John Calandro III joins Shoot From the Hoop to discuss the current state and future of FITASC and sporting clays in the United States and around the world.

As Chairman of the NSCA and a member of the FITASC International Committee, John provides a unique perspective on the growth of the sport, international competition, rules, governance, and the opportunities and challenges facing shooters today.

Topics include:

• The future of FITASC in the United States
• Growth of international sporting clays competition
• NSCA initiatives and priorities
• The relationship between the NSCA and FITASC
• Rule changes, target setting, and shooter experience
• What’s ahead for the sport

Whether you’re a weekend shooter or an international competitor, this conversation offers valuable insight into where the sport is headed from one of its key leaders.

Fresh off his gold medal performance at the 48th FITASC World Championships in Portugal, Brian DuQuesnay joins Shoot From the Hoop to reflect on an unforgettable week of competition.

Brian DuQuesnay is one of the most accomplished American FITASC and sporting clays competitors of the last two decades. He’s particularly respected for his consistency on the international stage and is known as a calm, technically disciplined shooter.

Some highlights:

• 🥇 Two-time FITASC World Champion
   
  • 2013 – Won the Senior World Championship in Spain. 
  • 2026 – Won the Master category at the 48th FITASC World Championship in Portugal, adding a second world title in a different age division. 

Longtime Team USA member, representing the United States in numerous FITASC World Championships and international Grand Prix events. 

• 🏆 Multiple-time NSCA All-American and frequent member of U.S. national teams in the Veteran and Super Veteran categories. 
• 🎯 Known for exceptional target-reading ability, smooth gun movement, and performing well under pressure.

In this episode of Shoot From the Hoop, Jeff Jensen reviews the 48th World FITASC Championship, held July 16–19, 2026, at Vale das Pedras in Portugal.

The championship featured 800 competitors from around the world competing over 200 targets across eight parcours during four days of competition. Targets were designed by renowned setter Jaime Peckham, providing competitors with a challenging and memorable World Championship test.

One of the unique aspects of this year’s event was the random squad assignment, allowing shooters to compete alongside athletes from many different countries and creating a truly international experience throughout the tournament.

Congratulations to the Champions

● World Champion: Tom Seay – Gold Medal (187)

● Silver Medal: Bastien Havard (won a shoot-off)

● Bronze Medal: Derrick Mein

Women’s Division

Congratulations to Cheryl Hall, who captured the Women’s World Championship after an exciting shoot-off with Desirai Edmonds, who earned the silver medal.

Other Notable Performances

● Brian DuQuesnay earned Master Class Champion honors. Brian previously won the Senior World Championship in Spain in 2013, making this another impressive accomplishment.

● Congratulations also to Todd Kemmerer, who captured the Senior Division Bronze Medal after a shoot-off.

Team USA

The United States turned in an outstanding performance across multiple divisions, with American shooters earning podium finishes and representing Team USA exceptionally well throughout the championship. Congratulations to everyone who made the trip and competed on the world stage.

Discussion Topics

Jeff also shares his observations from competing in Portugal, including:

● The quality and variety of Jaime Peckham’s target presentations.

● The atmosphere created by randomized international squads.

● Lessons learned from shooting one of the world’s premier FITASC events.

● A thoughtful discussion regarding referee score-calling, including some situations that created confusion during the championship.

● Constructive ideas for improving score communication and verification to help ensure every competitor’s score is recorded accurately while maintaining the integrity of the sport.

Whether you competed in Portugal or simply want to hear what it’s like to shoot one of the biggest FITASC events in the world, this episode provides an inside look at the competition

In this episode of Shoot From the Hoop, host Jeff Jensen welcomes Arizona sporting clays competitor Matt Boswell for a conversation about dedication, consistency, and competing at a high level while balancing family and career.

A father of three, Matt discusses how he manages to shoot approximately 8,000 registered targets each year, competing virtually every week throughout Arizona’s shooting season from September through May. His commitment to continual improvement and his passion for the sport have made him a familiar face on courses across the Southwest.

Episode Highlights
• Matt’s journey into competitive sporting clays.
• Balancing family life with an active tournament schedule.
• Why shooting weekly has been instrumental in his development as a competitor.
• His approach to practice, tournament preparation, and maintaining consistency.
• Shooting as a member of Caesar Guerini’s shooting team and what he values in his equipment.
• Winning the prestigious Phoenix 200, one of Arizona’s premier sporting clays events.
• The importance of the Arizona sporting clays community and the friendships built through competition.
• Advice for new shooters looking to improve and enjoy the sport for years to come.
Key Takeaways
• Improvement comes from consistent competition and purposeful practice.
• Success is built over thousands of targets, not a single tournament.
• Family support makes competing at a high level possible.
• Confidence grows through preparation, experience, and trusting your process.
• The sporting clays community is one of the sport’s greatest strengths.

Whether you’re an experienced tournament shooter or just getting started, Matt’s story highlights the dedication, discipline, and enjoyment that make sporting clays such a rewarding pursuit.

Be sure to subscribe to Shoot From the Hoop for more conversations with the top competitors, coaches, and ambassadors in FITASC and sporting clays.

This week on Shoot From The Hoop, host Jeff Jensen sits down with one of Arizona’s true sporting clays pioneers—Aaron Aslanian.

A six-time Arizona State Champion, Zone 7 Champion, and the first Master Class shooter in Arizona, Aaron has been part of the sport’s evolution for decades. He shares stories from the early days of sporting clays in Arizona, reflects on how the game has changed, and discusses the lessons he’s learned through years of competition.

Topics include:
• Aaron’s journey to becoming one of Arizona’s most accomplished sporting clays competitors.
• Winning six Arizona State Championships and a Zone 7 Championship.
• What it meant to become Arizona’s first Master Class shooter.
• The history and growth of sporting clays in Arizona.
• His decision to transition to a semi-automatic shotgun and why it has worked for him.
• Developing a consistent approach to every target presentation.
• The importance of the mental game and maintaining confidence under pressure.
• How experience shapes target management, decision-making, and shot execution.
• Advice for shooters looking to improve, regardless of classification.
• Memorable stories from decades of competition and friendships built through the sport.
Whether you’re new to sporting clays or have been competing for years, Aaron’s perspective offers timeless insights into preparation, consistency, equipment choices, and the mindset required for long-term success.
Thanks for listening to Shoot From The Hoop—your source for all things FITASC and Sporting Clays.

Shoot From the Hoop – North American FITASC Championship Recap
The North American FITASC Championship was held June 17–22, 2026, at Big Red Oak Plantation, one of the premier sporting clays destinations in the country.
As the final FITASC World Cup qualifying event held in the United States this season, the tournament attracted many of the nation’s top FITASC competitors and served as an important tune-up ahead of the World Championships later this summer.
Open Championship
🏆 Tom Seay captured the North American FITASC title with an outstanding 187/200.
A tightly contested race followed:
• Tom Seay – 187
• Brad Kidd Jr. – 185
• Carson Lingle – 185
• Will Fennell – 185
With only two targets separating first through fourth place, the event showcased the remarkable depth of talent currently competing in American FITASC.
Ladies Championship
🏆 Shelby Moon led the Ladies division with an impressive 178/200.
Top Ladies results:
• Shelby Moon – 178
• Desirai Edmunds – 171
Event Takeaways
• Final U.S.-based FITASC World Cup event of 2026.
• Exceptional participation from many of America’s top FITASC shooters.
• Challenging but fair target presentations rewarded disciplined execution.
• Beautiful weather and outstanding hospitality highlighted the week.
• Big Red Oak Plantation once again demonstrated why it is considered one of the premier FITASC venues in North America.

See you on the course, and thanks for listening to Shoot From the Hoop – All Things FITASC and Sporting Clays. 🎙️🏆

A Shoot Review from the Southeast Regional, held June 3-7 at Qual Creek Sporting Ranch. Discussion from a "Peak Shooter Experience" perspecive.

Particular discussion on FITASC and the Main Event.  Enjoy!

2026 Freedom Cup & FITASC U.S. Grand Prix Shoot Review
Pine Ridge Farm | Indian Mound (Clarksville), Tennessee
May 20–24, 2026
JeffJensen reviews one of the premier events of the 2026 sporting clays season—the Freedom Cup and FITASC U.S. Grand Prix held at Pine Ridge Farm just outside Clarksville, Tennessee. The event brought together top competitors from across the country for five days of FITASC and sporting clays competition at one of the nation’s fastest-rising shooting destinations. 
What Made This Event Special?
On this episode, we evaluate the shoot through the lens of the Peak Shooter Experience Hierarchy—and Pine Ridge Farm delivered on every level.
✅ Safe and secure shooting environment
✅ Efficient online registration and event management
✅ Outstanding course flow and logistics
✅ Minimal wait times
✅ Well-trained referees and trappers
✅ Thoughtful target presentations that challenged shooters without becoming gimmicky
✅ Excellent hospitality and customer service
When all the fundamentals are executed at a high level, shooters can focus on what they came to do—break targets and enjoy the experience.
Hats Off to the Team
A special thank you to Tim Miles, Joey Wright, and Melissa Wright, whose attention to detail was evident throughout the event. From course setup to shooter services, the entire operation reflected a commitment to excellence and a clear understanding of what competitors value most.
The result was an event that felt professionally managed, welcoming, and enjoyable from start to finish.
Pine Ridge Farm Continues to Raise the Bar
Pine Ridge Farm has quickly become a destination venue for sporting clays and FITASC competition, and the 2026 Freedom Cup/U.S. Grand Prix showcased exactly why. The facility, organization, and shooter-first mindset combined to create an experience that competitors will remember long after the scores are forgotten. 

Beretta 500 Year Northeast Regional
M&M Hunting Preserve – Pennsville, New Jersey

Jeff Jensen welcomes listeners back to Shoot from the Hoop: All Things FITASC and Sporting Clays for a breakdown of one of the premier events on this year's NSCA calendar — the Beretta 500 Year Northeast Regional hosted at M&M Hunting Preserve in Pennsville, New Jersey. 

With more than 1,100 shooters expected, the event once again proved why it remains one of the marquee regional championships in the country. 
This episode focuses less on the score sheet and more on the complete Shooter Experience — the elements that separate a good shoot from a truly memorable one.

Episode Themes
The “Peak Shooter Experience” in Action
This event checked many of the boxes that define a great championship experience:
• Safe and secure shooting environment
• Efficient registration and squad management
• Thoughtful target presentation
• Excellent course flow
• Strong referee and trapper support
• Minimal wait times
• Vendor accessibility and sponsor engagement
• A destination-style atmosphere that made the event feel bigger than just a tournament
M&M continues to create an atmosphere where competitors feel they are attending a true championship — not simply another weekend shoot.

This episode is a re-release of an interview with 2024 Olympian, Derrick Mein. Derrick just returned home from Paris fresh off his 5th place finish in Men's Trapshooting. 

"Derrick grew up on a small farm in southeast Kansas and developed a love of the outdoors at an early age tagging along with his dad while quail and deer hunting. He started in sporting clays at age eight, joining his dad in a small league at a local club and began developing his skills as a competitive shooter.

The shooting sports earned him a scholarship to Lindenwood University. While there, he was on dual scholarship for baseball and the shotgun team. After a couple years, he transferred to Kansas State University to pursue a degree in Animal Science, graduating in 2008. While at KSU, he won the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Championship, a format that includes international trap, international skeet, American skeet, American trap, and sporting clays.

After college, he moved to Ohio where he designed and managed Cardinal Center Sporting Clays. Having successfully getting the facility up and going, he took the chance to move closer to home to manage Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kansas.

During his years in the shooting sports, Derrick has competed in many different disciplines, including sporting clays, skeet, trap, international trap, and helice, winning national titles and earning Team USA honors in helice, international trap, and sporting clays. Still to this day, Derrick enjoys shooting with his father and is regularly seen competing with him around the country in sporting clay events.

Derrick had eight International medals at the time and competed in his second Olympic Games in Paris.

In this episode we explore the passion for excellence that transcends all careers. We discuss work/life balance, planning, preparation, execution, the mental game, how to deal with disappointment, how to "finish", and Derrick's plans for 2008.

An enlightening view of the competitive world of an Olympic athlete - both mental and physical! Enjoy!