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Queen Anne’s County High School brought home the championship with a team total of 460, followed by Easton High School with a score of 439.

Shooting skeet throughout the morning, the three high schools also competed in a “War on the Shore� Trap Tournament for bragging rights in the afternoon, and students earned individual honors in their respective divisions.

Despite a morning downpour, “the kids persevered and conquered the weather adversities to finish up in the sunshine,� Queen Anne’s County High School Clay Target Team Head Coach Nathan Powell said.

“We are ecstatic with the performance of our student athletes, and the great competition from Easton and Kent Island. All of these student athletes are amazing young adults. The growth and expansion of our league continues across the Mid-Shore, and we look forward to competing with even more teams next year,� he said.

Kent Island High School was the first public high school in the state of Maryland to establish a skeet team. With Easton and Queen Anne’s recently established clubs, there were finally enough for a tournament, Kent Island Clay Target Team Head Coach Sean Connolly said.

Student athletes couldn’t be more excited to pit their skills against local schools, he said.

A non-traditional sport that focuses on hand eye coordination, clay target shooting is an inclusive, unique and growing outlet for kids who might not otherwise compete in sports, he said.

Coming in second overall for the championship was Easton High School, which also won first place in their conference during the Maryland State High School Clay Target League earlier this year, notable as the club is only in its first year, according to Head Coach Joe Cap.

“The fact that we’ve come this far is pretty exceptional,� he said, “Practice makes perfect, and the students put in a lot of hard work and a lot of hours. It’s very exciting and a long time coming.�

The sport has seen support and sponsorship from the local community, and the team also does a lot to pay that forward, according to Cap, including visiting county government departments, the sheriff’s office, and the Waterfowl Festival.

Seeking to expand youth shooting sports across Maryland, the skeet coaches are happy to help schools seeking to establish their own clubs.

“We have done a lot to grow this sport in a short time, and we aren’t done yet. Whoever has interest, we’ll help them out,� Connolly said.

“The more teams and the more kids we have, the better for everybody,� Cap said.