This year’s Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) National Championships were held at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, from July 9-20. The event once again broke participation and attendance records in 2024, making it one of the largest shoots in the nation.
SASP Nationals
One of two competition shooting programs offered by SSSF, the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) provides student-athletes aged elementary through college with an opportunity to compete in action shooting using .22 rifles, .22 handguns, pistol-caliber carbines and centerfire handguns. They can also compete in 10 meter air rifle, 10 meter air pistol and sport pistol events.
This summer, 677 athletes from 23 states competed in the 2024 SASP Nationals. According to Tom Davis, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation’s marketing and communications manager, these young competitors shot 2,602 entries, which is a new world record for entries in an action or steel match. Of those competitors, 31% were women, an indicator of how the action-shooting sports are growing among young women competitors.
“Action-shooting sports offer a wide variety of disciplines to take on. I think what really attracts youth athletes to this program is the easy-to-understand format, social team dynamic and the opportunity to become a champion in several different categories,” Davis said.
Team Spirit
SASP team members wear custom shirts and hats emblazoned with their names, along with their team’s name or logo and the logos of their sponsors. They proudly fly flags with their team logos along with state and American flags on their ATVs, golf carts and pop-up tents on the grounds.
The opening ceremony is an opportunity for the shooters, coaches and families to celebrate. A “parade of states” is held where the student-athletes parade in front of the grandstands, proudly wearing their team apparel and waving their state and team flags.
Vendor buildings at the Cardinal Center are open throughout the event and several vendors set up tents and trailers where they show their products and offer services to shooters. Many major gun, ammunition, hearing, eyewear and apparel manufacturers use this opportunity to support the student-athletes and to promote their products to thousands of potential buyers. The National Rifle Association of America also had a building at the 2024 SASP National Championships.
In addition, vendors set up tents near the rifle and pistol shooting bays at the Cardinal Shooting Center to display their wares. Multiple gun companies also offer shooters (and family members) an opportunity to try out their guns at special shooting bays near the competition area.
Side Events
Besides the scheduled SASP matches, several organizations offered fun side events that are optional for the young competitors. The MidwayUSA Foundation held an actionshooting contest fundraiser with daily prizes awarded to top men and women competitors in both rifle and pistol competitions. Not only that, members of Team Ruger conducted a shooting demonstration which featured team members who are current or alumni SASP athletes. Sponsored athletes Annie Unsell, Abby Jackley, Kaleb Klein and Connor Knapp worked with young shooters at the event.
Tippmann Arms held a side match with the winner for the fastest time receiving a Tippman Arms rifle. Plus, Team Glock held a special demo featuring Morgan Leonhardt, the youngest USPSA National Champion and a former IPSC World Champion.
Additionally, the SASP held a demo of Olympic Sport Pistol competition at the 2024 National Championships. All entries in this side match were submitted into a drawing for a free Ruger pistol. No equipment was needed, as SASP provided pistols, while ammunition was donated by Federal and CCI.
A College Day was held on Friday afternoon at the SASP Nationals. Representatives from 20 colleges and universities located across the country set up tables and provided information about their respective shooting programs to hundreds of shooters and their parents.
A Life-Changing Sport
There is no doubt that participation in action-shooting sports has a positive impact on the lives of these young competitors.
Davis explained: “As an organization, we know that participation in shooting sports, and most importantly the team-based aspect of our programs, gives growth for youth that goes far beyond what the scores can tell you. We see it time and time again, hearing the stories of how lives changed for the better.”
He documents all the activities at the SSSF National Championships and shares the excitement through photos and videos that he posts on social media and YouTube.
“As Marketing Manager, I’ve focused on sharing these stories. Our new athlete video series can be found on the SSSF YouTube page and many of these stories will make you cry and smile. It makes all the hard work worth it, knowing that our programs have made a positive difference for a young person’s future,” Davis said.
One of the SASP athletes who has personally been impacted by participation in the program is Abby Jackley. Hailing from Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Jackley has shot for an SASP team, the Wilmot Union High School Panther Pistol Team for several years.
In 2023, she graduated from Central High School in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin, and has since been working on an associate’s degree in marketing. She continues to shoot for the Wilmot team as a collegiate athlete. She also competes in Steel Challenge, Rimfire Challenge and USPSA matches as an individual.
This year at the SASP National Championships, Jackley finished as Ladies Collegiate Champion in nine different events.
Not only that, she completed the SASP coaching course and assists the Wilmot Panthers as a coach as well as competing in events as a team member. Jackley is also a member of Team Ruger as a sponsored junior team (under-21) member. “I shoot for them as well as attend trade shows and events as part of their pro shooting team,” she explained.
SASP competition shooting has made a major impact on Jackley’s life.
“Participating in SASP has made the biggest difference in my life and shooting career,” she said. “It gave me so much confidence in gun handling skills and opened the door to so much more in the shooting sports. SASP is a great community—I’ve made many friendships across the country.”
Jackley said she hopes to have a career working in the shooting industry in the future. “I also plan to continue being part of Team Ruger and help coach my SASP team,” she added.
She feels that other young people could benefit from participating in the SASP program.
“I would recommend SASP to any young athlete that is interested in shooting and learning how to confidently handle a firearm. SASP teaches good firearm safety, a fun way to make new friends, and positive team learning environment for athletes of all abilities and any age that can confidently handle a firearm,” she said.
Kaleb Klein, from Dysart, Iowa, is also a member of Team Ruger as a sponsored shooter. Currently a student at Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee, Klein is a member of Bethel’s action-shooting team. He has also competed in the SASP for many years as a member of the Iowa Dead Shots team.
Klein enjoys going to events and shooting as a member of Team Ruger and representing Bethel University. He credits the SASP program as having a major impact in his life.
“Due to this sport, I get to spend my free time traveling with my family. SASP also opened the door for me to work with Ruger and obtain a scholarship to Bethel University,” he said.
A biology major at Bethel, Klein is also pursuing a minor in criminal justice. He wants to have a career in a state department of natural resources after completing his degree.
Like Jackley, Klein encourages young people to experience the thrill of SASP competition and the shooting sports.
“I would absolutely recommend SASP to young people, because it teaches discipline, respect and dedication to everyone who competes. This gives young people lifelong skills, and lessons that apply to their future,” he said.
Participation in SASP competition shooting programs is helping young people grow into responsible adults who have an appreciation for firearms ownership and safety. These positive influences will benefit all gun owners in the future.
About SSSF
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation manages two youth development programs: the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). Adult coaches and volunteers use shooting sports to teach and demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, teamwork and other positive life skills.
SSSF competitions are different from other shooting sports in several ways. Men and women compete against each other and everyone on the team is afforded the opportunity to compete. These are team-based shooting sports where there is no such thing as being “benched,” offering a truly level playing field to all.
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