Click here to subscribe today or Login.
The field has been set for Pennsylvania’s statewide student archery tournament to be held March 13 in State College.
More than 850 competitors have registered for the 2015 National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament, hosted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, including teams from the Tunkhannock Area high school, middle school and elementary school.
Game Commission Shooting Sports Outreach Coordinator Todd Holmes said there’s plenty of reason to get excited about this year’s tournament.
“The preparation for this event started almost a year ago at the conclusion of last year’s tournament,” said Holmes, who also serves as state-level administrator for NASP. “I’m excited to see everyone again and hope they all enjoy the new 3-D range and watching the best student archers in the state go head to head for the state title.”
The tournament, which will take place inside the Penn State Multi-Sport Facility, should be a sight to see.
Ninety-five lanes, each with two archers, will be operating at once. About 7,600 arrows will fly each hour. And somewhere near 38,000 arrows will be fired on the day.
NASP, which started in Kentucky in 2002 and has since gained participants around the globe, came to Pennsylvania in 2005. The Game Commission began coordinating the program in 2010 and, to present, the program has expanded to 185 schools.
NASP helps school districts in Pennsylvania meet physical-education curriculum standards set by the state Department of Education, and at the same time introduces students to the world of competitive archery.
Tournaments are held at the state, national and international levels. Those competing in the March 13 state tournament might qualify for the national tournament to be held May 7 through 9 in Louisville, Ky. Pennsylvania sent 17 schools to the 2014 national competition.
To get NASP started in a Pennsylvania school, contact Todd Holmes, at the Game Commission headquarters, at 717-787-4250 (ext. 3330). Also, “PA NASP” can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennNASP.