Carolina Wildlife magazine, published by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources While the SCW magazine’s target audience is adults, a more in-depth article was posted on their digital publication version, South Carolina WILD, a publication for young outdoor enthusiasts and career-bound teens. Read the online version in South Carolina WILD: http://www.southcarolinawild.org/2017/09/01/paying-it-forward/ 44 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Full page news article in the Pacer Times 2/27/18 about how the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team and clay target sports promote gun safety education.

Click to read: https://pacertimesusca.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/page-31.pdf USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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Friends of the NRA Grant

(center) Chuck Scott, Chairman of the Aiken/Savannah River Chapter of Friends of the NRA, and Rep. Bill Taylor, House District 86 Aiken County, at NRA fundraiser banquet. Events like this make it possible for the NRA Foundation to invest back in local teams like the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team.

USC-Aiken Shotgun Team Receives Product Grant March 1, 2018

The University of South Carolina Aiken Shotgun Team received a donation of shotgun shells from the Friends of the NRA. “The clay target sports is fun with educational value, but it is extremely expensive to participate in on a regular basis,” said Alex Richardson, founder and president of the university’s shotgun team. He explains that the main expense of this sport is in the consumables – the targets and shells.

Richardson has worked to create financial and product donation partnerships with local and national sponsors and writing grant applications such as the one with the NRA Foundation to help offset the costs and make it affordable for its members to participate. “We are extremely fortunate and thankful to receive this grant. Being awarded one of these grants is as competitive as the sport itself,” said Richardson, an education major.

“It is important for the team members and the community to understand the value and importance of our sponsors, both those that assist us financially and those that provide products and discounted services to us in order to operate,” Richardson says. “Sponsors and support from the community will be the key to the continued existence of the team.”

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USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS Alex Richardson

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Dalton Hill

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS Bradley Carter

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Walter Lewis

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS Chris Raynor

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Zach Brown

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS Rex Pierson

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Travis Keisler

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS Calvin Moore

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UNIVERSITY SUPPORT Dr. Sandra J. Jordan Chancellor of the University of South Carolina Aiken

Professor Brad Reinhart Department of Biology & Geology Advisor to the USCA Shotgun Team Ahmed Samaha, Interim bradr@usca.edu Vice Chancellor of Student Life AhmedS@usca.edu

Leslie Hull-Ryde Director of News and Information LeslieH@usca.edu

Mandi Welch Student Life Office Manager mandia@usca.edu

Rebecca Crawford Administrative Assistant BeckyC@usca.edu

Dr. Chris DeWitt Department Chair Exercise & Sports Science ChrisD@usca.edu

Ross Philbeck Recreational Sports Assistant Director Of Student Life rossp@usca.edu

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FAMILY SUPPORT

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Hunting & shooting activities are rich American traditions that compliment involvement of the total family: youth, teens, parents, grandparents, siblings and friends.

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FAMILY SUPPORT

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CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

Wim Lewis & Ryan Richardson

Alex Richardson 62 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Becky Richardson USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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THANK YOU—Trappers and Referees

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It takes many hands to make tournaments possible.

Trappers / Referees are often unpaid. They volunteer their time to work trap and skeet fields, and sporting clays stations. Typically, at least 5 fields and 15 stations require coverage, with 5-7 flights for trap/skeet and 2-3 rotations for sporting clays. This means a long day in one position, pulling the same button over and over, calling the dead or lost targets, and marking the score cards.

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GOOD STEWARDS

The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team values, teaches, and reinforces respect...this includes respect for self, others, and the environment.

Cleaning up and leaving the facility in a better condition after we have finished shooting, and not leaving cleanup for someone else to do, is a part of our routine.

Typical cleanup after a practice is over 1,000 used hull casings, and after a tournament there are 100,000’s+ so hulls are picked up by each squad shooting their last station.

It’s been noted by the facility staff at the Palmetto Shooing Complex that “The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team always picks up after themselves.”

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THANK YOU 2017-2018 SPONSORS

Richardson’s Produce 68 USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

Snapshot Photography & Design USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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PROMOTING the TEAM In May 2017, the USC-Aiken Shotgun Team proudly presented our very first Progress Report highlighting our activities and successes during 2016-2017.

Just like this year’s issue, recipients can click on the Full Screen icon to enjoy the flip book presentation. https://issuu.com/snapshot50d/docs/usc -aiken_shotgun_team_2016-17_prog

We continue to use koozies to keep our image out there.

And we send out greetings from the team to all our friends and on social media.

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Get on Board

The first steps to joining the team is to come by our table during the “Get on Board Days� when various student organizations, clubs, and teams set up in the quad or student activities center to talk with interested students about membership.

We also use opportunities like this to sell Browning Knife sets from our Midway USA account in order to raise a few funds to support the team.

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ASSESSMENT Safety, Administration, & Communication: At the beginning of each practice, we hold a safety briefing and team meeting to discuss ongoing business. Safety is top priority. At the end of each practice, we wrap up with a debrief discussion of how the practice went, things learned, goals accomplished and things to work on. Members also receive regular emails regarding upcoming event details and results.

Mentoring: Four of our current members are products of the youth 4H shooting programs. They are experienced in the sport and in competitions and mentor to the other members.

Retention & Recruitment: Five of our members returned from the prior season. One member from last season graduated and others transferred to ATC or USC-Columbia. New members were recruited through Get on Board Days, friends of members, and outreach to the youth shooing community. With the attrition of seniors from the team, we recognize that having new freshmen members each year will be key to the team’s future existence. Our outreach, recruitment and publicity efforts this season have resulted in at least 5 new known members planning to come to USC-Aiken and join the Shotgun Team in the Fall of 2018.

The USC-Aiken Shotgun Team was approved by the Campus Life Committee for graduation regalia. The team met academic and service requirements. This is the first time the committee has approved any athletics/sports club for graduation regalia.

Training & Assistance: The team has 4 certified shooting instructors that volunteer time and knowledge. There are other parents that help with snacks and other support.

Fiscal Responsibility: All period-limited funds allocated to the team were used and all reports timely filed. Partnerships with business sponsors were formed for product and service donations and significant discounts on purchases to stretch our dollars. Funding and product donations make it affordable for members to participate. Because of our success in obtaining sponsorships, the President of the team was asked to lead “Fundraising for Your Club” and “Managing Your Club Allocation” breakout sessions at the USC-Aiken Student Leadership Retreat August 16—17, 2017. He has been asked back to speak to other USC-Aiken student clubs at the 2018 retreat.

Dedication to Improvement: Six members have family memberships to the NWTF which gives them member discount rates for shooting at the Palmetto Shooting Complex where they can enjoy shooting for fun outside of team practices. This has gotten family members involved in shooting for fun.

There have been occasions outside of team activities that members have gathered to shoot for fun, such as during the Winter and Summer breaks.

Five members purchased new upgraded shotguns designed for competition.

The team’s Facebook page now stands at 105 likes, 110 follows, & 1019 reached. Help us grow these numbers by sharing with your friends!

The success of our starting a new team on campus inspired the start of another outdoor student organization—USC-Aiken Anglers Fishing Team.

We provided advice and support for getting them started.

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OPERATING EXPENSES 2017-2018 SHELLS

$5,474

TARGETS

$2,372

ENTRY FEES

$4,980

MEMBERSHIP FEES

$300

CART RENTALS

$380

UNIFORMS

$600

TRAVEL FOOD

$2651 $350

PRINTING

$50

POSTAGE

$5

TOTAL

$17,162 * Figures above represent operating expense totals from all funding sources (student government allocation, funds raised by club through sponsorships/grants, fundraising, financial/product donations, as well as fees and expenses covered out of pocket by members participating in the program (approximately 45% of the total expenses above). However, these figures do not include services donated or time volunteered for which a dollar value cannot be placed upon, nor equipment and supplies such as guns, ammo bags, and eye/ear protection personally owned and used by individual members. As the report shows, this is an expensive sport, hence the need for sponsors/donors to offset the operating expenses and make it affordable for members to participate.

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UNIFORMS

We once again had team shirts made for 2017-18 with our logo on the front pocket and on the back, we recognized our sponsors (who either provided direct funding or product and service donations and discounts).

We ordered camo hats and embroidered our logo on the Nylon Angler Short Sleeve Blue Tide shirts donated by the Savannah Bass Pro Shop.

We continued to use our Drake Fleece Pullovers in the winter months.

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Want to be a 2018-19 Shirt Sponsor?

(Click on Image of Form above for Printable Version) Contact Alex Richardson, President USC-Aiken Shotgun Team, alexfr@usca.edu USC-Aiken Shotgun Team 2017-2018 Progress Report

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SCRAPBOOK—Play Hard

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SCRAPBOOK– Laugh Loud

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SCRAPBOOK—Play Hard Some More

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SCRAPBOOK– Go Home Tired

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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK TO FOLLOW WHAT WE DO IN 2018-2019

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https://www.facebook.com/uscashotgunclub/

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https://www.facebook.com/uscashotgunclub/ https://sites.google.com/site/uscashotgunclub/