The five colleges of the Northeast Higher Education District - Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College and Vermilion Community College recently announced the formation of the Northeast Minnesota Intercollegiate Clay Target League, beginning in the fall of 2017.

Clay target, and specifically trap shooting, is practiced all over the world and is the fastest growing activity in the Minnesota State High School League, with over 10,000 students and more than 300 teams participating. The collegiate co-ed league is designed for all levels of skill, whether new to the sport or interested in continuing after high school. The goal is to create a competitive league that fits well with Minnesota’s longstanding outdoor traditions.

The five-college league will have a nine-week season with the competitions taking place at each college’s home shooting range. In addition to the home weekly competitions, there will be a mid-season event and a season-ending championship. At those two events, all of the colleges will meet at one site to compete against one another for individual and team titles.

Vermilion’s Trap Club advisor Wade Kilngsporn said that the Wingshooters Club has always drawn great interest from students, both male and female, as well as those new to the sport.