Information meeting on March 2
Staff Reports
SAFFORD – Safford High School (SHS) is excited to announce the launch of a new shotgun trap team through the renowned USA Clay Target League, led by dedicated coach Karen Rodriguez-Ragland. This initiative brings a safe, engaging, and competitive shooting sport to local students, joining a rapidly growing national program that emphasizes safety, fun, and skill development.
The USA Clay Target League, a nonprofit organization, is the nation’s leading provider of clay target shooting sports for secondary schools. It has seen tremendous growth, with more than 53,000 students participating nationwide in 2024 across trap, skeet, sporting clays, and other disciplines. While the sport thrives in the Midwest and East Coast with thousands of teams, Arizona currently has just a handful of active squads—making SHS’s new team a pioneering addition to the state’s lineup.
What sets this program apart is its unparalleled safety record: Since the league’s founding in 2008, there have been zero reported injuries to athletes, coaches, or spectators, even with millions of targets shot and hundreds of thousands of participants. Safety remains the top priority, with strict protocols in place.
Importantly, shotguns are never allowed on school property. All shooting occurs at approved off-site ranges. To participate, every student must complete two mandatory safety courses: one in-person range safety session led by Coach Rodriguez-Ragland, and a second option through hunter safety education or the league’s online USA Clay Target class.
The league operates on a straightforward, inclusive model. Teams compete in two 8-week seasons (spring and fall) and shoot at their local home ranges. Coaches like Rodriguez-Ragland upload scores to a national database, where results are compared online with other teams across the country. The season culminates in exciting state-level events, including Arizona’s state shoot in May at the prestigious Ben Avery Shooting Range in Phoenix—all shooters are invited to attend and compete.
Students provide their own shotguns, and established teams often fundraise or accept donations to cover the cost of ammunition and targets. As a brand-new program, SHS participants should plan to cover their child’s ammo expenses for the first season or two, though future fundraising efforts could help ease that burden.
This is a fantastic opportunity for students interested in marksmanship, outdoor activities, teamwork, and friendly competition in a highly supervised environment.
To learn more, interested students, parents, and community members are warmly invited to a parent information meeting hosted by coach Karen Rodriguez-Ragland on March 2 at 6 p.m. at the Susan Lindsey Technology Training Center (located just west of Lafe Nelson School in Safford).
Come out, ask questions, meet the coach, and discover how your student can join this exciting new team at SHS. Spots are open—help spread the word, and let’s build something great for our youth! For additional details on the USA Clay Target League, visit usaclaytarget.com.
