Willard Young Guns right on target

WILLARD — The Willard Conservation League's "Young Guns" — a trap shooting team consisting of 10 students ages 11 to 20 — traveled Monday to the Cardinal shooting center in Marengo, Ohio. The young men had the opportunity to be among 5,000 participants at the event, according to assistant coach Ed Brooks. "It's a huge complex," Brooks said. "They had 44 trap houses. It was literally a mile long of traps." The team's own Zach Allgyre and Fletcher Radcliffe both placed in their respective divisions, with Allgyre placing third in the collegiate division and Racliffe placing seventh in the intermediate division. "We're happy with what they've been doing," head coach Brad Dearth said. "The sport teaches them firearm safety and how to work as a team. It teaches them discipline, as this is a very disciplined sport." The Young Guns are associated with the "Scholastic Clay Target Program," or "SCTP" — a nationwide shooting organization designed for student-athletes from elementary school to college, giving them opportunities to safely practice their shooting. "Anyone in school can do this," Brooks said. "And it's all through the SCTP. It's around 5,000 student-athletes and about 900 to 1,000 coaches. It's the biggest youth shooting organization in the country." The coaches continued to explain just how seriously their team takes safety precautions. "Safety is our No. 1 priority," Brooks said. "The SCTP is the safest sport in all of scholastic sports. We are all trained, and everyone on this team knows how to handle their firearms safely." Gauge Dearth, a team member from Clyde, said the team provided him the opportunity to meet new people and forge new friendships that he wouldn't have otherwise been able to make. "I really enjoy doing it," Dearth said. "I've loved meeting the new kids every year. It gets me out there, and allows me to make new friends." Another team member, Ian Strausbaugh, explained how much he has grown from being with the team for two years. "This is my second year here, and I've learned so much from when I first got here. I've improved so much." Coaches Dearth and Brooks encourage all who are interested in joining the Young Guns to call the Willard Conservation League at 419-951-5004 or visit them at the website, willardconservationleague.org. "We have excellent families and excellent kids," Brooks said. "We are absolutely proud of the progress that they have been making."