MCS Clay Target Team to Return for Second Season

MIDDLEBURGH - After a successful first season, the Middleburgh Central School clay target team will return for a second season this spring.

School board members agreed to the participation of eligible students from grades seven to 12 in the New York State High School Clay Target League for the 2025-26 school year.

The Middleburgh clay target team began the fall season with the lowest score among seven teams but by the last week of the season, the team had the highest.

Coach Carl Kochersberger updated the school board in November on the team's inaugural season. The team, which was approved by the school board last spring, held fall practices at the Middleburgh Rod and Gun Club on Monday nights and weekly shoots on Tuesdays. The team will start up again in the spring.

The team finished third in the conference, thanks in large part to coming on strong towards the end of the five-week season, Mr. Kochersberger said. In week one, they had the lowest weekly score of the seven teams in the conference. In week five, they had the highest weekly score in the conference.

He also noted, that the team had two athletes shoot rounds of 25 during the season. Connor Sells shot the first 25. Thomas VanWagenen shot the second 25. That was part of a 49/50, which tied him for the highest score in the conference during week five.

In addition to coming in third in the conference, the team had some impressive individual awards:

* Elizabeth Echtner finished as the #3 female in the conference.

* Thomas VanWagenen finished as the #10 male.

* Kalynn Layton finished as the #14 female.

* Nicholas Smith finished as the #23 male.

* Leo VanValkenburgh, their youngest, newest shooter. He has a season average of 7/25.

The teams in the conference do not travel and hold their shoots at local rod and gun clubs.

The team's 18 members also included homeschoolers, and members from other schools including Gilboa-Conesville, Greenville, and Schoharie.

In the spring, members can qualify for state and nationals.

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In other action, board members last week:

* Named two coaches named for the spring season: Kyle Britton as assistant coach for the modified baseball team and Morgan Schafroth as assistant coach for the modified softball team.

* Added the following support staff substitutes: Katherine Hagan and Leann Strand.

Rescinded the June 12, 2024 appointment of Cyrus Rivet as eSports advisor, effective September 1, 2024.

* Accepted the resignation of Mikayla Misenhimer as Music of the Knight advisor, effective February 12.

* Appointed the following extracurricular advisors: Nicholas Follett, Music of the Knight, effective February 12, Maria McGrail and Lillia Barsale, Odyssey of the Mind co-head coach, effective September 1, Paul Pierce and Jessica Schoenecker, co-eSports, effective January 24, Justin Hamm, Little Knights basketball, boys, January 18, and Nicole Dunn, Little Knights basketball, girls, January 18.

* Approved a four-year four-year probationary appointment doer Kyle Britton as a teaching assistant.

* Approved a change in title for Robyn Bhend from school business manager to school business administrator, effective February 8. The board approved a four-year probationary appointment from February 8, 2025 to February 7, 2029.