If you play a high school spring sport, it is a tremendous honor to be playing in early June. To be playing in the final month of the school year means you’ve found enough success to compete at the State level and beyond. Or perhaps, even the National level. For brothers Garrett and Ryan Wines, those dreams have become reality and along the way, they have set a standard for a new opportunity for students.
The brothers are part of the brand new Camden Clay Target Team, which recently wrapped up its first season. The team competed in weekly regular season competition at its home base, the Camden Rod and Gun Club, where they posted weekly scores in Class 2A, Conference 2 of the New York State High School Clay Target League. The team placed seventh in the overall standings. Garrett was the team’s top shot with a scoring average of 21.10.
For Garrett and Ryan, the season went further than that of their teammates. The pair moved on to the New York State Championship in nearby Bridgeport. At the Varsity level, Garrett tied for 78th in the state with a score of 85. At the Junior Varsity level, Ryan received a score of 41. Together, they became the first athletes in the program to contest a state high school championship in shooting sports.
Garrett wasn’t done making history for the program. A few short weeks after receiving his high school diploma, the newly minted graduate had one final order of business for the Blue Devils: Competing in the National Championships. The US High School Clay Target League National Championship was held from July 10th to July 14th in Mason, Michigan. Over 1,400 boys from across the country came to show their skills. Garrett recorded a score of 84 against a very challenging field, placing 1,302nd in the nation.
Congratulations, gentlemen!