Three Team Champions Crowned At Second Annual State NASP Event

COOKEVILLE - Three team champions were crowned in their respective divisions at The Second Annual Tennessee National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Championships held Tuesday (March 11) at Tennessee Tech University’s Hyder-Burks Agricultural Pavilion. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Tennessee Tech sponsored the event.

Warren County Middle School, in addition to winning its division, was honored as posting the best overall team score. Meigs County was the elementary school winner. Northwest High, from Clarksville, won its second championship in as many years in the high school division.

Leanetta Anderson from Siegel Middle School had the honor of posting the top score by a female participant. Warren County Middle School’s Kyle Pelham had the highest overall male score in leading his team.

Medals were presented to the top five female and male finishers in each division. In the elementary school division, the top female score was by Meigs County’s Kristin Ferry. Taylor Harris (Meigs County) was second followed by Gabi Holland, Destanie Smith (both from Bledsoe Middle School), and Kenzley Scott (Meigs County).

Cory Jarvis and Dillon Crisp (Meigs County) were the top male scorers in the elementary division. Teammates Sam Hennessee and Logan Davis (Crab Orchard) were third and fourth, while Sean Masters (Meigs County) was fifth.

Following Leanetta Anderson in the Middle School Division were Abbie Barlow and Melanie Rush (Warren County). Hannah Crews and Sarah Chapman, from E.O Coffman in Lawrenceburg, rounded out the middle school female top five scores.

Following Kyle Pelham as the top scorers by middle school males were Alex Walker (Warren County), Cody Lowery (E.O. Coffman), Holden Boynton (Bledsoe County), and Stephen Wheeler (Siegel).

Northwest had four of the top female shooters in the high school division. Kryssy Katenthaler and GaHyun Berry were first and second with Hendersonville’s Jaqui Mallet taking third. Northwest’s Alberta Gutierrez and Rachel Knowles rounded out the top five.

Hendersonville claimed the top three positions in the male portion of the high school division. Jay Stewart, Billy Grisard, and Jared Armstrong helped their team to the second place finish. Ryan Francisco (Meigs County) and Dominick Espinoza (Northwest) rounded out the top five.

Each student shot 30 arrows, 15 from 10 meters and 15 from 15 meters with a maximum score of 300. The top team and top five individuals (female and male) in each division automatically receives a bid to compete in the National NASP Tournament to be held May 10 in Louisville, Ky. Siegel Middle School is the other team to qualify as a result of its score.

Tennessee began NASP in late 2004 with 12 pilot schools participating in the program. A total of 50 schools now participate in the program. NASP is a two-week curriculum, taught during school, that teaches Junior Olympic style target archery.

If a school or teacher is interested in starting a NASP program, please contact Don Crawford, Assistant Chief of Information and Education at Don.Crawford@state.tn.us or (615) 781-6542 or Matt Clarey, Regional Training Coordinator in TWRA Region III at Matt.Clarey@state.tn.us or 1-800-262-6704 or (931) 484-9571.