Alfred State College and Montcalm's Tanner Schmaus Win 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championship
Posted on: Nov 02, 2026
Bunker Hill, IL – Alfred State College (NY) captured the team title and Tanner Schmaus of Montcalm Community College (MI) took the individual crown at the 2026 USA College Clay Target League National Championship, held October 30th–November 1st at the Brittany Shooting Park outside of Bunker Hill, Illinois. The two-day trap competition featured 189 college athletes representing 25 colleges and universities from 10 states.
Schmaus shot a near-perfect 199 out of 200 targets to earn High Overall Individual honors, winning on a tiebreaker over Alfred State's Justin Jerome, who also shot 199. Alfred State posted a team score of 962 to win both the Overall and Gold team titles, edging Lake Land College (IL), which also shot 962, on a tiebreaker.
"Congratulations to Alfred State, Tanner Schmaus, and every athlete who competed this weekend," said John Nelson, President of the USA Clay Target League. "These students represented their schools with skill, sportsmanship, and a commitment to safety, and they showed why clay target shooting sports continue to grow on college campuses across America."
The National Championship was proudly sponsored by The 1791 Foundation, Do-All Outdoors, Ducks Unlimited, Winchester, SoundGear, SCHEELS, Walker's, Strike Visuals, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Friends of NRA.
Team Results
National Champions: Alfred State College (NY) – 962
Gold Class (Place - Winner - Score):
1st – Alfred State College (NY) – 962
2nd – Lake Land College (IL) – 962
3rd – Concordia College of Moorhead (MN) – 947
Silver Class:
1st – Bismarck State College (ND) – 914
2nd – Western Technical College (WI) – 903
3rd – Bethany Lutheran College (MN) – 896
Individual Results
National Champion: Tanner Schmaus, Montcalm Community College (MI) – 199
Gold Female (Place - Winner - Score):
1st – Morgan Jensen, University of Mary (ND) – 197
2nd – Gretchen Deaver, Valley City State University (ND) – 196
3rd – Cali Steffan, Valley City State University (ND) – 193
Gold Male:
1st – Tanner Schmaus, Montcalm Community College (MI) – 199
2nd – Justin Jerome, Alfred State College (NY) – 199
3rd – Collin Hewing, Lake Land College (IL) – 198
Silver Female:
1st – Reece Winebrinner, Illinois College (IL) – 183
2nd – Samantha Dean, McPherson College (KS) – 182
3rd – Cheyenne Terry, Finger Lakes Community College (NY) – 182
Silver Male:
1st – Seth Kuhnhenn, Bismarck State College (ND) – 191
2nd – Tyler Meyers, Bismarck State College (ND) – 188
3rd – Taylor Bates, Bethany Lutheran College (MN) – 187
Complete results are available here: https://bit.ly/2026USACTLCollegeNatChampResults
Photos and videos from the event are available on the USACCTL Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USACollegeClayTarget
About the USA Clay Target League
With over 57,000 participating athletes in 2026, the non-profit USA Clay Target League is America's largest clay target shooting organization. The League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, and 5-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country.
969 student athletes representing 89 college and university teams across the country participated in USA College Clay Target League programs this fall.
The League is the only 100% school-approved clay target shooting sport program in America. Every team must have school approval to participate. Most participating schools have lettering programs as well as yearbook inclusion for the teams. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are provided to qualifying seniors by the League and post-secondary institutions each year.
The League's co-ed and adaptive nature are key attractions to schools nationwide: it's fully Title IX compliant with both male and female athletes competing on the same team, and it's an 'adaptive' sport, which allows students with physical disabilities to take part.
The League's priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.
The League is the safest sport in school, with not one reported
injury since the inception of the League in 2001. Each athlete must
complete firearm safety certification before participation.
Visit college.usaclaytarget.com for more information.
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Media Contact: Drew Tri | Email: dtri@usaclaytarget.com