Clay target club has stellar season – prompts 2 enthusiasts to enroll

The new club competed nationally this spring and is preparing for growth.

In summer 2024, Mason Bush of Penn Yan arrived at FLCC for new student orientation before beginning his first semester as a fish and wildlife major. It was there that John Foust, professor of environmental conservation and horticulture, noticed Mason’s trap shooting T-shirt and began a conversation about starting a team at the College. 

With more than 20 student clubs and organizations at FLCC, creating a club only takes a few easy steps. After Mason and John worked with the College's student government and completed the new club interest form, they began advertising. 

“I found out about the Clay Target Club through a poster that I saw on the wall,” Kayla Dunstan of Walworth shared. “After I attended the information meeting, I decided to join the team.” 

Through recruitment, mandatory firearm safety training, and a partnership with Shortsville Rod and Gun Club, the FLCC Clay Target Club is now affiliated with the USA College Clay Target League.  

“It’s a great mental practice that helps keep you calm and collected,” Mason explains. “You have to keep your composure and not freak out or else you’ll miss the bird.” 

For the sport, participants shoot at bright orange, 4.5-inch round disks, commonly called clay pigeons. The targets are launched from a machine that distributes the targets away from the shooter at 35 to 45 mph with varying angles and heights, mimicking the flight path of a bird fleeing a hunter.  

While avid hunters can engage in trap shooting, individuals without a hunting background can participate recreationally or competitively.  

“Trap shooting is very inclusive sport, I’ve seen people participate with an array of disabilities, people in wheelchairs, amputations, or on crutches,” Mason added. 

There are over 53,000 participants in the USA College Clay Target League, and FLCC is one of ten colleges across New York State that participate in the league.

Results

Alongside Mason and Kayla, Jaydon Anthony of Macedon represented FLCC during the spring 2025 USA College Clay Target trap season. Mason Bush posing with a USA College Clay Target League medal.  

The competition featured 541 participants nationwide. FLCC competed in a conference against schools from Illinois, North Dakota, Missouri, and SUNY Adirondack, a fellow New York institution. Mason, FLCC’s top shooter, achieved a season average of 24.10 out of 25, placing second out of 65 competitors in the conference and tying for 13th nationally.  

Notably, Mason also held the highest season average among all New York shooters, outperforming competitors from three other New York schools.  

“The season was a success,” John said. “We are looking forward to the fall season with new shooters coming to FLCC to compete specifically for clay target club.”

Looking forward

Two trap shooting enthusiasts, Andrew Goodwin of Naples and another student from Shortsville, have enrolled at FLCC and will join the College’s trap shooting club for the fall season. 

Andrew brings an impressive record, with more than a dozen titles and top average scores in state and regional competitions. In the fall 2024 season of the New York State High School Clay Target League, he ranked first in both the top male average and overall average categories. 

In October, the FLCC club plans to travel to Illinois to compete in the USA College Clay Target League National Championship. 

The club will continue to meet off-campus weekly at Shortsville Rod and Gun Club to practice and compete. Scores are submitted to the league and compared with those of athletes from other schools in the conference.  

Current members also plan to recruit and continue sharing information about the club. 

Those interested in joining the club can contact John Foust at John.Foust@flcc.edu. 

History

During the 1983-84 academic year, Community College of the Finger Lakes (CCFL), the former name of FLCC, sponsored a competitive Pistol and Rifle Team. The team was coached by Charles F. Moyer, assistant professor of physical education. 

Extensive records and letters track the early stages of development, including the purchasing of equipment and learning materials, along with inquiries into grant programs and competitions at the U.S. Military Academy, King's College, Massachusetts  Institute of Technology, and the NCAA Championships hosted by West Virginia University.

Nicholas Julien, sports information director, contributed to this article.