Clay Target Team Primed for Second Season

Cayuga Community College's Clay Target team launches its second season this weekend, and new Head Coach Shea Beachner is confident the team can take a step forward.

The Spartans return two players, Darwin Warner and Shawn Cornell, from a team that in the program's inaugural season finished 15^th in the national competition. The team begins competition Sunday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. at the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club.

This season also marks the first as head coach for Shea Beachner, who last season served as the Spartans' assistant coach. Beachner has coached Clay Target for six years at Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Central School District and is also the vice president for the Bridgeport Rod and Gun Club, which hosts the New York State tournament for high schools. She's organized the tournament for several years in that capacity. Lon Castor is now the assistant coach for Cayuga.

"I just like that this is a sport that involves everyone, that it's inclusive. Anyone can join this sport and thrive," said Beachner. "You're competing against other people, but you're also competing against yourself, to see how you can improve each time out. It also allows you to compete as a team, to build those relationships with your teammates. It makes everyone a part of something."

Beachner believes this year's team can compete in their conference, which features eight teams from different states. Jefferson Community College is the only other New York team in the Spartans' conference.

Cayuga returns experienced competitors in Cornell and Warner, both of whom had strong showings in the end-of-season national contest in 2022. Cornell earned 1^st High Gun Novice Male honors and tied for 1^st High Gun Novice Overall, and Warner tied for 4^th High Gun JV Male and 4^th High Gun JV Overall.

The first-year players on the team are Dylan Bull, Nolan Coningsby, Nathaniel Jansen and Kyle Wise.

"I think as a team we're strong," said Beachner. "Most of our team has shot competitively before, and the two new shooters are already showing a lot of improvement. My goal is to hone their skills, identify how they can improve and help them develop. I think we have a good chance of having an excellent team this year."

After the first competition on Sept. 24, the Spartans compete the first four Sundays of October before the national competition the first weekend of November. All competitions are at the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club.