The Outdoor Wire
June 5, 2012
ST. PAUL, MN — When close to 1,000 of Minnesota’s top high school sport shooters arrive in Alexandria for the state tournament, a familiar name will be there to greet them. Minnesota-based Gander Mountain is playing a significant sponsorship role in what will be the largest high school shooting tournament in state history. Gander Mountain is a gold level sponsor for the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League State Tournament, which will be held June 9-10 at Alexandria Shooting Park.
“A new generation of Minnesotans is discovering the fun and challenge of shooting sports like trap, skeet and sporting clays, and with our deep roots in the state’s shooting sports community, we’re proud to play a role in the state tournament,” said Steve Uline, Gander Mountain’s executive vice president of marketing. “Minnesota is our home, and as the state’s largest retailer of hunting, fishing and camping gear, this is another natural fit.”
The Minnesota High School Clay Target League started in 2008 with just three teams, and has seen amazing growth in less than five years. In the 2012 season, 57 teams and 1,500 student athletes (boys and girls) from throughout the state competed on MHSCTL teams, which are run by hundreds of volunteer coaches.
“We are delighted to have Gander Mountain on board as a sponsor for the state tournament. As one of the most respected names in the Minnesota outdoors and shooting sports community, Gander Mountain is the perfect partner for this exciting event,” said Jim Sable, Executive Director of the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League, noting that a record 915 shooters have registered for the state tournament. “In the 2012 season we are continuing to introduce more young people to shooting sports and they are discovering that this is an activity they will enjoy with their families for a lifetime.”
Individual and team champions in Novice, Junior Varsity and Varsity classifications in addition to conference champions will be recognized during the two-day tournament. Each participant will receive a Gander Mountain hat as well as other commemorative gifts.
About Gander Mountain Company
Gander Mountain Company headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., is the nation’s largest retail network of outdoor specialty stores for firearms, hunting, fishing, camping, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services. Since 1960, the Gander Mountain brand has offered an expanding assortment of competitively priced outdoor equipment, technical apparel, rugged casual wear and footwear featuring national, regional and specialty brands as well as the company’s owned brands. Focused on a “We Live Outdoors®” culture, Gander Mountain dedicates itself to creating outdoor memories. There are currently 114 conveniently located Gander Mountain outdoor lifestyle stores in 23 states. For the nearest store location call 800-282-5993 or visit www.GanderMountain.com Gander Mountain is also the parent company of Overton’s (www.overtons.com) a leading catalog and Internet based retailer of products for boating and other water sports enthusiasts.