Registration for the 86th Annual North Carolina Skeet Championships (Open), which will be held Sept. 5-7 at Ft. Bragg Clay Target Center, opens on August 4th.
Registration will be done via iSkeet, which can be accessed by clicking here.
Full details on the 2025 shoot can be found in our event program, which is available to download below. We look forward to a fantastic 2025 event!
By Kurt Culbert, NCSSA President
Their intentions are ruthless, these scammers who spend days and nights trying to coax good people out of hard earned money. They’re also relentless, sending texts and emails impersonating officers of organizations to try and get other officers to send money.
For Rebecca and me, they sort of became a bit of shared humor, often highlighting the notes with broken English asking her to send gift cards because I was “trying to feed the homeless persons.”
One phoney character even signed off with “Sincerely” - prompting me to joke with Rebecca that I’d never use sincerely!
The imposters, though, they had nothing on this cancer. And this cancer? It was no laughing matter.
Rebecca Cloninger passed away Sunday, following a valiant battle with cancer. She was 50. She leaves behind her husband, Jason, and two daughters Corrie and Josie. The entire skeet community joins her family in mourning Rebecca’s loss. Her impact, most recently as the NCSSA Treasurer, was mighty.
We all know people like Rebecca. They’re some of the favorite people in your lives. She was the epitome of a “get it done” kind of teammate. And she played that role masterfully as an executive with Cloninger’s Incorporated and several clubs and organizations she helped operate. Simply put, Rebecca helped keep the train on the tracks.
One needs only to look at the children of someone to understand what kind of parent they are. Rebecca and Jason have raised two strong, independent and successful daughters in Corrie and Josie. They’re respected near and far for their talents in traversing the eight-station skeet field, but that respect and admiration extends beyond their talents and into their conduct and behavior. Their character is a reflection of a mother who was ever-present, always leading by quiet, powerful example.
Her legacy echoes far and wide, yet it finds its clearest voice in Corrie and Josie.
Josie won the NC Junior State Championship just two weeks ago. My son, Reid, won the Sub Junior. The first congratulations note I got? It was Rebecca. It came before we even got the awards ceremony completed. That’s the humility and genuine demeanor she always displayed. It was not uncommon for her to get as excited for other kids’ success as the parents and kids themselves.
Just last week, Rebecca shared one of those silly imposter emails my way. The scammer noted his “credence” in her taking care of sending gift cards. Heck, even the fraudster knew she was reliable.
I’m thankful Rebecca is healed from the terrible disease, no doubt living out her faithful promise in Heaven. I’ll bet there are no scammers there.
Godspeed Rebecca Cloninger.
Sincerely Your friend,
Kurt
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of NCSSA Treasurer Rebecca Ramsey Cloninger. Rebecca was a steadfast supporter of skeet in North Carolina and will be missed by the skeet community. She also was an ardent supporter of her daughters, Corrie and Josie. Please join the NCSSA in sharing its thoughts and prayers for Jason and the entire Cloninger family.
Rebecca Cloninger (L) with daughter Corrie in 2024.
BESSEMER CITY (NC) - Rebecca Ramsey Cloninger, 50, of Bessemer City passed away peacefully July 13, 2025 at Caromont Regional Medical Center, Gastonia, after a years long fight with cancer. A native of Gaston County, she was the daughter of the late Robert Frederick Ramsey and Dorothy Paysour Ramsey.
Rebecca was educated in Gaston County Schools and received her associates degree at Gaston College. She was the CFO of Cloninger’s Incorporated for 24 years. She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Gastonia, where she was the coordinator of the Backpack Weekend Food Program. She loved travelling with her family to watch her girls compete in skeet shooting competitions and horse shows.
Rebecca was a hardworking, dedicated mother, a loving wife, and a loyal friend whose strength and kindness left a lasting impact on everyone she met. She found joy in the simple things — riding around the farm, tending to her chickens and cows, and embracing each day with quiet purpose. Her love for her family was unwavering, her hands always busy, and her heart always full. Through all the trials of life, her faith never faltered. A strong Christian woman, she lived out her beliefs with grace, humility, and compassion. Her life was a testament to perseverance, service, and the deep, enduring love she poured into her home and community. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, faith, and love — one that will continue to inspire all who knew her.
In addition to her mother, Dot Ramsey of Gastonia; Rebecca is survived by her husband of 25 years, Jason D. Cloninger; daughters, Corrie Cloninger and Josie Cloninger, both of Bessemer City; sisters, Robin and Regina Ramsey, both of Gastonia; Father and Mother and law, Mervin and Anne Cloninger of Dallas; nieces, Morgan, Taylor, and Payton Williams, Blair Younts (Jordan); and nephew, Evan Gibson (Allison); great niece and nephew, Mila and Jasper Younts; as well as a multitude of close friends and extended family.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 – 4:00 PM Friday July 18th at in the parlor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Funeral will be conducted by the Rev. Ryan Henkel at 4:00 P.M. Friday July 18 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 805 S. York St., Gastonia, N.C. 28052. Interment will follow at Antioch Lutheran Church, Dallas. Memorials may be made to the Backpack Weekend Food Program, 1554 Union Rd., Suite D., Gastonia, N.C. 28054.
McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia, NC is in charge of arrangements. Condolence messages may be sent online at www.mcleanfuneral.com.
Josie Cloninger is not new to winning, experiencing a great deal of it over the last several skeet seasons.
She wanted this one, though, opting to leave a family beach trip early just to have the chance to win the North Carolina Junior State Skeet Championship in her final year of eligibility.
Cloninger used a perfect 100 to secure the 2025 Junior State Championship on a warm day at Rowan County Wildlife Association. The title is Cloninger’s second in three years.
Reid Culbert followed up his third-place finish last year to win the 2025 Sub-Junior State Championship.
Jacob Meads shot a 98 to finish runner up while 2024 State Champion Ridge Pearson used a 97 to end up on the podium again this year.
Cloninger’s 100 also netted her the Ladies Champion with Daytona Mix and Morgan Elizabeth Melton using strong days on the skeet field to round out the Ladies podium. Cloninger joins her sister Corrie to become three-time winners of the Ladies Junior Cup.
Easton Davenport and Alexis Bouldin finished on the podium for the Sub-Juniors.
Caleb Howard ended up winning the Collegiate Title with Connor Bruning finishing runner up.
Among the strong participants were two of the top shooters in the arear shooting for the non-resident title. North Carolina’s Junior State Championship is an Open tournament allowing out-of-state shooters an opportunity to collect registered targets. This one turned into a battle of South Carolina’s finest with Robert Dudley outlasting fellow statesman Landon Bryant in a shootoff to take the Non-Resident trophy. Both shooters collected 99s in the 12 gauge event.
Congratulations to all participants. Be sure to check out the final rundown on the Results page.
The North Carolina Skeet Shooting Association is pleased to announce the opening of registration on May 20 for the 2025 Junior State Skeet Championships.
Considered one of the major events for NCSSA, the event will be held June 28 at Rowan County Wildlife Association.
To see the event flier and any additional details, please visit our events page or see a link below!
