Stay in Touch with MDC news, newsletters, events, and manage your subscription
Xplor reconnects kids to nature and helps them find adventure in their own backyard. Free to residents of Missouri.
A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The ninth annual Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) state tournament held March 25 and 26 in Branson drew 2,100 student archers in grades 4-12 from a record setting 127 schools across the state. Winning teams and individuals, along with other teams and individuals who had qualifying scores, will go on to compete in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament in Louisville, Ky., on May 11-13.
MDC’s Education Outreach Coordinator Eric Edwards, who coordinates MoNASP, said this year’s tournament was the largest one ever.
“To put it into perspective how large it was, if you lay every arrow end to end that was shot at the tournament, they would stretch 40 miles,” Edwards said.
The Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation was the main sponsor of this year's MoNASP state tournament.
MoNASP is coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Conservation Federation of Missouri in partnership with 620 participating schools and numerous supporting organizations throughout the state. More than 185,000 Missouri students in grades 4-12 participate in MoNASP.
“The growth of the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program has been tremendous over the past couple years,” said Edwards. “This surge has led students outdoors with their families to participate in this lifetime sport. Many local conservation groups and civic organizations are also volunteering to help support MoNASP in their communities. Students are connecting with family members, coaches, and teachers through archery. This connection and confidence gained through archery will spread into other parts of their lives.”
Edwards noted this year’s MoNASP state archery tournament competition drew more than 6,500 spectators.
Top Tournament Scores
“I am so impressed with the scores this year,” he said. “Each year the scores just get better and better. Missouri students have a very strong chance at making the podium at nationals in May.”
The top overall archers this year include Sarcoxie High School senior Caleb Stillians, who shot an impressive score of 297 out of 300. Stillians score tied the state record held by Lee’s Summit West High School senior Shelby Winslow. Winslow shot an impressive score of 293 out of 300.
“Congratulations to Caleb Stillians on having the top overall score and to Shelby Winslow on finishing her MoNASP career with four individual state championships!” Edwards said.
Other top archers this year include: Salem Middle School seventh grader Irvin Johnson, who shot 292 out of 300; Carl Junction Middle School seventh grader Katie Fredrickson, who shot a 287 out of 300; George Guffey Elementary fourth grader Ethan Mazzola, who shot 286 out of 300; and St. Stanislaus fifth grader Madison Verslues, who shot 284 out of 300.
Edwards noted that a certain team continued its dominance at the MoNASP state tournament again this year.
“Congratulations to George Guffey Elementary in Fenton for winning this year’s elementary team division for the ninth straight year,” he said.
Other team and individual winners from this year’s MoNASP state archery tournament include:
High School Division
1st: Sarcoxie High School, Sarcoxie
2nd: Lee’s Summit West High School, Lee’s Summit
3rd: Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro
Middle School Division
1st: Sarcoxie Middle School, Sarcoxie
2nd: Ridgewood Middle School, Arnold
3rd: Carl Junction Middle School, Carl Junction
Elementary School Division
1st: George Guffey Elementary School, Fenton
2nd: St. Stanislaus, Wardsville
3rd: Sarcoxie Elementary, Sarcoxie
Individual High School Males
1st: Caleb Stillians, Sarcoxie High School
2nd: Gage Weist, Sarcoxie High School
3rd: Trenton Meyer, Carthage High School
4th: Donald Holupka, Hillsboro High School
5th: Tucker Thompson, Lee’s Summit West High School
Individual High School Females
1st: Shelby Winslow, Lee’s Summit West High School
2nd: Holly Boyer, Hillsboro High School
3rd: Micah Edwards, Sarcoxie High School
4th: Anna Reinkemeyer, Helias High School
5th: Isabelle Smith, Lee’s Summit West High School
Individual Middle School Males
1st: Irvin Johnson, Salem Middle School
2nd: Max Wangler, Sarcoxie Middle School
3rd: Jeremiah Jones, Carl Junction Middle School
4th: Justin Brooks, Sarcoxie Middle School
5th: Ean Lavelle, Carl Junction Middle School
Individual Middle School Females
1st: Katie Fredrickson, Carl Junction Middle School
2nd: Ally Nordell, Sarcoxie Middle School
3rd: Skylar Metscher, Billing’s R-4
4th: Lena Higgins, Ridgewood Middle School
5th: Sheila Dailey, Sarcoxie Middle School
Individual Elementary School Males
1st: Ethan Mazzola, George Guffey Elementary
2nd: Cody Kampeter, St. Joseph Catholic Westphalia
3rd: Paxton Simpson, Maries County R-2
4th: Carson Wiley, Our Lady of the Presentation
5th: Jack Honey, Longview Farm Elementary
Individual Elementary School Females
1st: Madison Verslues, St. Stanislaus
2nd: Maya Libbert, Holy Family School Freeburg
3rd: Sophie Pfahl, St. Joseph Catholic School Westphalia
4th: Liz Drainer, St. Stanislaus
5th: Michaela Parker, Sappington Elementary
For complete tournament scores go to: http://nasptournaments.org/TournamentDetail.aspx?tid=2287.
MoNASP is an affiliate of NASP and promotes education, self-esteem, and physical activity. Since NASP’S beginnings in 2002, more than 10 million students have participated in the program through 10,000 schools in 47 states and 10 countries. For more information on MoNASP, visit http://on.mo.gov/2mCPWg4.
