Columbia, MO – August 4, 2025 – The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) proudly celebrated the successful revival of the Progressive Position Pistol (PPP) National Championships, held August 1–3 at the Missouri Marksmanship Education Center in Columbia, Missouri. This marks the first time the PPP Championship has been held since 2017—and it returned with precision, passion, and powerful performances.
Over 100 attendees and 48 athletes from across the country competed in Basic Supported, Standing Supported, Mixed, and Open team events, as well as individual finals. The match drew junior competitors from beginner-supported positions all the way to advanced one-handed international-style shooting.
“Bringing the PPP Championship back to life has been a long time coming, and witnessing the sportsmanship, growth, and joy from these young athletes made every moment worth it,” said James Hall, 2020 Olympian and Match Director. “This was more than a match—it was a statement about the future of youth pistol sports.”
Standout performances included:
- Palmyra Young Guns (PA) dominating Basic Supported and earning both team and individual golds
- Rise Jr. Pistol Team (CA) sweeping medals in team and individual events across divisions
- Massachusetts JR Pistol Team and Missouri Junior Shooting Club securing podiums and personal bests
- Scarlett Perkins (Tucson Straight Shooters) earning double gold in the female finals with unmatched poise
In addition to top-tier competition, the event was a celebration of community and remembrance. A moment of silence was held for In Kim, a beloved coach and advocate for the PPP program, whose legacy helped make this championship possible.
The SSSF extends deep gratitude to its partners and sponsors for making this event a success:
- SSSF Founding Partners: GLOCK, Ruger
- Sustaining Partners: Walker Hearing Protection, Beretta
- Event Sponsors: Missouri Marksmanship Education Center, The X-Count, Peak Performance, 5 Rings Performance, Team Winning Solutions, Megalink USA, Pardini USA.
Special thanks to the core event crew whose leadership brought the championship to life:
- Earl Litherland, Chief Range Officer (15-year PPP veteran)
- Chance Cover, Chief Statistician
- Sarah Hall – Event Planner
- James Hall, Match Director
The National Anthem, beautifully sung by Lucy Howerton, and the crisp acoustics coordinated by Chad Howerton helped elevate the opening of each match day with pride and clarity.
“We are proud to breathe new life into the Progressive Position Pistol program,” said Rick Leach, President and Executive Director. “This event proved that the foundation for youth pistol sports is not only strong—it’s growing.”
Results, event photos, and full match program can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/SSSF2025PPP
About the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is 501(c)(3) public charity responsible for all aspects of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) across the United States. The SCTP and SASP are youth development programs in which adult coaches and other volunteers use shooting sports to teach and to demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, teamwork, and other positive life skills.
Provide and enhance personal growth and development opportunities for student athlete members; become the premier authority in all things pertaining to firearm-related pursuits for youth; pass on to future generations the legacy of lifelong, safe, responsible enjoyment of the shooting sports. This includes serving as the primary feeder/pipeline for organized, sanctioned shooting organizations and teams, like USA SHOOTING, TEAM USA, and the NGBs (NSSA, NSCA, ATA).
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