When Forest City Gun Club’s Juniors say “every shot counts,” it’s more than a mantra as the young shooters enter a competition.
Members of the Forest City Juniors pose with championship trophies during the awards ceremony after winning their seventh consecutive Scholastic Clay Target Program national championship in Marengo, Ohio. Forest City finished one target ahead of runner-up Pella Christian to secure the title. (Allana Strickland/Courtesy of Forest City Juniors)
It was the difference as the Forest City Juniors captured their seventh consecutive national championship instead of wondering what might have been.
Forest City’s total of 2,114 of 2,220 targets was one made shot better than the first runner-up and only five points higher than the fourth-place team in a tightly bunched finish last weekend at the Scholastic Clay Target Program national championships.
“It came down to the wire,” said Zac Guerrettaz, manager of the Savannah Gun Club and head coach since he and program director Lee Summerford created the Juniors in 2014.
Forest City Juniors shooters and coaches gather for a team meeting on the opening day of the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships in Marengo, Ohio. Forest City captured its seventh consecutive national championship, edging runner-up Pella Christian by one target. (Jon Kent/Courtesy of Forest City Juniors)
The Forest City Juniors had won the main event every year since 2020 when they took their turn Saturday at the final discipline, American trap, at Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio.
The competition, spread over eight days, staggered the schedule for 300-plus teams and 3,000-plus shooters. The Hunting Hills Hawkeyes from Pennsylvania completed their sporting clays, American skeet and trap sessions earlier in the week and were the leaders in the clubhouse, as it were.
McKenzie Shooting Sports was the new leader when the Tennessee team concluded its sessions. The Pella (Iowa) Christian Eagles and Forest City Juniors still had a chance to win after adding the combined team total of their trap shooters’ best five scores.
Pella Christian went first with a late Saturday morning start time, Forest City going in the afternoon.
“Pella went right before us and their score was actually up on Saturday right before we took the field, so we knew that it was going to be super, super tight,” Guerrettaz said.
“It wasn’t official until the last shot fired,” he added. “We knew we were in good contention and a good space as far as when we took the field. McKenzie’s score was already there. We needed to get there. When Pella Christian’s scores hit the results page, we knew where we needed to be.”
Pella Christian was atop the leaderboard with 2,113 points, which was Forest City’s winning total in 2025. The Eagles posted 537 of 600 in sporting clays, a stunning 598 of 600 in skeet and 978 of 1,000 in trap.
Guerrettaz noted Pella Christian’s team skeet score, consisting of two 200s and a 198.
“I think we’ve done 597, but we’ve never done 598. That’s world class right there,” he said. “Other than a Collegiate score, that 598 will probably be the highest skeet score for a very long time.”
Forest City’s shooters try to “keep the scoreboard watching to a minimum,” said Guerrettaz, leaving that duty to team officials such as him and Summerford. Parents, too, try not to communicate the point standings to their children during the event. There’s already enough pressure.
“You kind of put a doubt in your mind if you’re looking at the scoreboard, (that) you’ve got to hit a number,” Guerrettaz said. “It’s just human nature. A lot of times we fall short of our goals. You’re putting in this fake goal.
“The shot could be out of 200 and you see somebody shot a 192. Well, you’ve already shorted yourself eight targets, eight shots, by seeing you need to beat 192.”
As it turned out, Forest City needed a 192 individual score as part of a 974 aggregate in trap.
The Juniors had totaled 547 in sporting clays and 593 in skeet, which took the top three individual scores.
Mills Hollis (184), Chaz Palmer (183) and Emaline Haddad (180), who are Senior/Varsity Division shooters, were Forest City’s best in sporting clays.
Caleb Vo (199, Intermediate/Advanced), Riley Harbin (197, Senior/Junior Varsity) and Gavin Walmsley (197, Senior/Varsity) were the team’s top three in skeet.
In trap, team captain Hollis, a recent Benedictine graduate, followed his 97 on Day 1 with a perfect 100 on Day 2 for 197. Walmsley, Haddad and Palmer each posted 195.
The fifth scorer, with little room for error, got 192 to cement the national title. The SCTP went with the 192 of Matthew Boyer, a Senior/JV shooter, on its official results.
Forest City had plenty of insurance, as Senior/Varsity shooters Wesley Spencer, Lucas McKenzie and his sister Ayden McKenzie also notched 192.
“They should get just as much credit as anybody when it comes to that top five,” Guerrettaz said.
Forest City Juniors seniors, from left, Alex Ray, Mills Hollis, Gavin Walmsley, Landyn Fries, Emaline Haddad, Gracen Garceau and Ayden McKenzie pose during the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships in Marengo, Ohio. The senior class helped lead Forest City to its seventh consecutive national championship. (Allana Strickland/Courtesy of Forest City Juniors)
Forest City, which also won by one point in 2021, placed first with 2,114, followed by Pella Christian (2,113), McKenzie Shooting Sports (2,011), Hunting Hill (2,109) and Muddy Road Shooting Team (2,101) of Walton County, Ga.
There was plenty of credit to go around for Forest City, which also captured the national title in a side event, Make-A-Break. Guerrettaz said Forest City won this competition for the second time in four years, with all four finals against the Hunting Hill Hawkeyes.
Curt Jones, also a member of Georgia Southern’s shooting team, won the Collegiate Men High Overall Award (HOA) with 585 and the sporting clays with 191.
The head coach’s son, 11-year-old Mason Guerrettaz, placed third (494) among 32 competitors in the Rookie Men HOA, a division for fifth-graders and under. Guerrettaz is entering sixth grade at St. James Catholic School.
Haddad, a 2026 Savannah Christian graduate entering her first year on the Georgia Southern shooting team, placed third in the Senior Ladies HOA (564).
National titles went to Forest City’s Intermediate/Entry Level and Senior/JV squads while Ansley McIntosh (94) won the Senior/JV Ladies in doubles skeet.
Vo (188) captured Intermediate/Advanced and Reagan Tate (182) the Intermediate/Entry Level Ladies Division while FCS won the Senior/JV and Collegiate divisions in American skeet.
Mason Guerrattaz (151) became a national champion in Rookie while FCS took the Intermediate/Entry Level and Senior/JV and Collegiate crowns for sporting clays. He also placed first (76) in super sporting clays while FCJ won the Rookie and Senior /JV team crown in that discipline.
How the Forest City Juniors fared:
OVERALL HOA
MEN COLLEGIATE
1. Curt Jones, 585, 5. Jackson Ferland 580, 6. Chase Buerger 579, 7. Owen Haas 577, 29. James Daters 553, 30. Aiden Strickland 551
LADIES INTERMEDIATE
23. Reagan Tate 467, 24. Ellie Jones 462, 34. Camile Seibert 422
MEN INTERMEDIATE (top 100)
8. Caleb Vo 554, 13. Hunter Brigdon 544, 13. Mac Reardon 544, 15. Hunter Martin 543, 24. Wynn Palmer 533, 27. Sam Thorpe 532, 31. Deacon Fetterman 527, 74. Lucas Lockwood 504, 77. Hunter Vick 503, 98. Alden Shahien 483,
LADIES ROOKIE
5. Steele Joyner 277
MEN ROOKIE
3. Mason Guerrettaz 494, 14. Christopher Long 448, 24. Campbell Fetterman 403, 29. Kameron Woo 351
Forest City Juniors rookie shooter Mason Guerrettaz, 11, displays his medals and trophy after winning national titles in sporting clays and super sporting clays at the Scholastic Clay Target Program National Championships in Marengo, Ohio. (Allana Strickland/Courtesy of Forest City Juniors)
LADIES SENIOR (top 100)
3. Emaline Haddad 564, 10. Landyn Fries 553, 11. Ansley McIntosh 553, 18. Ayden McKenzie 545, 47. Gracen Garceau 524
MEN SENIOR (top 100)
5. Mills Hollis 576, 10. Chaz Palmer 572, 18. Gavin Walmsley 567, 47. Lucas McKenzie 559, 63. Riley Harbin 556, 82. Porter Wood 552, 83. Oliver Whelan 552, 88. Matthew Boyer 551, 97. Alex Ray 549
DOUBLES SKEET
ROOKIE
2. Forest City Juniors 230
4. Mason Guerrettaz 82, 6. Christopher Long 78, 9. Kameron Woo 70
LADIES ROOKIE
3. Steele Joyner 47
INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
1. Forest City Juniors 268
4. Hunter Brigdon 92, 6. Hunter Vick 90, 12. Alden Shahien 86
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
3. Forest City Juniors 273
6. Caleb Vo 93, 17. Deacon Fetterman 90, 18. Mac Reardon 90
SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
1. Forest City Juniors 280
6. Chip Klein 94 (first in ladies), Ansley McIntosh 94, 15. Riley Harbin 92
SENIOR/VARSITY
5. Forest City Juniors
25. Lucas McKenzie 95, 28. Chaz Palmer 95, (ninth in ladies) Ayden McKenzie 94
COLLEGIATE
2. Forest City Juniors
6. Owen Haas 98, 12. Curt Jones 97, 23. Aiden Strickland 95
5-STAND/SIDE EVENT
(All athletes)
5. Curt Jones 94, 6. James Daters 94, 9. Owen Haas 93, 36. Jackson Ferland 87, 56. Aiden Strickland 84
AMERICAN SKEET
ROOKIE
2. Forest City Juniors 510
4. Mason Guerrettaz 183, 13. Christopher Long 167, 22. Campbell Fetterman 160
INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
Forest City Juniors 568
2. Hunter Vick 192, 5. Hunter Brigdon 189, 9. Alden Shahien 187
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
Forest City Juniors 592
1. Caleb Vo 188, 4. Sam Thorpe 197, 5. Hunter Martin 196
SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
1. Forest City Juniors 585
3. Riley Harbin 197, (third in ladies) Ansley McIntosh 195, 17. Chip Klein 193
SENIOR/VARSITY
5. Forest City Juniors 590
27. Gavin Walmsley 197, 36. Gavin Kerby 197, 47. Porter Wood 196
COLLEGIATE
1. Forest City Juniors 596
3. Owen Haas 199, 5. Jackson Ferland 199, 8. Chase Buerger 198
LADIES ROOKIE
5. Steele Joyner 103
LADIES INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
1. Reagan Tate 182, 6. Ellie Jones 172, 12. Camille Seibert 155
LADIES SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
3. Ansley McIntosh 195
LADIES SENIOR/VARSITY
11. Ayden McKenzie 193, 17. Landyn Fries 192, 32. Emaline Haddad 189, 52. Gracen Garceau 186, 100. Nora Lynes 175
SPORTING CLAYS
ROOKIE
2. Forest City Juniors 406
1. Mason Guerrattaz 151, 14. Christopher Long 130, 19. Campbell Fetterman 125
INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
1. Forest City Juniors 479
2. Hunter Vick 169, 3. Hunter Brigdon 168, 24. Preston Willingham 142
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED
2. Forest City Juniors 503
7. Caleb Vo 171, 12. Deacon Fetterman 166, 13. Hunter Martin 166
SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
1. Forest City Juniors 514
13. Riley Harbin 174, 20. Matthew Boyer 171, 22. Jacob Butler 169
SENIOR/VARSITY
2. Forest City Juniors 547
10. Mills Hollis 184, 13. Chaz Palmer 183, (third in ladies) Emaline Haddad 180
COLLEGIATE
1. Forest City Juniors 563
1. Curt Jones 191, 3. Jackson Ferland 188, 8. Chase Buerger 184, 10. Owen Haas 184
LADIES ROOKIE
4. Steele Joyner 69
LADIES INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
5. Ellie Jones 132, 12. Camile Seibert 119, 15. Reagan Tate 118
LADIES SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
3. Ansley McIntosh 168
LADIES SENIOR/VARSITY
3. Emaline Haddad 180, 8. Landyn Fries 170, 28. Ayden McKenzie 160, 38. Gracen Garceau 154, 103. Nora Lynes 131
SUPER SPORTING CLAYS
ROOKIE
1. Forest City Juniors 192
1. Mason Guerrattaz 76, 8. Christopher Long 62, 11. Campbell Fetterman 54
SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
1. Forest City Juniors 268
5. Chip Klein 82 (second in ladies), Ansley McIntosh 90, 14. Archer Ritchie 86
SENIOR/VARSITY
3. Forest City Juniors 277
8. Mills Hollis 93, 11. Walker Peters 92, 12. Oliver Whelan 92
COLLEGIATE
2. Forest City Juniors 281
5. Jackson Ferland 95, 10. Owen Haas 94, 12. Curt Jones 92
LADIES SENIOR/VARSITY
4. Emaline Haddad 91, 8. Ayden McKenzie 86, 16. Landyn Fries 83, 31. Gracen Garceau 76, 65. Nora Lynes 57
AMERICAN TRAP
ROOKIE
8. Forest City Juniors 615
35. Mason Guerrattaz 160, 48. Christopher Long 161, 78. Campbell Fetterman 118, (ladies) Steele Joyner 105, 81. Kameron Woo 81
INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
3. Forest City Juniors 861
12. Hunter Brigdon 187, 25. August Ehly 181 (16th in ladies), Reagan Tate 167, 86. Jackson Timms 163, 89. Alden Shahien 163
INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED
8. Forest City Juniors 909
74. Wynn Palmer 186, 93. Caleb Vo 184, 102. Mac Reardon 183, 123. Hunter Martin 181, 164. Lucas Lockwood 175.
SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
3. Forest City Juniors 941
37. Matthew Boyer 192 (sixth in ladies), Ansley McIntosh 190, 58. Archer Ritchie 190, 98. Riley Harbin 185, 119. Raj Kamaleson 184.
SENIOR/VARSITY
6. FCJ 974
22. Mills Hollis 197, 70. Chaz Palmer 195, (12th in ladies) Emaline Haddad 195, 86. Gavin Walmsley 195, 184. Wesley Spencer 192. 193. Lucas McKenzie 192.
COLLEGIATE
3. FCJ 975
9. Chase Buerger 197, 14. Curt Jones 197, 28. Owen Haas 194, 39. Aiden Strickland 194, 45. Jackson Ferland 193
LADIES ROOKIE
11. Steele Joyner 105.
LADIES INTERMEDIATE/ENTRY LEVEL
16. Reagan Tate 167, 25. Ellie Jones 158, 36. Camille Seibert 148
LADIES SENIOR/JUNIOR VARSITY
6. Ansley McIntosh 190.
LADIES SENIOR/VARSITY
12. Emaline Haddad 195, 36. Ayden McKenzie 192, 38. Landyn Fries 191, 98. Gracen Garceau 184, 180. Nora Lynes 173
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