The Savannah Christian Preparatory School (SCPS) Clay Sport team delivered another outstanding performance this past weekend at the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) Clay Sports State Championships held at the Forest City Gun Club. The Raiders competed against 49 teams and 570 athletes from across the state. SCPS finished third in the General Division in a shootoff against Benedictine (BC).
SCPS finished in a tie for 2nd place with BC in the General team division, leading to a tie-breaking shoot-off at dusk! The five shooters who contributed to their team scores had to compete in mini rounds of Sporting, Trap, and Doubles Skeet. It was a close contest, and both teams put up a strong fight; however, in the end, BC narrowly topped SCPS, resulting in their final standings of BC finishing 2nd and SCPS 3rd, respectively. Several SCPS members stood out, winning individual awards.
| General Team HOA | ||||
| PL | SCHOOL | TTL | ||
| 1 | Country Day | 1383 | ||
| 2 | Benedictine | 1366 | ||
| 3 | Savannah Christian | 1366 | ||
| 4 | Woodward | 1295 | ||
| 5 | Calvary | 1256 | ||
PHOTO: BC & SCPS GIAA Clay Sport Championship Shootoff Picture
Leading the way was senior Connor Daniel, who achieved the High Overall (HOA) award. Connor clinched 1st place in Sporting Clays and 2nd place in Skeet, earning him a well-deserved spot on the All-State Clay Target Team.
PHOTO: Connor Daniel SCPS - GIAA Boy's High Overall Winner
"This is Connor's first High Overall Award," SCPS Head Coach Connie Chambers said. "He was in shoot-offs in previous two years but never won the HOA until now. What stands out about Connor's skills is his consistency—just practice, practice, practice, and hard work. Connor has shot above 96% of his targets for the last four to five years."
Junior Holden Saxon also shot well, taking 1st place in Skeet and finishing 4th in the HOA standings. Saxon's performance earned him a spot on the All-State Clay Target Team alongside Daniel, as posted on the SCPS Athletics Facebook page.
PHOTO: All-State Award Winners
The Lady Raiders also showcased extraordinary talent. Junior Emaline Haddad was named Ladies HOA and secured 1st place in Ladies Trap and Ladies Sporting. She also finished 3rd in Overall Sporting and was named to the All-State Clay Target Team.
PHOTO: Emaline Haddad SCPS - GIAA Girl's High Overall Winner
"This is Emaline's second HOA award," Coach Chambers noted. "She won in 2022 as a fresman and was second last year. Emaline's dedication and consistency have been remarkable. She's been over 88% the last four years, and this year she was at 92%. It's about building that foundation and those fundamentals over time, just keeping the faith."
Junior Bailey Waldhauer claimed 1st place in Ladies Skeet, 2nd in Ladies Sporting, and 4th in Ladies HOA. Sophomore Sophie Otakie finished 5th in Ladies HOA and 4th in Ladies Trap, while sophomore Madison Perpinan placed 3rd in Ladies Sporting Clays.
"It's amazing to have so many of our Raiders on the podium," said Chambers. "Connor and Emaline both did really well representing us, but we had five other Raiders on the podium across all events. Having this many kids on the podium means the world, and with most of them coming back next year, we have a strong foundation and are very excited."
The team's future looks promising, with most of the top performers returning next season.
"Thankfully, we have a very small senior class graduating," Chambers said. "The majority of the team that were on the podium are coming back next year. Reflecting on the program's growth, Coach Chambers shared insights into its success.
"This is our seventh year, starting in 2018. I've been coaching for seven years, with five as head coach. I'm super excited about how strong we are, to be on the podium every year with kids winning HOA. It just shows our work ethic and consistency."
The Savannah Christian Prep Clay Shooting team's achievements at the state championships highlight their talent and dedication and set an encouraging tone for the seasons ahead as it has recently. With a strong foundation and a commitment to excellence, the Raiders are poised for continued success for years to come.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Jennifer Feathers Haddad
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