Thousands of young archers throughout The Natural State took their places at the firing line last weekend to compete in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Archery in the Schools regional qualifying tournaments.
At the close of competition, 105 teams – including all three of the South Pike County School District – were chosen to compete in this year’s state championship event, which will be held at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs, March 3-4.
Twelve in-person regional shoots were held throughout the state Feb. 11 for teams who wished to compete in a traditional manner.
Teams also had the ability to compete virtually through a standardized scoring system and tournament framework the week before, as long as their scores were turned in by Feb. 10 and could be verified.
The top two teams in each region for each division earned births into the state championship, as did the remaining top 12-scoring teams in each division, regardless of location.
The Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program – part of the National Archery in the Schools Program – teaches archery skills as well as an outdoor hobby that young people may enjoy for the rest of their lives. It has also proven to be a great way to sharpen skills, build self-esteem and create a stronger atmosphere for success in the classroom, according to Gray.
ANASP is funded through several sources, including Act 799 of the 2003 Arkansas General Assembly, which sends fine money collected from violators of AGFC regulations to all 75 counties. The money is earmarked for conservation education in schools.
