Archery in the schools program growing in popularity
BY KELLY BOSTIAN World Outdoors Writer
Sunday, February 10, 2013
2/10/13 at 6:15 AM
Nearly 1,500 students competed in Tulsa last week in regional Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools Program shooting competitions. Top archers will advance to the state tournament set for Oklahoma City on March 27.
Shooting competitions were held Wednesday and Thursday in Tulsa at the Central Park Hall building at Expo Square with 580 on Wednesday and 640 more of the elementary through high school-aged students on Thursday, according to Colin Berg, education supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
As the number of schools in the program increased to 400 this year, the department redrew boundaries and added a sixth region in the Oklahoma City area.
"We try to make it so we won't have more than 700 at a regional shoot," Berg said.
The archery program involves many students other than those who shoot in regionals, Berg said. Roughly 50,000 learn archery skills as part of in-school programs.
Students at each school try out to be one of 16 on a school's team, which travels to the regional tournaments. Students may move on to the state competition by scoring in the top five in their division competing individually or as part of a school team that wins its category (elementary, middle school or high school) for its region.
The state shoot has 1,200 students competing for top prizes and the opportunity to shoot in national championships.
After top schools and top individuals are found in regional competition, remaining school teams are chosen by highest regional team score to fill out the field of 1,200, Berg said.
"We usually have 20 teams in each age category," Berg said. "The regionals gives every team a chance to compete and then we pare it down to the top teams statewide."
The six categories are made up of male and female categories at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.
Winning teams in Region 4 were Stilwell High School, Locust Grove Middle School and Coweta Mission (elementary). Region 5 winning teams were Wister School (high school), Moss Middle School (Holdenville) and Rattan Elementary School. Region 3 winning teams were Inola High School, and Sequoyah Middle School and Sequoyah Elementary (Claremore).
For full results, see tulsaworld.com/ArcheryFB
Kelly Bostian 918-581-8357
kelly.bostian@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Students line up to shoot in the Region 3 Oklahoma National Archery in the Schools shoot Wednesday at Expo Square. ODWC/Courtesy
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