ACESA team, not just a few top shooters
ACES is a youth shotgun sports team registered with the Scholastic Clay Target Program, made up of students and families from around Aitkin County. Our shooters range from first-year beginners to experienced varsity athletes, and they practice, travel and compete together. Many also shoot for their school's High School Clay Target League team or with 4-H.
Safety first, always
Safe gun handling and range rules come before anything else, at every practice and every competition.
Every shooter counts
We measure ourselves by how the whole team does, so the newest shooter's improvement matters as much as the best shooter's score.
Grow at your own pace
Beginners learn the basics with coaching and patience. Experienced shooters get the competition and training to keep improving.
What is SCTP?
The Scholastic Clay Target Program is a national youth shooting program run by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF). Teams across the country practice and compete in clay target shooting, and athletes are grouped by grade so they compete against shooters their own age.
| Division | Who shoots in it |
|---|---|
| Rookie | 5th grade and under |
| Intermediate | Middle school. Entry Level is for newer shooters; Advanced is for those with experience. |
| Senior | High school, grades 9–12, in Junior Varsity or Varsity. |
ACES takes shooters in grades 5–12. SCTP sets the exact division rules each year, and our coaches help each athlete get placed correctly.
What we shoot
Trap, skeet and sporting clays are the main events. Our shooters also compete in 5-stand, Make-A-Break, skeet doubles, trap doubles, trap yardage (handicap) and super sporting.
Where it leads
The season builds toward the Minnesota SCTP state shoots in spring and SCTP Nationals each July at the Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio: six days of trap, skeet, sporting clays, super sporting, trap yardage and doubles. Nationals also hosts Last Competitor Standing, where 700+ kids shoot trap from the 27-yard line until one is left.
Coaching the whole team
Clay target shooting rewards patience, focus and practice. Here's what families can expect from ACES.
Safety is taught first
New shooters learn safe handling, range commands and etiquette before they compete. Eye and ear protection are required for everyone on the line.
Practice fits the athlete
Practices are broken up so each athlete works on what they need most. Beginners build stance, gun mount and target follow-through; experienced shooters fine-tune their game.
Gun fit, all season long
Every year starts with a gun fit for each athlete. Kids grow and change a lot during a season, so we keep checking fit all year. A gun that fits is safer, more comfortable and easier to shoot well.
More reps, lower costs
We use ShotKam cameras, ShotTracker and virtual reality training so athletes can see exactly what happened on each shot and get extra repetitions without the cost of more shells and targets.
Families are part of the team
Parents and guardians are welcome at practices and shoots. Many help with travel, scoring and keeping things running.
Works alongside other teams
Already shooting for a High School Clay Target League team or with 4-H? Many of our shooters do both. More rounds means more coaching and more competition.
We built our own way to measure a team
Most team scores add up the top few shooters. The ACES Score, created by our team, looks at every shooter's scores, so a team gets better when its newest shooters improve. We publish rankings for teams across the country.
Start any time
New shooters can join ACES at any point in the year. There's no tryout and no waiting for a new season: reach out, and we'll get your shooter to the next practice at our home range, the Wealthwood Rod & Gun Club.
What you need to know
- WhoStudents in grades 5–12, from complete beginners to experienced shooters
- WhenJoin any time of year. Spring: Sunday afternoons from 3 pm. Summer: Mondays, come any time 4–8 pm.
- WhereWealthwood Rod & Gun Club
- Cost$35 SCTP registration fee
- Sign upEmail the team and we'll take it from there
Built around each athlete
We don't run one practice for everyone. Coaches break practice up so each athlete works on what they need most.
It starts with a gun fit, checked again through the season as athletes grow. From there, a brand-new shooter spends time on safety and the fundamentals, while an experienced shooter might focus on a tough target, a weak discipline, or getting ready for Nationals. ShotKam video, ShotTracker and virtual reality reps help everyone improve faster. Everyone practices together as a team, at their own level.
The season at a glance
Each year follows a similar pattern. Dates shown are from 2026; email us for the coming season's schedule.
- March–April
Spring practices
Sunday afternoon practices starting at 3 pm, to get ready for the spring state shoots. New shooters are welcome to start here or any time later in the year.
Wealthwood Rod & Gun Club
- April
MN SCTP State Shoot: trap and skeet
100 targets of trap one day and 100 of skeet the next. Shooters can enter one event or both. (2026: April 18–19)
Minneapolis Gun Club
- May
Day of Clays and the ACES Open
Day of Clays is a 100-target sporting clays fundraiser shoot. The ACES Open doubles as the MN SCTP State Sporting Clays Shoot, with trap, skeet and sporting clays. (2026: May 2 and May 30–31)
Rice Creek sporting clays · Wealthwood Rod & Gun Club
- June–August
Summer practices
Mondays from early June through late August. The range is open to the team from 4 to 8 pm, so shooters can come any time in that window. Shooters heading to Nationals also practice Fridays, same hours, from June into July.
Wealthwood Rod & Gun Club
- July
SCTP National Championships
Six days of trap, skeet, sporting clays, super sporting, trap yardage and doubles, plus Last Competitor Standing. (2026: July 13–18)
Cardinal Shooting Center, Marengo, Ohio
- September
Annual ACES Shootoff
Our two-day community shoot, open to all ages and skill levels. It's a fun day on the range that helps support the team. (2026: the 4th annual, September 19–20)
Wealthwood Rod & Gun Club
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need experience?
No. Many of our shooters started with ACES having never shot before, and new shooters can start any time of year. Coaches start with safety and the basics and go at each athlete's pace.
What ages can join?
ACES is for students in grades 5–12. SCTP groups athletes into divisions by grade, and our coaches help place each shooter.
Where do you practice?
Our home range is the Wealthwood Rod & Gun Club. Spring and summer practices, the ACES Open and the ACES Shootoff are all held there.
Is it safe?
Safety is the first thing we teach and the first rule at every practice and competition. Shooters follow strict range rules under adult supervision, and eye and ear protection are required.
Do we need to buy a shotgun right away?
Please talk to us before buying anything. Every athlete gets a gun fit with our coaches, and because kids grow so much, we keep checking fit through the season. We'll help you find the right gun and explain what equipment is needed to get started.
What does it cost?
Joining ACES starts with a $35 SCTP registration fee. Other costs, like shells and event entry fees, depend on how much a shooter competes. We keep costs down by using ShotKam, ShotTracker and virtual reality training for extra reps. Email us and we'll walk you through a typical season.
When are practices?
Spring practices are Sunday afternoons starting at 3 pm, late March through April. Summer practices are Mondays, June through August: come any time between 4 and 8 pm. Shooters heading to Nationals also practice Fridays during the same hours. See the schedule above for a typical year.
Can my child shoot for ACES and another team?
Yes. Many of our shooters also shoot for their school's High School Clay Target League team or with 4-H. More rounds means more coaching and more competition.
Help keep our shooters on the line
ACES has a team endowment with the MidwayUSA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity that supports youth shooting sports. Every donation grows our endowment, which pays the team a cash grant every year, and gifts are eligible to be matched.
Donations help keep the sport affordable for every family. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Opens the ACES team page on the MidwayUSA Foundation site. Team ID: R22368.
Their sweepstakes calendar also supports ACES: each one is a $50 donation to our team and an entry in their 52-gun giveaway.
We're always looking for new shooters
If your student is curious about trap, skeet or sporting clays, reach out. We're happy to answer questions, invite you to a practice and help you get started.