By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — It’s not every day one gets to test one’s shooting acumen against a police officer. But that’s just what members of the Safford Clay Dogs trap shooting team did.
The Safford Clay Dogs made history this spring as the first shooting sports team at Safford High School, and on Wednesday, May 13, the young athletes hosted members of the Safford Police Department for a spirited afternoon of trap shooting and friendly competition at the local range.
The Clay Dogs, competing in the USA Clay Target League, fielded eight shooters against an equal number of SPD officers in a regular round of trap, followed by an exciting Annie Oakley finale. While the two teams finished the trap round nearly even, student JayCee Gable emerged victorious in the Annie Oakley, capping off a strong performance. Notably, Gable had never picked up a gun before joining the team this season.
Head coach Karen Ramirez-Ragland expressed pride in her team’s rapid progress.
“This is the first time Safford’s ever had a shooting team of any kind. So, it’s pretty exciting,” Ramirez-Ragland said. “We are part of the USA clay target team or league. And so there are six teams in Arizona so far. And we’re one of them.”
Safford Police Department Captain Tyler Cluff welcomed the invitation to participate, viewing the event as an opportunity for positive community engagement and youth development.
“We saw that they’re starting this team up and thought it’s a really good thing to teach these kids. They’re learning a ton about firearm safety,” Cluff said. “Any support we can do, we definitely want to be behind them… This falls right into [our community outreach]. Plus, it’s a ton of fun.”
Cluff added that the officers enjoyed the chance to interact with the students and learn alongside them.
The team’s structure differs from traditional high school sports. Athletes shoot a minimum of 50 rounds each week, with scores entered into an online database for comparison against other schools. A state championship meet brings the teams together in person.
“The kids are super excited to go to that, and we’re going to be meeting up with all the other teams from Arizona” on May 30, she added.
Despite limited resources — the team operates with just one trap house — the Clay Dogs have shown impressive results.
“These kids are super good. I’ve got three shooters that have never picked up a gun, and they are just as good as the rest of them,” Ramirez-Ragland noted. “We’re small… but comparing our scores to some of those other big schools, we’re going to be right in it for them. We’re going to be there ready to go.”
Strong community support has been key to the team’s launch. Members of the Gila Valley Trap Shooters, local adult enthusiasts, have volunteered extensively, providing one-on-one coaching on safety, gun handling, and shooting rhythm.
“Those gentlemen have fallen all over themselves to come and help these kids,” the coach said. “It’s been really awesome.”
Funding remains a challenge. Parents have covered most costs this inaugural season, as the team was not yet eligible for grants. Ramirez-Ragland is working with the school district to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to pursue larger grants and sustain the program moving forward. Local business sponsorships were not pursued due to the community’s existing support burdens.
The Arizona State High School Clay Target League State Tournaments, featuring both trap and skeet events, are scheduled for May 30 in Phoenix. The Clay Dogs will represent Safford as they compete against other teams in the state.
For more information on supporting the Safford Clay Dogs, contact Safford High School.
