Harper Creek shooting club granted varsity status

Noe Hernandez | Battle Creek Enquirer

Austin Frey may not be the best baseball player in Harper Creek High School.

But he can shoot a shotgun better than most and that may be enough for the junior classman to earn a varsity letter next school year.

A letter in clay target shooting.

The Harper Creek Community Schools Board of Education granted varsity status to the Harper Creek Clay Target Club during its regular meeting on Monday, pending verification of liability insurance coverage for club coaches, players and volunteers.

"I feel like it's a good step in the next direction, gives us something to look forward to, get varsity letters now and be recognized in the school more," said Frey, who shoots a 12-gauge Remington 1100 competition semi-automatic shotgun in competitions.

The team will compete from March through June in the Southwest Conference of the Michigan Scholastic Clay Target Program and in state, regional and national competitions.

An athletic committee comprised of district and community leaders recommended the change after looking into the club's request for more than two months.

Superintendent Rob Ridgeway said the district is going to request that the club form a committee to oversee its endowed fund. Head Coach Kevin Hamilton said fund has a balance of $100,000, mostly from Midway USA, a retailer of hunting and shooting products and a strong supporter of the National Rifle Association.

Harper Creek will have general oversight of the finances "as we do for all of the organizations under the Harper Creek umbrella," Ridgeway said. Those details, he said, will be worked out with the club and the district's business manager.

"I was glad to see that administration put it back through our new revised process and system to see that it met our new standards, and I would congratulate them for becoming a varsity sport," board President Beau Bess said after the board meeting.

"Personally, I see no problem with it as they're a group that, just like any other potential course or any other sport, they can be taught good, solid gun safety and things of that nature," he added. "They have the right supervision in place and I don't see any issues with it."

Bess said will work with the Michigan High School Athletic Association to find out how other school districts manage this type of sport.

Fifteen of the club's 31 members attend Harper Creek High School. Sixteen other members attend Harper Creek Middle School, according to Jessica Hamilton, an assistant coach.

The 15 high school students will be eligible for varsity letters if they meet academic, student code of conduct and attendance standards for athletes.

Club members practice at the Centerline Gun Club in Bellevue. They did not ask the district for financial support, but board members mentioned the possibility.

Head Coach Kevin Hamilton teaches club members gun safety, teamwork, respect, responsibility and how to be good people. Club members are not allowed to bring their shotguns to school, he said when the club brought up the initial request in February.

Hamilton said he felt "pretty good" about the board's decision. He said club members and coaches each are covered by a $1 million insurance policy for accidents, negligence or other types of mishaps.

"It's something we've worked on together, between the board and us," he said. "It was a good process and the kids are going to be recognized finally for what their accomplishments are."

The club, which began with 10 members in 2013, won state championships in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

Contact Battle Creek Enquirer reporter Noe Hernandez at 269-966-0684 or nhernandez@battlecreekenquirer.com.