It was the second time most of them had spoken in front of the Talbot County Board of Education to advocate for a Clay Target Shooting Team at Easton High. It's been a mission for most of them for most of the year. They came before the Board again on Wednesday, March 20, to ask to begin the process of creating a team at Easton High School.

A Clay Target Shooting Team would consist of students, male and female, competing against other teams across the state at a home clay target shooting range. Students would not necessarily have to travel to compete but could compete virtually. Queen Anne's County already has two teams, one from Queen Anne's County High School and one from Kent Island High School.

Clay Target Shooting is an up and coming sport in the United States. The USA Clay Target League is a nonprofit corporation and the nation’s leading independent provider of clay target shooting sports to secondary and postsecondary schools. The League’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.

Home - USA High School Clay Target League (usaclaytarget.com)

Larry Albright, owner of Albright's Gun Shop, advocated for the team stating that both boys and girls could compete. He noted the fact that it is a very safe sport. All participants have to pass a safety course and have parental permission.

Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble echoes Larry Albright's words and also mentioned that kids want to be a part of something with good people who support each other. They learn sportsmanship as well. He said that our youth need that now more than ever.

Austin Eader, a student at Easton High School, stated that he has collected the signatures of 191 students and 24 staff members in favor of having a clay target team.

For Eric Bridges, the quest for the team takes on a personal meaning as he does so in memory of his late son Grady. He reiterated that this would be a sport for those kids who may not be traditionally athletic as well as a wonderful opportunity for handicapped students. He also spoke about the support of such people as Talbot Rod & Gun Club President Joe Capozzoli.

Currently, the system is investigating how sponsoring the team might affect their insurance from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. MABE will meet at the end of April to decide the issue. Once the Talbot Board of Education has their decision, they will vote in May. Sarah Jones, the district's CFO, said the biggest concern right now is figuring out if the club could in any way jeopardize the district financially — particularly from a risk management perspective.