https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/sports/the-appalachian-adventurer/unaka-shooters-on-target-at-sctp-national-championships/article_d7ddcdde-591c-11ef-a44e-3f76509ea3fe.html

The Johnson City based Unaka Shooters won big at the recent Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championships at Marengo, Ohio.

It’s the nation’s largest registered shoot with 10 different events and 3,151 competitors from 37 states in attendance at the Cardinal Shooting Center. Out of those, all eight of the Unaka Shooters scored podium finishes, including national championships for the brother and sister combination of Reed and Lauren McCown, who hit 99 of 100 targets in Skeet Doubles.

While Unaka Shooters have a great history and usually have some youth place at the SCTP Championships, it was the first time in the last five years they’ve brought back a national title. To bring back two national championships and two runner-up finishes, it exceeded their expectations.

One has to consider the scope of the event. Over 1.5 million targets are thrown with the event lasting two weeks. Most athletes shoot over nine days. It takes 10 tractor trailers to bring that many targets to the range.

Jackson Barr, a senior in high school, was the oldest competitor on the Unaka Shooters team. He will be shooting for Jacksonville University’s team next year. Hamilton Cole was the youngest as a fifth grader.

Scott Dunn placed runner-up in the American Skeet Intermediate Advance Men hitting 197 of 200 targets. Lauren McCown was second in the Intermediate Entry Ladies. An Open Squad of Jared Watson, Scott Dunn and Eli Henry was fourth in the event, while Cole was fourth in Rookie Men for High Overall.

The Open Squad of Barr, Jacob Sexton, Eli Henry and the McCown siblings placed third in American Trap. Lauren McCown added a runner-up in Trap Doubles and third-place finish in Handicap Trap.

This historic effort comes on the heels of the Tennessee State Championships in June when the team scored multiple wins and runner-up finishes.

https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/sports/the-appalachian-adventurer/local-shooters-win-clay-target-state-championships/article_3c777010-37ee-11ef-babf-3b9030b76d55.html

Two local youth, Liam Lawson and Jacob Sexton, won high all-around awards in their age groups at the recent Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) State Championships at the Nashville Gun Club.

Youth shooting sports are growing nationally according to media reports and it can be seen by the participation throughout the Volunteer State. Over 1,100 athletes participated across various age groups and disciplines.

The local Tri-Cities athletes made a good showing, especially with the Sullivan County-based East Tennessee Straight Shooters and the Washington County-based Unaka Shooters, which are boys and girls youth teams.

Lawson, who represented the East Tennessee Straight Shooters, was the HAA Rookie Men Champion. Sexton, with the Unaka Shooters, was the HHA Senior (Junior Varsity and Varsity) Men Champion.

Each had the highest score out of 650 targets totaled from all seven events — Sporting Clays, Super Sporting, American Skeet, Doubles Skeet, American Trap, Doubles Trap and Extended Yard-Line Trap.

Lawson beat Hamilton Cole from Unaka Shooters 513-504 for the overall Rookie win. Sexton edged Charles Cherry from Henry County 600-596 in the Senior Division.

Beyond the all-around awards, individual and teams placed in the top two in the different categories.

Lauren McCown from Unaka was the Intermediate Entry Ladies’ Champion in three categories — Sporting Clays, American Skeet and Doubles Skeet.

The Unaka Shooters Senior Varsity Squad of Lawson Frizzell, Reed McCown and Sexton finished runner-up in Sporting Clays.

Unaka Shooters were the Senior Division Team of Sexton, Frizzell and McCown were champions in Super Sporting. Evan Gray from East Tennessee Straight Shooters was the Intermediate Entry Men’s Champion.

In American Skeet, the Unaka Shooters placed second in the Senior Division Team competition, while Jared Watson, Cole Casey and Grayson Cole were the Junior Varsity Squad runner-ups.

Scott Dunn from the Unaka Shooters was the American Skeet Intermediate Advanced Champion. Lawson was runner-up in Men’s Rookie.

Unaka Shooters finished team runner-up in Doubles Skeet with the Rookie Squad of Hamilton Cole, Holt Melvin and Clinton Connor also took second place. Hamilton Cole was the Rookie Champion with Lawson second for East Tennessee Straight Shooters. Scott Dunn and Sexton brought home more medals for the Unaka Shooters with their wins in Intermediate Advanced and Senior Varsity.

Unaka Shooters also won in American Trap with the Rookie Squad of Cole, Melvin, Conner, Aidan Douglas and Luke Coleman. Lawson was the Men’s Rookie winner and Hamilton Cole finished runner-up.

The Senior Varsity Squad of Sexton, McCown, Frizzell, Jackson Barr and Eli Henry finished second in Doubles Trap. Sexton and Cole for Unaka, and Lawson for ETSS placed second in their respective divisions in Extended Yard Line Trap.

HOA (All 3 Events)

HOA Senior Team Champions

HOA Intermediate Team Champions

HOA Senior Men's Runner Up

HOA Intermediate Men's Champion

HOA Intermediate Women's Champion

SKEET 

Senior Team Division Champions

Intermediate Team Division Champions

1st Place - Rookie Squad 

1st Place - Intermediate Entry Squad 

1st Place - Intermediate Advanced Squad 

1st Place - JR Varsity Squad 

2nd Place - Jr Varsity Squad 

1st Place - Varsity Squad 

1st Place - Rookie Men - Holt Melvin

2nd Place - Intermediate Entry Men - Carson Whitson

1st Place - Intermediate Entry Women - Lauren McCown

1st Place - Intermediate Advanced Men - Scott Dunn

1st Place - Jr. Varsity Men - Grayson Cole

3rd Place - Jr. Varsity Men - Jared Watson

1st Place - Varsity Men - Jacob Sexton

3rd Place - Varsity Men - Jackson Barr

Sporting Clays

Senior Team Division Runners Up

Intermediate Team Division Champions

2nd Place - Rookie Squad 

2nd Place - Intermediate Entry Squad 

1st Place - Intermediate Advanced Squad 

1st Place - Jr Varsity Squad 

2nd Place - Jr Varsity Squad 

1st Place - Varsity Squad 

3rd Place - Varsity Squad 

3rd Place - Rookie Men - Hamilton Cole

1st Place - Intermediate Entry Women - Lauren McCown

2nd Place - Intermediate Advanced Men - Scott Dunn

3rd Place - Varsity Men - Jacob Sexton

Trap

Senior Team Division Champions

Intermediate Team Division Runners Up

3rd Place - Rookie Squad 

3rd Place - Intermediate Entry Squad 

1st Place - Jr Varsity Squad 

1st Place - Varsity Squad 

2nd Place - Rookie Men - Holt Melvin

3rd Place - Rookie Men - Hamilton Cole

2nd Place - Intermediate Entry Women - Eliza Berry

3rd Place - Intermediate Entry Women - Lauren McCown

3rd Place - Intermediate Advanced Men - Scott Dunn

1st Place - Jr. Varsity Men - Grayson Cole

3rd Place - Jr. Varsity Men - Cole Casey

2nd Place - Varsity Men - Reed McCown

1st Place - Collegiate - Jacob Melvin

https://jcnewsandneighbor.com/local-youth-shotgun-team-excels-in-national-competition/

AUGUST 17, 2022

The Unaka Shooters had a fantastic season. The youth shotgun team cleaned up at the state tournament, as evidenced by all the medals and trophies, and advanced to the national event where they brought home more awards.

By Dave Ongie, Managing Editor

Far away from the bright lights and roaring crowds that greet youth athletes in some sports you’ll find others who excel in relative obscurity.

The Unaka Rod & Gun Club is home to a team most folks in Johnson City don’t even know exists. However, the Unaka Shooters, a youth shotgun team, made their presence known this summer by winning at the state level and qualifying for the national event in Columbus, Ohio.

Shane McCown, head coach of the Unaka Shooters, was thrilled with the way his team performed both at the state level and on the national stage. Unaka’s intermediate team – comprised of Jacob Sexton, Reed McCown, Lawson Frizzell, Jared Watson, Cole Casey, Grayson Cole, Scott Dunn Jr. and Gage Hutson – won the high overall main event team award at the state tournament.

“I’m very proud of the individual performances and sportsmanship that were displayed at the tournament,” McCown said. “Not only are we very proud of these athletes and their performance on the field, but the fact that they were able to do so well as a team is one of the greatest achievements we could ask of them. The coaches for the team really want to emphasize teamwork.

“We win as a team, and that is just what we did at the state competition.”

Sexton was the intermediate grand champion in American skeet at the state level and finished runner-up in intermediate advanced sporting clays. He went on to place third in the nation among intermediate shooters across the three main disciplines. He also finished third nationally in intermediate sporting clays.

Reed McCown, Sexton and Dunn Jr. finished fifth in the nation as a team in the intermediate American Skeet Singles while Gabe Overbey, Jackson Barr and Dunn Jr. finished fifth in the nation in the open squad American Skeet Singles. Individually, Reed McCown was second in the nation in the intermediate male American skeet doubles event.

The national event featured some very stiff competition with over 3,500 athletes from 30 states represented at the event in Ohio. It requires a lot of concentration to shoot 100 rounds in each major discipline at the state level, but the pressure is ratcheted up at nationals as shooters fire off 200 rounds in each major discipline while facing the best of the best from each state.

While middle school and high school athletes compete in these events, the rookie division features participants as young as 9 years old. Lauren McCown is in the rookie division, following in her brother Reed’s footsteps. This year was Lauren’s first in competition, and she finished third in rookie American skeet at the state level and fourth in the nation in the same event.

“It felt really good, especially since it was my first year,” Lauren said. “I could definitely tell that I got way better. At the beginning of the year, I had a gun that didn’t fit me right, so I wasn’t doing as well. But when I found a gun that fit me right, I got better at it.”

For all those kids out there looking for a fun and challenging sport, Lauren said the Unaka Shooters might be just what they are looking for.

“They should definitely try it,” she said. “It might be scary at first, but once you try it it’s really fun.”

Shane McCown is excited about the season and believes his team is positioned well to build on the momentum generated by the trip to the national event. He added that the support provided by the community and Unaka Rod & Gun Club is a firm foundation for the program moving forward.

“We are especially thankful to our sponsor organization, the Unaka Rod & Gun Club in Johnson City. The club has been so supportive of the athletes during practice and the events,” McCown stated. “I would also like to thank all the parents and coaches who make sure athletes have what they need to compete and thrive in this sport.”

The Unaka Shooters, a youth shotgun team from the Unaka Rod & Gun club in Johnson City, TN, just recently came back from the state tournament in Nashville, TN.   The state tournament is a gateway to entry into the National SCTP tournament that is held at the Cardinal Center near Columbus Ohio.  The TNSCTP is run by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation TWF, an organization focused on conservation and youth engagement for the state of Tennessee.

The Tennessee State Tournament is held each year in Nashville.  The Unaka Shooters competed in multiple disciplines requiring the athletes to fire 100+ rounds in each discipline.   The disciplines included American Skeet, American Trap, Sporting Clays, American Skeet Doubles, Super Sporting Clays.  The tournament hosted 79 teams from across the state of Tennessee with 1,152 athletes competing for top positions in multiple disciplines.   During the event over 273,250 clay targets were thrown for the athletes.

“I’m very proud of the individual performances and sportsmanship that were displayed at the tournament,” said Shane McCown, Head Coach of the Unaka Shooters.   "Not only are we very proud of these athletes and their performance on the field but the fact that they were able to do so well as a team is one of the greatest achievements we could ask of them.  The coaches for the team really want to emphasize teamwork.  We win as a team, and that is just what we did at the state competition.”

The Unaka Shooters brought home several awards including the State High Overall Main Event Team Award which takes the top 5 scores from the team in the Intermediate Division and compares them to all the other teams in the State for the 3 main events of Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays.  This award was given to the Intermediate Team composed of shooters in grades 6-8 including Jacob Sexton, Reed McCown, Lawson Frizzell, Jared Watson, Cole Casey, Grayson Cole, Scott Dunn Jr., and Gage Hutson.

“We are especially thankful to our sponsor organization, the Unaka Rod & Gun Club in Johnson City.  The club has been so supportive of the athletes during practice and the events,” McCown stated.  “I would also like to thank all the parents and coaches who make sure athletes have what they need to compete and thrive in this sport.  We also would like to thank the Friends of the NRA and the MidwayUSA foundation for grants that help to support our team.”

Age Categories:

Rookies (minimum of 9yrs old) 3rd-5th Grade

Intermediate 6-8th Grade

Varsity 9-12th Grade

Collegiate

Team & Squad State Awards:

• High Overall Main Events Intermediate Team (1st Place)

• 2nd Place American Skeet Singles (Intermediate Advanced)

• 2nd Place American Skeet Doubles (Intermediate Advanced)

Individual State Awards:

• Jacob Sexton - Intermediate Grand Champion in American Skeet (Highest score of all Intermediate Athletes)

• Scott Dunn Jr. - Intermediate Entry 1st place in American Skeet

• Seth Fox - Collegiate 1st place in American Skeet

• Seth Fox - Collegiate High Overall Runner Up for Skeet

• Lauren McCown - Rookie 3rd place in American Skeet

• Jacob Sexton - Intermediate Advanced 2nd place in Sporting Clays

• Seth Fox - Collegiate 3rd place in Super Sporting Clays

To be able to compete in the State Tournament the Unaka Shooters had to also compete in the Regional competition.  The Unaka Shooters are in Region IV for the state.   We have approximately 9 teams in our region and we came away with many of the top spots for our region.

Regional Team & Squad Awards:

• High Overall Intermediate Team

• High Overall Varsity Team Runner Up

• 1st Place Rookie Team Skeet

• 2nd Place Intermediate Entry Skeet

• 1st Place Intermediate Advanced Skeet

• 1st & 3rd Place Intermediate Advanced Skeet Squad

• 1st Place Junior Varsity Skeet

• 1st Place Intermediate Advanced Trap

• 1st Place Rookie Sporting Clays

• 2nd Place Intermediate Entry Sporting Clays

• 1st Place Intermediate Advanced Sporting Clays

• 3rd Place Junior Varsity Sporting Clays

Regional Individual Awards:

• Lauren McCown - High Overall Rookie

• Hamilton Cole - High Overall Rookie Runner Up

• Reed McCown - High Overall Intermediate Runner Up 

• Hamilton Cole - 1st Male Rookie Skeet

• Lauren McCown - 1st Female Rookie Skeet

• Scott Dunn Jr. - 1st Male Intermediate Entry Skeet

• Jacob Sexton - 2nd Male Intermediate Advanced Skeet

• Reed McCown - 3rd Male Intermediate Advanced Skeet

• Seth Black - 2nd Male Junior Varsity Skeet

• Kingston Cole - 3rd Male Junior Varsity Skeet

• Jackson Barr - 3rd Male Varsity Skeet

• Seth Fox - 1st Male Collegiate Skeet

• Lauren McCown - 3rd Female Rookie Trap

• Scott Dunn Jr. - 1st Male Intermediate Entry Trap

• Reed McCown - 1st Male Intermediate Advanced Trap

• Jackson Barr - 3rd Male Varsity Trap

• Seth Fox - 1st Male Collegiate Trap

• Hamilton Cole - 2nd Male Rookie Sporting Clays

• Lauren McCown - 1st Female Rookie Sporting Clays

• Scott Dunn Jr. - 1st Male Sporting Clays

• Reed McCown - 3rd Male Sporting Clays

• Seth Black - 1st Male Junior Varsity Sporting Clays

• Seth Fox - 1st Male Collegiate