Memo to Wall Street investors:

Do you want to invest in a sure-fire growth industry?

Try high school clay target shooting teams.

There were seven schools involved in the Michigan State High School Clay Target League (MSHSCTL) in 2016. This year, there were 23 teams.

In 2016, about 90 students involved. This year, there were over 400.

Cliff Urbanek is the coach of the two-year-old target shooting team at Armada High School. In its first season, the Tigers fielded a team that numbered 24 registered participants.

This year, the Armada squad numbered 58 and that included 20 middle school students. There was no middle school participation in 2016.

Armada was one of 20 teams that took part in the MSHSCTL state tournament that was held June 17 at the MTA Grounds in Mason.

The Tigers sent 24 to the state shoot, and finished fourth overall.

Armada’s Henry Altermatt shot a 97, which put him in a four-way tie for the individual varsity championship. He was edged out via tie-breakers.

The field was broken down into three divisions; varsity, junior varsity and novice.

Armada freshman Megan Misch emerged as the junior varsity state champion with a score of 85. She was also the junior varsity champion in the conference. Freshman Justine Barnette came in second at the state shoot behind Misch with an 84.

Richmond’s other team members at the state shoot were Owen Burns, Nick Coubard, Caleb Hardy, Justin Herbert, Dustin Kasperski, Kenny LeDuc, Zach LeDuc, Morgan Lipka, Dillon Muylaert, Blake Pretty, Dustin Prieskorn, Victoria Prieskorn, Austin Prisby, Kyle Schmidt, Preston Szlachtowicz, Michael Taylor, Ian Urbanek, Ethan Venlerberghe, Max Wegner, Lily Williamson, and Jack Zagaiski.

The Tigers finished third in their division this season.

Armada High’s home club is the B&B’s Gun Club on 31 Mile Road in Ray Township. Urbanek is a member of the club.

Urbanek has been the Armada High head coach both years.

He is a tool and die maker with FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). He’s been with the company for more than two decades. He works at the assembly plant in Sterling Heights.

“I knew we were going to do well just from the response we had last year,” said Urbanek. “We were looking to increase membership at the club, and league actually approached us.”

Armada High School Athletic Director Don Holston was receptive when Urbanek came to him with the idea of starting a clay target shooting team.

“I figured I would just help out, but it became more than that. I guess it was kind of natural, since I was already involved with our club’s youth summer travel league,” continued Urbanek. “I teach the responsibilities of gun ownership and safety. I’m a strong believer in taking the curiosity out of guns. You have to show kids how to properly handle a gun. I stress safety first, followed by fun and marksmanship.”

His son, Ian, 16, attends Almont High School, but shoots for Armada because Almont does not have a team. Seth is 19 and Bethany is 12. She is a member of shooting club’s summer travel team.

The coach will go pheasant and partridge hunting with his kids.

“That is the way I grew up. My dad was an avid hunter and he would take me and my brother along,” said the coach. “I do the same with my boys.”