Governor Dayton to Visit Trapshooting Championship in Alexandria, Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, Minn., June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Mark Dayton is scheduled to attend the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League's 2014 Championship for the opening ceremonies on Friday, June 6, 2014 at 8 a.m. at the Alexandria Shooting Park in Alexandria, Minnesota.

In all, 3,948 registered student athletes are scheduled to participate in the Championship, June 6-10 making this event the largest youth trapshooting tournament in the world. For five days, student athletes representing 176 Minnesota high schools will compete for individual and team achievements in Novice, Junior Varsity and Varsity classifications.

"I congratulate the thousands of young Minnesotans who are pioneering this new high school sport, and thank the many coaches, parents, and school officials who help provide these opportunities to learn and compete," said Governor Dayton, who is a lifelong outdoorsman and hunter. "I look forward to meeting these student athletes, and watching them compete in Alexandria."

Governor Dayton and the Legislature recently approved more than $2 million in trap shooting sports facility cost-share grants to develop or rehabilitate public facilities to provide preference to projects that will provide the most opportunities for youth.

"With 6,100 student athletes representing 185 high school teams in the spring league, trapshooting continues to be Minnesota's fastest-growing and safest high school sport," said Jim Sable, Executive Director of the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League. "Everyone associated with the League greatly appreciate Governor Dayton's recognition and support. With the number of schools and student athletes expected to increase again next year, shooting facilities will need to add more capacity to accommodate these kids."

The USA High School Clay Target League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and operates the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League as the independent provider of shooting sports as the only extracurricular co-ed and adapted activity for high schools and students in grades six through 12 who have earned their firearms safety certification. The organization's priorities are safety, fun and marksmanship – in that order.

For more information about the Championship, visit www.mnclaytarget.com/championship 
Contact: John Nelson at 612-490-1388 or [email protected]

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SOURCE Minnesota State High School Clay Target League