MONTICELLO - On June 12, the Monticello Trap Team participated in the 2021 NYS High School Clay Target League State Tournament. Due to restrictions, the tournament was held virtually, and Monticello shot at their home range at the Sullivan County Conservation Club. Nineteen of this season’s 25 rostered students participated on a beautiful spring day.

Students were divided into scoring categories based on their regular-season averages. Novice shooters have averages of 0-14.99. Junior-varsity level shooters are 15-18.99, and Varsity-level shooters average 19 and above.

Monticello’s Top Novice shooters during the state tournament (Male/Female) were Jake Hovis (86) and Cavan Leaney-Levenson (50). Top JV shooters were Dylan Price (87) and Holly McFarland (75). Top Varsity shooters were Michael Feltman (88) and Kaitlyn Miller (78). A special award from the state league was presented to Jake Hovis who was recognized for being the top novice shooter in all of New York State.

The league also took this opportunity to name the top regular-season athletes, with Monticello’s Kaitlyn Miller being singled out with a top 3 finish for female varsity-level shooters in Monticello’s conference.

Next up for the team was the National Tournament. With almost 30,000 participants this Spring season across 34 states, the USA Clay Target League kicked off the Nationals in Michigan in July for the top 3000 student athletes in the country competing in either “team” or “individual” categories. Six Monticello students qualified, with Michael Feltman and Caleb Hovis taking the trip there to compete in the individual matches.

Both put up very respectable scores, with Michael advancing to the final rounds. His scores of 24-25-23-23 in the qualifying round and 21-24-24-22 in a rain-soaked final round earned him a spot in the top 15% of the 1800 shooters participating in the “individual” category in the tournament.

Coach Jay Mendels couldn’t have been prouder of all of his team members this season. “We have a great group of students, involved parents, a dedicated home range and a supportive school board. We all work very hard to make sure everyone has a safe, fun experience here. To see the athletes truly enjoy what they are doing and excel as they have done really makes this all worthwhile”.