College trapshooters from 25 schools are set to compete at the 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championship, running from October 30 to November 1. The event will take place at Brittany Shooting Park, located outside Bunker Hill, Illinois, approximately 40 minutes northeast of St. Louis. A field of 189 athletes, representing 10 different states, has registered for the championship, which will determine national titles for both individuals and teams.
These 189 competitors emerge from a larger pool of student-athletes involved in the USA College Clay Target League. This fall season alone, 969 student athletes participated across 89 college and university teams within the League's programs. New York is sending the highest number of schools to the championship, with Alfred State College, Finger Lakes Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Paul Smith's College, and SUNY Delhi all registered. Michigan follows with four participating institutions: Ferris State University, Mid Michigan College, Montcalm Community College, and Western Michigan University. The host state of Illinois will be represented by Blackburn College, Illinois College, and Lake Land College.
Over the course of the championship, athletes will shoot a total of 200 targets. Each day, competitors will shoot 100 targets, broken into two sessions, each consisting of two back-to-back 25-target rounds. This cumulative 200-target score contributes to both individual and team standings. Individual athletes compete within Gold and Silver classes, which are determined by their average scores at the end of the fall season. For the team competition, a school’s total score is calculated from its top five individual scores, regardless of the class those athletes compete in. To be eligible for the team title, a school must enter at least five athletes.
In the event of an individual tie, the first tie-breaking method is a "reverse run," which involves counting backward from the final target until the first miss. If the tie persists, a shoot-off follows, where shooters progressively move back from the 16-yard line to 20, 24, and then 27 yards. Any remaining tied shooters after the fourth round will then face faster targets from the 27-yard line until a single winner emerges. For a team title tie, the first criterion is each squad’s highest score achieved on Day 2 of the competition.
The championship officially begins on Friday with team check-in and practice sessions. Friday evening will also feature a Cosmic Clays event and a bonfire for participants. The opening ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday at 8:45 a.m., followed by the first 100 targets of the competition. Once scoring for the day is complete, an Annie Oakley contest will be held for both coaches and athletes. The final 100 targets will be shot on Sunday, with those scores determining the national champions.
John Nelson, president of the USA Clay Target League, highlighted the growing appeal of the sport, stating that colleges and universities are continually "discovering what clay target shooting sports can add to campus life." He emphasized that the League offers institutions a safe, proven program designed to engage students, build community, and enhance their overall educational experience.
