1900 youth shooters from 31 states converged on the Cardinal Center in Marengo, Ohio, for the 2020 Scholastic Clay Target Program National Team Championships. 41 local shooters from 4thgrade through College attended representing the Forest City Juniors. After four long days of shooting, the Savannah team stood alone as the top team in the Nation winning its first ever National Championship after finishing 2nd, 3rdand 4thin the last three years.
The High Overall Award (HOA) Team National Championship consists of the Top Squad of 3 shooters in both Skeet and Sporting Clays and the Top Squad 
of 5 Trap Shooters. Each shooter shoots 200 per discipline, so the highest possible total is 2,200. After Skeet and Sporting Clays, the Juniors were tied with the Etowah Valley Mambas of North Georgia, 1 target ahead of Midwest powerhouse Central Falcons of Illinois, and 5 targets ahead of their friendly archrival Central Georgia Elite Shooters of Macon. When the dust settled on Saturday, the Forest Juniors finished with a total score of 2,093 for the week which was 5 targets ahead of the Central Falcons and 7 targets ahead of Central Georgia Elite. As you can see, every target counts at this level of competition. Two other Georgia teams rounded out the top 5 with the Etowah Valley team in 4thand two-time defending National Champion Lake Oconee Shotgun Team in 5th.
The shooters for the Forest City winning squads were:
Skeet: Jake Summerford 198/200, John Neely 196 and Walker McDonald 195
Sporting Clays: John Neely 184, Dawson Williams 181 and Jackson Schaaf 174
Trap: Walker McDonald 195, Jackson Schaaf 194, Rich Pazderski 193, Jake Summerford 192 and Dawson Williams 191
In addition to the High Over-All National Championship, the Juniors won 16 other National squad and individual championships.
Collegiate HOA and Sporting Clays: Douglas Williams
Collegiate Ladies Skeet: Gracie Whitley
Collegiate Squad Sporting Clays and Doubles Skeet: Colin Davis, Gracie Whitley, and Douglas Williams
Intermediate-Advanced Ladies Doubles Skeet: Abi Pazderski
Intermediate-Advanced Sporting Clays: Drake Cooper
Intermediate-Advanced Squad Sporting Clays: Drake Cooper, Jackson Ezelle, and Abi Pazderski
Intermediate-Entry Ladies Skeet, Doubles Skeet and Sporting Clays: Ayden McKenzie
Intermediate-Entry Squad Doubles Skeet: Jim Reynolds Morrison, Jack McKenzie and Sam Anderson
Rookie Squad Champions in Skeet, Doubles Skeet and Sporting Clays: Lucas McKenzie, Grady McKenzie and Marshall Kent
Rookie Ladies Doubles Skeet: June McKenzie
Rookie Double Skeet: Lucas McKenzie
At the Varsity level, 7 of the Top 25 shooters in the Nation wear the red and green Forest City vests:
3rdWalker McDonald 574/600
9thJake Summerford 568
11thDawson Williams 566
13thRich Pazderski 565
15thJohn Neely 563
20thMitchell Kent 561
24thJackson Schaaf 560
Douglas Williams was the HOA winner at the Collegiate Level with 579/600 and is still the Hall of Fame Captain.
At the Intermediate Level, Drake Cooper finished 5THOverall for Men, and Abi Pazderski finished 3rdfor Ladies and first-year shooter Ayden McKenzie finished 10th.
At the Rookie level, Marshall Kent finished 4thoverall, Grady McKenzie finished 5thand Lucas McKenzie finished 6th.
As you can see from all the strong finishes at the Intermediate and Rookie levels, the Juniors not only have a title to defend next year, but a dynasty in the making. Head Coach Zac Guerrettaz and Program Director Lee Summerford attribute their success to the excellent coach staff, dedicated families, and, most importantly, to the hard work, commitment and team spirit of their athletes.
