Transylvania to offer unique, increasingly popular clay targets club sport

Transylvania University is launching a new clay targets club sport this fall in response to its growing popularity and student interest.

Potential members can learn more at an info meeting Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Campus Center's Pioneer Room A. Tryouts for the team are scheduled for early October with competition against other colleges beginning late this year or early 2025.

The team, who'll be part of the ACUI Clay Targets program, will practice at Blue Grass Sportsmen's League in Wilmore.

"We're excited about this opportunity given the rise in clay target teams at Kentucky and area high schools and thought it was something unique that we could offer Transylvania students," said Michael Covert, vice president for student life and dean of students. He doesn't know of any other private college in the state offering it as a club sport.

Transylvania's squad will compete in three types of shooting: trap, skeet and sporting clays. Also, members will follow strict rules storing all firearms and ammunition in a Bluegrass Sportsmen's League vault.

Having the club sport available to Pioneers will likely appeal to prospective students. Area teams in the Kentucky State High School Clay Target League include Lexington Catholic and Jessamine County.

Students are increasingly looking to continue the activity after high school. "As the popularity of shooting sports programs on college campuses has grown, so has participation in the ACUI Clay Targets events," according to the organization. "The ACUI Clay Targets program strives to produce efficient, fun and friendly competitions for collegiate student-athletes."