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The arrows flew downrange, impacting the targets with loud “thwacks.” The intent archers concentrated on the correct form as they shot.

At the end of the day, Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary School (Fort Meade), Union Academy Middle School (Bartow) and West Nassau High School (Callahan) were the first-place schools in the 2010 Florida National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament held in Newberry Feb. 27.

The tournament was in two formats: a live tournament competition at the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex and a virtual tournament for schools that couldn’t afford to travel, said Steve Robbins, Florida NASP coordinator.

“What a tremendous turnout we had at the live tournament,” Robbins said. “The competition was fierce, and the energy level in the building was enormous. I was very proud to be a part of this tournament.”

With virtual and live scores compiled, the final results are:

Elementary school:

1) Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary – 2,287 points

2) College Park Elementary – 2,091 points

3) Belle Terre Elementary – 1,828 points

4) Greenacres Elementary – 1,391 points

Top Male Shooter: Broward Wengler, College Park Elementary – 232 points

Top Female Shooter: Shiara Kruilhoff, Belle Terre Elementary – 229 points

Middle school:

1) Union Academy Middle School – 3,057 points

2) Robert H. Jenkins Middle School – 2,893 points

3) Jim C. Bailey Team A – 2,840 points

4) Osceola Middle School – 2,712 points

5) Lake City Middle School – 2,652 points

6) St. Petersburg Christian – 2,643 points

7) Woodham Middle School – 2,596 points

8) Lakeland Christian – 2,403 points

9) Tomlin Middle School – 2,399 points

10) Belle Terre Elementary sixth graders – 2,363 points

11) Turkey Creek Middle School – 2,279 points

12) Challenger K-8 – 2,265 points

13) Jim C. Bailey Team B – 2,152 points

14) Fort White Middle School – 2,066 points

15) Bellview Middle School – 1,980 points

16) Marshall Middle School – 1,887 points

Top Male Shooter: Austin Anderson, Union Academy Middle School – 271 points

Top Female Shooter: Sierra Coffman, Union Academy Middle School – 276 points

High school:

1) West Nassau High School – 3,008 points

2) Durant High School – 2,803 points

3) Lakeland Christian High School – 2,655 points

4) The Pine School – 1,995 points

Top Male Shooter: Dalton Jones, Durant High School – 277 points

Top Female Shooter: Sarah Gilliam, Durant High School – 258 points

“The top overall male shooter was Dalton Jones, Durant High School, with 277 points, and the top overall female shooter was Sierra Coffman, Union Academy Middle School, with 276 points,” Robbins noted.

The Grand Champion was Union Academy Middle School, with a team score of 3,057 points.

“We do have schools from Florida going to the National Tournament in Louisville, Ky., scheduled on May 7 and 8,” Robbins said. “The breakdown for those schools revolves around teams with qualifying scores (the sum of the top 12 archers with at least four of the opposite gender).”

* Elementary school qualifying score: 2,500 points
* Middle school qualifying score: 2,600 points
* High school qualifying score: 2,700 points
* Male and female individuals placing 1st through 5th in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades
* Middle and high school divisions

“Archery is a great sport,” Robbins said. “It helps build muscle endurance and flexibility, develop hand-eye-coordination, and grip and body strength. You don’t have to be 6-foot-2 and be able to dunk a basketball to participate. Girls can compete with boys, and youngsters with physical disabilities can also participate.”

This was the third annual Florida NASP state tournament. The first two years were entirely in a virtual format, with 592 kids shooting in 2008, and 751 in 2009.

NASP is a cooperative effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida’s Department of Education. Before presenting the two-week archery course, teachers undergo an eight-hour NASP Basic Archery Instructor Training Program. The FWC has certified teachers from 230 Florida schools to be basic archery instructors.

“Congratulations to all of the participants in the 2010 NASP Florida State Tournament. It has been our pleasure to present this event, and we look forward to the Fourth Annual Tournament scheduled for Feb. 26, 2011,” Robbins said.

To view Florida’s NASP Web site, go to MyFWC.com/NASP. For information about the 2010 National Tournament, visit the NASP Web site at http://www.nasparchery.com/activea.asp

The Easton-Newberry Sports complex held its grand opening in October 2009. For Information about the complex, go to http://eastonnewberrysportscomplex.com/.

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