Goodrich High School

2011 SCTP Nationals, Sparta, Illinois

On July 16th 2011 the Goodrich Skeet Team Junior Varsity squad of Justin Broecker, Cameron Exel and Matt Kovarik took third place in the Scholastic Clay Target Program’s National Championship Competition in Sparta, IL.

Despite hot humid weather and over 1600 youth shooters from 45 different states, Justin Broecker placed third High Overall also, with a score of 193 out of 200! First and second place winners shot 194 each with the tie breaker going to the shooter with the longest run. “ He is my hero” said, Head Coach Darrell King, “ Not just because of this year’s accomplishment at Nationals, but because he never gave up on himself.”

King, went on to say, “ When Justin started in our program, he marked less than desirable scores. Some kids are naturals, some are quick to give up on themselves, but Justin worked very hard to get to where he is today! I use him as an example when I talk to other athletes about their work ethic.”

This year was Goodrich’s largest attendance at Sparta with 12 students competing in Skeet and Sporting Clays. King has high hopes for Justin including the Junior Olympic Development Camp in Colorado Springs, CO later this summer.

2011 brought forth 44 students to our roster. We have kinds in every division of the Scholastic Clay Target Program. From Rookies (5th Graders) up to (Varsity 12 Graders) We use the Todd Bender FUNDEMENTALS OF SKEET training program exclusively. We also have four members of our team taking a private lesson with Todd in July.

Darrell King presides as head coach, and has done so for 5 years now. Dan Droste is second in command with Club Members, Tom Holton, Mark Murphy, Ryan Broecker, Stephanie King, Kevin Stayton, Brent Stringer, John Seelbinder, Jim Holton, Jeff Stonerock, Mike Eickhoff, and Murray Hollingshead as our dedicated coaching staff. We have had 12 students break their first 25 straight and, 2 break their first 50 this season. A testament to our program. Darrell states, " The success of this team is the GREAT Volunteers!"
We operate on grants from the NRA, Safari Club, and Good Natured Bussinessmen of the community. We are currently the largest team in Michigan, perhaps in the Mid West!

We teach Saftey First along with character traits, that will serve them well not only in sports, but the rest of their lives. The "Win at all costs" mentality has NO place on our team. Winning by playing by the rules, with sportsmanship does.

COMMERCE TWP. — The Goodrich skeet team got a private lesson from Todd Bender, 16-time world champion at the Detroit Gun Club on July 12.

Bender, a 28-time First Team All- American, is the first shooter to record three back-to-back 400×400s and the only shooter to notch three perfect seasons with 1200×1200, 1550×1550 and 1600×1600. He also holds the highest average on record at 0.9972. Bender was named the first Master Instructor of the National Skeet Shooting Association and Honorary Fellow of England’s Institute of Clay Shooting Instructors. He’s recognized as the leading authority in shooting instruction and his DVD “Winning with the Fundamentals” continues to be the best selling instructional shooting video.

Darrell King, coach of the Goodrich skeet team noted, “When I took over the responsibility of head coach, there really wasn’t any structured, fundamentally sound program in place. I spent the off-season searching for one. I found the BEST. I found Todd Bender. I then embraced his methods as our training program.”

King continued, “After getting all of our coaches on board, we have done great things with our program, including winning the 2011 Championship High School Trophy. I was invited out on the field to observe the lessons and it was very rewarding as a coach to work alongside of him.”

Local businessman and Goodrich assistant coach Mark Murphy, was instrumental in putting the lesson together, says King. Murphy made the arrangements through Great Lakes Sporting Arms of Walled Lake. Bender, who happened to be in town for a tournament, agreed to the lessons for the lucky students.

“We learned a lot about the mechanics and geometry of shooting” said Audrey King, who shot 10 rounds of skeet with Bender. “I feel more confident now that he helped me with some eye dominancy issues.”

Justin Broecker, state champion in the junior varsity division said, “I was so excited about the lessons I didn’t sleep for two nights prior!”

Shane Holton, a senior at Goodrich, added that he was able to fine tune his game by Bender picking off slight inconsistencies in his shooting form. Grant Murphy noted that he feels he has an advantage heading into the national competition with a Bender lesson under his belt.

The Goodrich skeet team competed at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, IL on July 15, where three squads of skeet shooters and one squad of sporting clay shooters competed in the week long event.

“The kids are believers in their abilities now, we knew it as coaches, but now they believe,” said Murphy.