Pictured is Dylan Wheeler of the Waterloo Lead Heads, who took home top high overall male honors in sporting clays at the SCTM Illinois State Shoot in Sparta. (submitted photo)

The Waterloo Lead Heads youth shooting team competed at the Scholastic Clay Target Program Illinois State Shoot June 22-24 in Sparta. 

Dylan Wheeler took home high overall male honors with a 94 out of 100 in sporting clays, earning SCTP All-State Team honors. He will represent Illinois at the SCTP Nationals July 14-21 in Marengo, Ohio.

Wheeler led the sporting clays squad with Cody Elder and Ted Valentine that captured first place in the senior varsity division in Sparta. The doubles trap squad of Valentine, Nathan Cleary, Evan Johanning, Joey Swan and Peter Vogt also took first place in the senior varsity division.

The Lead Heads singles trap squad of Vogt, Valentine, Mason Koon, Swan and Elder placed fourth in the senior varsity division with Vogt taking home sixth place. 

Pictured with Waterloo Lead Heads head coach A.J. Wessel (center), from left, are SIYSSA Hall of Fame inductees Caroline Stratman and Brittany Mehner. (submitted photo)

The singles trap squad of Joe Ballhausen, Ben Valentine, Remy Heinen, Evan Johanning, Nathan Cleary placed sixth in the open division.

The Lead Heads skeet squad of Ted Valentine, Wheeler and Swan placed sixth in the senior varsity division.

Prior to the SCTP event, former Lead Heads Brittany Mehner and Caroline Stratman were inducted into the Southern Illinois Youth Sport Shooting Association Hall of Fame at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex Events Center on June 21.  

A few of Mehner’s accomplishments include top lady at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 state AIM shoot, top lady at the Illinois State SCTP shoot in 2013 and 2014, sixth place lady at the 2013 SCTP Nationals, member of the 2013 NRA All-Scholastic Team, member of the 2014 AIM Grand National Championships First Place Junior Class A, SIYSSA 2013-2014 season top lady and gold team member.

A few of Stratman’s accomplishments include top lady at the 2015 Illinois AIM State shoot, top junior lady at the AIM 2016 Grand National Championships, third place lady in the 2015 SCTP Nationals, SCTP Nationals JV fifth place, member of second place JV squad at the 2014 Illinois SCTP state shoot, member of the second place junior squad at the 2017 Illinois SCTP State shoot, SIYSSA Top Lady in 2015 and 2017, SIYSSA second place lady in 2014 and 2016 and SIYSAA sub junior gold team. 

Also this season, Lead Heads Ted Valentine, Koon, Swan, Cleary and Vogt placed fifth in the junior class at the Amateur Trap Shooting Academics, Integrity and Marksmanship Illinois State Trap Shoot held at Brittany Shooting Park.