More than 1,300 students to compete at state archery tournament

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News from the region
Statewide
Published Date
03/12/2012
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JEFFERSON CITY Mo – More than 1,300 student archers from around the state will compete in the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) 2012 state tournament on March 24 in the Multipurpose Building at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, 499 S. Washington Ave. The state tournament, which will begin at 8 a.m., is free to watch and open to the public.

MoNASP is a cooperative effort coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) in partnership with hundreds of schools and supporting organizations throughout the state. MoNASP is an affiliate of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and promotes education, self-esteem and physical activity for students in grades 4-12 through participation in the sport of archery. More than 34,000 Missouri students from 208 schools participate in MoNASP. Since NASP's beginnings in 2002, more than 8.8 million students have participated in the program through more than 10,000 schools in 47 states and five countries.

According to MDC MoNASP Coordinator Eric Edwards, nearly all kids, regardless of age, size or physical ability, can succeed at archery.

“Kids love archery, and archery helps kids excel,” said Edwards. “Statistics show that school archery programs improve school attendance, increase participants’ self-esteem and physical activity, relate to learning subject matter, appeal to a great variety of students, get kids out-of-doors to discover nature, and can become an after-school activity.”

The state tournament follows regional tournaments held in St. Louis on Feb. 25, Willard in southwest Missouri and Cole Camp near Sedalia on March 3 and in Jefferson City on March 10. Student archers who shoot a qualifying score at the state tournament will earn a spot at the national tournament, May 11-12, in Louisville, Ky.

For more information, including participating schools, visit www.mdc.mo.gov and search “MoNASP.”