Record setting 2,100 student archers competed at MoNASP state tournament

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News from the region
Statewide
Published Date
03/30/2017
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The ninth annual Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) state tournament held March 25 and 26 in Branson drew 2,100 student archers in grades 4-12 from a record setting 127 schools across the state. Winning teams and individuals, along with other teams and individuals who had qualifying scores, will go on to compete in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament in Louisville, Ky., on May 11-13.

MDC’s Education Outreach Coordinator Eric Edwards, who coordinates MoNASP, said this year’s tournament was the largest one ever.

“To put it into perspective how large it was, if you lay every arrow end to end that was shot at the tournament, they would stretch 40 miles,” Edwards said.

The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation was the main sponsor of this year's MoNASP state tournament.

MoNASP is coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Conservation Federation of Missouri in partnership with 620 participating schools and numerous supporting organizations throughout the state. More than 185,000 Missouri students in grades 4-12 participate in MoNASP.

“The growth of the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program has been tremendous over the past couple years,” said Edwards. “This surge has led students outdoors with their families to participate in this lifetime sport. Many local conservation groups and civic organizations are also volunteering to help support MoNASP in their communities. Students are connecting with family members, coaches, and teachers through archery. This connection and confidence gained through archery will spread into other parts of their lives.”

Edwards noted this year’s MoNASP state archery tournament competition drew more than 6,500 spectators.

Top Tournament Scores

“I am so impressed with the scores this year,” he said. “Each year the scores just get better and better. Missouri students have a very strong chance at making the podium at nationals in May.”

The top overall archers this year include Sarcoxie High School senior Caleb Stillians, who shot an impressive score of 297 out of 300. Stillians score tied the state record held by Lee’s Summit West High School senior Shelby Winslow. Winslow shot an impressive score of 293 out of 300.

“Congratulations to Caleb Stillians on having the top overall score and to Shelby Winslow on finishing her MoNASP career with four individual state championships!” Edwards said.

Other top archers this year include:  Salem Middle School seventh grader Irvin Johnson, who shot 292 out of 300; Carl Junction Middle School seventh grader Katie Fredrickson, who shot a 287 out of 300; George Guffey Elementary fourth grader Ethan Mazzola, who shot 286 out of 300; and St. Stanislaus fifth grader Madison Verslues, who shot 284 out of 300.

Edwards noted that a certain team continued its dominance at the MoNASP state tournament again this year.

“Congratulations to George Guffey Elementary in Fenton for winning this year’s elementary team division for the ninth straight year,” he said.

Other team and individual winners from this year’s MoNASP state archery tournament include:

High School Division

1st: Sarcoxie High School, Sarcoxie

2nd: Lee’s Summit West High School, Lee’s Summit

3rd: Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro

Middle School Division

1st: Sarcoxie Middle School, Sarcoxie

2nd: Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold

3rd: Carl Junction Middle School, Carl Junction

Elementary School Division

1st: George Guffey Elementary School, Fenton

2nd: St. Stanislaus, Wardsville

3rd: Sarcoxie Elementary, Sarcoxie

Individual High School Males

1st: Caleb Stillians, Sarcoxie High School

2nd: Gage Weist, Sarcoxie High School

3rd: Trenton Meyer, Carthage High School

4th: Donald Holupka, Hillsboro High School

5th: Tucker Thompson, Lee’s Summit West High School

Individual High School Females

1st: Shelby Winslow, Lee’s Summit West High School 

2nd: Holly Boyer, Hillsboro High School

3rd: Micah Edwards, Sarcoxie High School

4th: Anna Reinkemeyer, Helias High School

5th: Isabelle Smith, Lee’s Summit West High School

Individual Middle School Males

1st: Irvin Johnson, Salem Middle School

2nd: Max Wangler, Sarcoxie Middle School 

3rd: Jeremiah Jones, Carl Junction Middle School

4th: Justin Brooks, Sarcoxie Middle School

5th: Ean Lavelle, Carl Junction Middle School

Individual Middle School Females

1st: Katie Fredrickson, Carl Junction Middle School

2nd: Ally Nordell, Sarcoxie Middle School

3rd: Skylar Metscher, Billing’s R-4

4th: Lena Higgins, Ridgewood Middle School

5th: Sheila Dailey, Sarcoxie Middle School

Individual Elementary School Males

1st: Ethan Mazzola, George Guffey Elementary

2nd: Cody Kampeter, St. Joseph Catholic Westphalia

3rd: Paxton Simpson, Maries County R-2

4th: Carson Wiley, Our Lady of the Presentation

5th: Jack Honey, Longview Farm Elementary

Individual Elementary School Females

1st: Madison Verslues, St. Stanislaus

2nd: Maya Libbert, Holy Family School Freeburg

3rd: Sophie Pfahl, St. Joseph Catholic School Westphalia

4th: Liz Drainer, St. Stanislaus

5th: Michaela Parker, Sappington Elementary

For complete tournament scores go to: http://nasptournaments.org/TournamentDetail.aspx?tid=2287.

MoNASP is an affiliate of NASP and promotes education, self-esteem, and physical activity. Since NASP’S beginnings in 2002, more than 10 million students have participated in the program through 10,000 schools in 47 states and 10 countries. For more information on MoNASP, visit http://on.mo.gov/2mCPWg4.