Over the past year, thousands of student archers competed in regional tournaments throughout the state for a chance to draw their bows at the 2022 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Alabama State Championship in Montgomery on April 7-8.
During the event, more than 1,700 archers from 97 schools competed for top honors and the opportunity to advance to the NASP Eastern National Championship on May 12-14, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. Of the teams that competed in the state tournament, 35 have registered to attend nationals.
This year, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division awarded $10,000 in scholarships to select top archers. The top overall female and male archers each received a $1,500 scholarship. First place high school female and male archers each received a $1,000 scholarship, second place high school female and male archers each received a $750 scholarship, and third place high school female and male archers each received a $500 scholarship.
“The Archery in the Schools Program teaches discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in both the classroom and at the archery range,” said Chris Blankenship, ADCNR Commissioner. “Their determination and dedication to both archery and academics will serve these students well in other aspects of life.”
In addition to the top archers, five students randomly selected from a list of all registered Academic Archers who shot during the tournament were each awarded a $500 scholarship. Those students are:
- Carson Starnes, Cullman High
- Cody Butler, Fairview High
- Mattie Cleckler, Chilton County High
- Niko Menzel, Buckhorn High
- Savannah Drake, Vinemont High
The scholarships are funded through NASP with matching dollars from the state tournament admission fee of $2 per person. In 2022, approximately 5,000 spectators attended the state championship.
This year’s state championship also saw a return to in-person competition after being canceled in 2020 and held virtually in 2021 due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
“I’m thrilled that the archers can once again compete in person at the state championship,” said Marisa Futral, NASP coordinator for WFF. “Nothing compares to drawing your bow alongside other archers from across the state. Congrats to everyone who competed and good luck at nationals!”
Scoring for the state tournament is based on Olympic-style, target archery in three divisions – elementary, middle and high school. Competition is on team and individual levels. Perfect scores are 3,600 points for teams and 300 for individuals.
Top Scores in the 2022 Alabama NASP State Championship
TOP OVERALL INDIVIDUALS
FEMALE: Caroline Miller, Vinemont Middle, Score: 293
MALE: Forrest Calvert, Cullman High, Score: 296
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Alma Bryant High, Score: 3,411
Buckhorn High, Score: 3,376
Vinemont High, Score: 3,353
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION
Vinemont Middle, Score: 3,370
Cullman Middle, Score: 3,301
Causey Middle, Score: 3,287
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIVISION
East Elementary, Score: 3,076
Elsie Collier Elementary, Score: 2,953
St. Lukes Episcopal School, Score: 2,949
INDIVIDUAL HIGH SCHOOL FEMALES
Alexis Sartin, Vinemont High, Score: 293
Brie Cassani, Buckhorn High, Score: 291
Kendra Case, West Point High, Score: 290
INDIVIDUAL HIGH SCHOOL MALES
Forrest Calvert, Cullman High School, Score: 296
Will Bolzle, Cullman High, Score: 294
Chase Wilcox, Alma Bryant High, Score: 292
INDIVIDUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL FEMALES
Caroline Miller, Vinemont Middle School, Score: 293
Maddie Seidel, Cullman Middle, Score: 289
Addison Holcomb, Vinemont Middle, Score: 288
INDIVIDUAL MIDDLE SCHOOL MALES
Easton Cook, Saraland Middle, Score: 291
Brayden Clark, Cullman Middle, Score: 288
Jagger Lee, Vinemont Middle, Score: 286
INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FEMALES
Frances Mate, Excel Academics, Score: 276
Presley Latham, East Elementary, Score: 273
Stefany Garcia, Dixon Elementary, Score: 265
INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MALES
Briggs Renfroe, Castlen Elementary, Score: 278
Gunnar Couch, Breitling Elementary, Score: 269
Mason Branch, Dawes Intermediate, Score: 268
Complete results for the 2022 NASP Alabama State Championship are available at www.nasptournaments.org. To view photos from the event, visit ADCNR’s Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/outdooralabama.
Alabama’s archery program is coordinated by WFF through partnerships with various schools and supporting organizations in the state. Alabama NASP is an affiliate of the national program and promotes discipline, self-esteem and life skills for students in grades 4-12.
To learn more about Alabama NASP, contact WFF Regional Hunter Education Coordinator Michael Bloxom at (334) 242-3868 or Michael.Bloxom@dcnr.alabama.gov.
ADCNR promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.
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