Bottom Photo - First Row (l-r) Josey Wacha, Kayla Bartling, Millie Jefferson and Demetri Ferneau. Second row (l-r) Grace Smith, Morgan Haughey, Cameron Klostermann, Keely Driscoll and Jo Jo Tyynismaa

Nearly 1,500 archers from 84 Iowa schools participated in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament March 3-4 in Des Moines.

The South Tama Archery club scored another banner year, qualifying 22 archers for the State Tournament.

Participants from the STC Archery Club included Mackenzie Beyer, Taylor Hrabak, Alaria Harken, Caleb Cosgrove, Kara Nachazel, Adam Haughey, Makayla Kiebach, Draysen Henley, Boden Koehler, Hunter Carico, Jessica Nachazel, Josey Wacha, Kayla Bartling, Millie Jefferson, Demetri Ferneau, Grace Smith, Morgan Haughey, Cameron Klostermann, Keely Driscoll and Jo Jo Tyynismaa.

They shot on Friday at the Jacobson Center at the State Fair Grounds. Several archers shot new personal best scores or equaled their highest scores of the year.

The program continues to grow each year with a total of 61 archers competing in eight qualifying tournaments in December, January and February. The club is open to all 4th through 12th grade students at STC.

Top Photo - First Row (l-r) Mackenzie Beyer, Taylor Hrabak, Alaria Harken, Caleb Cosgrove, Kara Nachazel, Adam Haughey and Makayla Kiebach. Second Row (l-r) Draysen Henley, Boden Koehler, Hunter Carico and Jessica Nachazel Photos Provided

Nearly 3,050 archers from 87 schools participated in Iowa’s National Archery in the Schools Program after school league from Dec. 1 to Feb. 18.

The state tournament is sponsored by the Iowa Bowhunters Association, Whitetails Unlimited, the Iowa State Archery Association and Safari Club International.

Scholarships were awarded to the top scoring 12th grade boys and girls in each category.

Senior boys scholarship winners were Blake Stonehocker, from East Union Schools, who received $1,000 for highest scoring senior in 3D competition and $1,500 for the top scoring senior in the bullseye competition. Theodore Davis, from Cardinal High School, received $500 scholarship for second highest score among seniors in the 3D competition and Matt Bolton, from Independence, received $1,000 scholarship for second highest score among seniors in the bullseye competition.

Among senior girls, Cynthia (Grace) Shafer-Smith, from Washington High School, received $1,000 scholarship for highest 3D score and Morgan Cochran, from Chariton, received $500 for second highest 3D score among seniors. Sarah Kuhlman, from West Des Moines Valley High School, received $1,500 scholarship for highest score and Megan Bussan, from Independence, received $500 scholarship for second highest score in the bullseye competition.