Led by the support of their schools and more than 2,400 volunteer coaches, thousands of student athletes will participate in shooting sports weekly from April through June at more than 150 shooting ranges throughout Minnesota.

“Last year, 6,100 student athletes participated in the spring league,” said Jim Sable, Executive Director of the MSHSCTL. “The addition of 83 new teams, the expansion of existing teams, the increased capacity of shooting facilities and the addition of the new spring skeet league are some of the factors attributing to the continued success as Minnesota’s fastest-growing high school sport since 2008.”

The clay target league is also the safest sport in high school. Since 2001, the MSHSCTL has no reported injuries or gun-free zone violations at school. Upon completion of the spring league, all trap shooting teams are invited to participate in individual and team competitions at the 2015 MSHSCTL Trap Shooting Championship at the Alexandria Shooting Park in Alexandria June 11-16.

“With an expected 20,000 attendees including more than 5,000 student athletes, this tournament will be the largest shooting sport event in the world,” Sable said.

The spring league culminates with the state tournament that includes the Minnesota State High School League as a presenting partner. This state tournament provides the opportunity for the highest qualifying individual and team achievers from the clay target league to compete for the ultimate recognition as state champions from the MSHSL.

In 2014, the MSHSL became the first state high school interscholastic athletic association in America to provide support and recognition for trap shooting as a high school sport.

The USA High School Clay Target League is a nonprofit organization and operates the MSHSCTL as the independent provider of shooting sports as an extra curricular co-ed and adapted activity for high schools and students in grades six through 12 who have earned their firearms safety certification. The organization’s priorities are safety, fun and marksmanship – in that order.

For more information visit http://mnclaytarget.com.