California Clays

I recorded this episode on November 17th with Olympian Derrick Mein, fresh off his 2nd place finish at the 2025 U.S. National Sporting Clays Championship. In this episode, we debrief the shoot from Derrick’s perspective, how he evaluated the courses, managed pressure, and talked himself through the event to earn a podium finish at Nationals. We also get inside the mind of Derrick a former Olympian, World and National Champion as he shares how this performance fits into his preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games. If you want insight into an elite-level mindset and competing at the highest level, this one delivers.

Today’s episode is a special follow-up with Anthony Matarese Jr., one of the most respected minds in our sport. This time, Anthony reflects on his performance at the 2025 Sporting Clays National Championship, where he did not finish to his expectations. But as you’ll hear, he doesn't make any excuses. Anthony and I talk about how he evaluates his own performance and where his mindset is heading into 2026. Despite not seeing me shoot, I also asked him to coach me through my own tournament experience, he offers me some insights and helps me to think, prepare, and grow as a shooter.

Today I’m joined by one of the brightest young stars in the shooting world, Joe Fanizzi. At just 22 years old, Joe has already accomplished what most shooters dream of in a lifetime. He’s the 2021 NSCA National and Tour Champion, 5x NSCA Regional Champion, 2x Jack Links Cup Champion, 4x Diamond Classic Champion, 2x World Championship Silver Medalist. He has also made 14 NSCA Team USA Teams. He also placed 3rd at the 2025 NSCA National Championship. Joe earned his Masterclass designation at 13 years old. Growing up on the range in Florida, Joe has become known not only for his consistency behind the gun, but also for his sportsmanship, leadership and as an ambassador for the sport. He’s now pursuing a degree in Construction Science at Texas A&M, all while continuing to compete at the highest levels. We get into Joe’s unique shooting style, his competitive mindset, and what drives him at the highest level. It’s clear why he stands among the very best.

Today’s guest is someone who perfectly embodies the idea that it’s never too late to chase excellence. Dr. David Dalu is a retired emergency room physician who recently shocked himself and the competitive shooting world by winning the 2025 National FITASC Championship. He’s a member of Anthony Matarese’s A.I.M. Shooting Team, and while he might not be a household name — his performance this season proved he belongs among the very best. In this conversation, we talk about David’s journey from the ER to the clay shooting field. We explore how he trained under one of the game’s greatest minds, how he’s learned to manage pressure, and what it takes to rise to the top later in life.

Today I’m sitting down once again with one of the sport’s all-time greats, Desirae “Desi” Edmunds. If you follow sporting clays, you already know Desi’s résumé: multiple-time national and world champion, PSCA Tour Ladies Champion, Team USA shooter, and one of the most consistent and respected competitors to ever step on the clay course. This year marks an especially meaningful milestone as Desi was inducted into the Sporting Clays Hall of Fame. In this conversation, we talk about what that honor means to her, the moments and people who helped shape her journey, and how she’s continuing to grow as both a competitor and mentor in the sport. We’ll also get into her travel schedule, and a few stories from the road that remind us why we all love this game.

On this episode, I’m joined by someone who represents the next generation of elite competitive shooters, his name is Greyson Ponder. Greyson’s journey began with hunting and fishing with his dad, long before he ever stepped onto a competition course. What started as a family passion turned into a lifelong pursuit behind the gun. He’s a Master Class competitor, instructor, and proud member of Team Kolar, with podium finishes at major state, regional, and national events across sporting clays, FITASC, and Helice. In this conversation, we talk about his training process, his recent shoots, what it’s like balancing work and competition, and how faith and mindset shape his approach to life and sport.

I sat down with one of the most dominant young athletes in the world of Helice shooting, Macie Page. She’s a 4-time Ladies U.S. National Helice Champion and now a two-time Ladies World Helice Champion, fresh off her win in Italy at the 2025 Worlds. What makes Macie’s rise even more impressive is not just her dominance in the Ladies division, but how competitive she is against the men. Not to mention she's only been shooting Helice for 6 years. She's young, driven, and razor-sharp in a sport that demands total focus and reaction-speed precision. Helice, also known as ZZs, is a discipline that’s very different from sporting clays, but just as intense. In this episode, we get into how she got started, how she uses her eyes and calms her mind for the chaos that is ZZ birds, and what it takes to stay consistent at the highest levels.

Today’s guest is Dillon Epp, a guy who’s been flying under the radar…until he started beating some of the pros. He’s not a household name (yet), and that’s exactly why I wanted to talk to him. He’s what I’d call an "Average Joe Pro", someone who built his skillset through time, reps, and a mindset that refuses to settle. In this episode, we talk about how he got started, the real work behind his climb, his training philosophy, how he handles pressure, what gear he uses, and how he balances his family, faith and work along with his competitive journey. Whether you're chasing M or AA class, or just looking to break your next personal best this one’s for the average joe who’s not here to stay average.

Today’s guest is someone who brings a whole new level of perspective and purpose to the sport: Theo Ribbs III. Theo is the 2023 Browning Briley Champion, the 2024 North American FITASC Champion and a member of the 2025 Team USA for FITASC. In this episode, Theo shares some very personal experiences, including moments that touch on race and his path as the only Black professional in the sporting clays world. Some of what he shares may include direct references to situations. These are his experiences, in his own words. As always, the goal with this podcast is to create space for honest stories, thoughtful conversations, and growth within the sport we all care about. Thanks in advance for listening with an open mind.

On this episode I sat down with Gary Fitzjarrell and Ed Solomons. Gary, is an American shooter, target setter and operator of FLC Shooting Grounds in Whitehall, IL. Ed, is a well respected international shooting coach and world champion from the UK, they both bring a ton of experience and perspective to the table. We had a great conversation about the different shooting cultures in the UK and the US — we tackle some myths and common misconceptions as people get into the sports, and we even touched on cheating and how they think it should be handled. Gary and Ed were honest, insightful, and at times a little spicy — I'm sure you will enjoy the episode.

Today’s guest is someone whose work is changing the way top shooters see the game—literally. Dr. Ed Lyons is a renowned sports vision consultant who works with elite athletes across a range of disciplines, including some of the best clay shooters in the world. With a background in optometry and a deep understanding of eye performance under pressure, Ed helps shooters unlock visual skills most of us didn’t even know could be trained. We’ll dive into what makes elite shooters visually different from the rest, explore some of the most common myths around eye dominance and target focus, and hear how vision training can be a game-changer in your shooting career. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a serious competitor, get ready to learn how your eyes might be the most underdeveloped part of your game. This is going to be a fun and fascinating conversation—let’s get into it with Dr. Ed Lyons. Links for Dr. Ed Lyons: https://www.ed-lyons.com/ https://www.edwardseyewear.com/

Dominic Grossi is a professional sporting clays and FITASC shooter and instructor based out of Houston, Texas. As a member of the U.S. Sporting Clays and FITASC Teams, for nine consecutive years, Dominic has won over a dozen medals in international competition, including the men's team gold medal in the 2023 World FITASC Championship in Budapest. In 2025, Dominic has already claimed the U.S. FITASC Grand Prix and North American FITASC Championship titles to lead the World Cup race going into the World FITASC Championship. Dominic attributes his success to his discipline and technique, and strives to implement the same qualities as a coach.

Anthony Matarese, Jr. is a 26-time NSCA All-American and 18-time Team USA Member that holds the honor of being the first American to win the World Sporting Clays Championship. Inducted into the NSCA Hall of Fame in 2014, Anthony is one of the most renowned shooters in the sporting clays world with a bevy of regional, national, and world titles under his belt. In 2020, Anthony became the first person to win all 4 major titles during his shooting career: The US Open, National Championship, World Sporting Clays Championship, and the World FITASC Championship. Alongside his father and brother, Anthony owns and operates M&M Hunting and Sporting Clays, one of the only full-service clay shooting and hunting operations in the United States. Aside from being one of the top clay shooters in the world, he is widely regarded and respected in the clay shooting sports. When the pros or other top competitors want to work on their mental or technical game, they go to Anthony. When target setters want to learn how to be better at target setting, they go to Anthony. Anthony has written one of the best clay shooting books currently out called "Straight Shooting". It's available on his website, www.clayshootinginstruction.com There you will also find a plethora of clay shooting tutorials and training videos from some of the best shooters to ever point a shotgun. Links for Anthony: clayshootinginstruction.com claytargetinstruction.com @a.i.m.shooting

Today’s guest is none other than Chad Roberts— a name you’ve probably seen on leaderboards across the country. Chad is the 2019 California State Champion in both Sporting and FITASC, the 2016 CA State FITASC Champion, a 4-time All-American and a former PSCA Pro. He is also a shooting coach and runs his own school called Breakpoint Shooting Instruction. The road to becoming a top level competitor can be a long one. I've always found Chad willing to share his personal learning journey for the benefit of others. We talk about the competition mindset, Chad's lessons and takeaways from top-tier shooting coaches, how to tailor your technique to your strengths, and why staying a student of the game is key—no matter how high you climb. Links for Chad: Breakpoint Shooting Instruction State: California Email: BPSIPro@gmail.com Website: https://poplme.co/hash/zSgH1DVz/1/hs @breakpointshootinginstruction

In this episode, I’m joined by a California standout—Justin Fox. If you shoot sporting clays in the Golden State, you already know his name. Justin started young, trained under the guidance of Jay Braccini and Dan Carlisle, and quickly rose through the ranks—from Junior State Champion to a two-time CA State Champion, winning it all in 2021 and again in 2023. He was a 9x All American. From 2003 to 2011 he won every Junior and Sub Junior title in CA and the Western Region. We discussed Justin's journey in competitive shotgun sports, highlighting his achievements as a young shooter and as an adult. We also touched on his mindset and how he views competition, with the aim of understanding what it takes to maintain a high level of performance at the competitive level.

On today's episode I had the pleasure of interviewing Ed Solomons. Many of you know him from the many videos he has done for TGS, ShotKam and Schoffel Country. You can find them all on YouTube. If you don't know Ed, he is a very accomplished shooter who has been shooting for the past 27 years and has also been a sought after international clay shooting coach since 2015. Ed coaches shooters of various levels from club shooters to World Champions. We discussed Ed's approach to shooting and coaching. He emphasizes the importance of simplifying techniques and avoiding overcomplication. We also discussed the evolution of clay target shooting in the UK, his 2014 World FITASC victory and his eyewear business with, friend and sports vision doctor, Ed Lyons. Ed is a great ambassador for the sport and just an overall good dude. I enjoyed this interview and I hope you do too. You can find more info on Ed at the following links: Website: https://www.edsolomons.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ed_solomons Edwards Eyewear: https://edwardseyewear.com/store If you like the video, please help out the channel by clicking the like button, subscribe, comment and share! Thanks for watching!

In Part 3 of this series, Gary, Jay, Lance and I discussed upcoming shooting events for the International sports, and the importance of promoting Olympic shooting sports in the U.S. We also addressed the issue of people falsely claiming to be Olympic athletes or coaches, and the excitement surrounding the U.S. shooting team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In Part 2 of this episode I interview Jay Waldron and Lance Bade. Former Olympic Athletes in bunker trap and double trap and recently retired coaches to the U.S. Olympic team in the shotgun disciplines. Jay and Lance have a wealth of knowledge. We discuss their experience as Olympic competitors and their switch to coaching these elite athletes. Lance and Jay emphasize the importance of building trust and tailoring their approach to each athlete's needs. They highlight the importance of creating an environment where athletes feel comfortable giving their all, even if they fall short of their goals. Part 2 of 3.

In this episode I interview Jay Waldron and Lance Bade. Former Olympic Athletes in bunker trap and double trap and recently retired coaches to the U.S. Olympic team in the shotgun disciplines. Jay and Lance have a wealth of knowledge. We discuss their experience as Olympic competitors and their switch to coaching these elite athletes. The discussion also covered their coaching philosophies, the unique challenges of Bunker Trap, and their experiences teaching beginners and intermediate shooters at their Elite Shotgun Academy. Part 1 of 3.

I interviewed, Desirae Edmunds, multiple-time World Champion, National Sporting Clays Champion, multiple time Team USA team Captain and multiple time All-American. She has also been a 16x member of Team USA. Desi's accolades in the clay shooting sports are impressive. Desi is a trailblazer for women in the shotgun shooting sports and has been a great role model and ambassador for its growth. Desi is not only a competitive shooter but she is also a sought after clay shooting coach and has helped many shooters, including myself, improve our game. Please tune in on this episode while we cover topics including her journey into the sport, her training regimen, and her experiences with different types of guns. We discuss the importance of mental preparation and building confidence. The conversation also touched on Desi's routines, her favorite aspects of the sport, and her future goals. If you like the episode, please be sure to like and subscribe! Thanks!