GREENBRIER COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – Local archery teams have been racking up achievements this season. Here is a look at what Greenbrier County students have accomplished thus far:
Frankford Elementary:
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) was taught at Frankford Elementary School in the fall of 2023 to all 4th and 5th graders as a part of the Physical Education program. After teaching the archery lessons in PE during the fall, the 4th and 5th graders were given the opportunity to become part of the Frankford Elementary Archery Team.
This team, consisting of 20 members from 4th and 5th grades, has competed in tournaments during January and February. The team has traveled to Charleston, Summersville, Monroe County, Summers County and Greenbrier County. After finishing the tournament season, they qualified for the WVDNR State Archery in the Schools Tournament held at the Charleston Coliseum and Conference Center on Saturday, March 30.
In this tournament, they will compete in the elementary division against seven other state-qualifying teams from all over West Virginia including Alderson Elementary School in Greenbrier County.
For more information check out the NASP website to follow your favorite teams and archers.
Frankford Elementary Archery Team shooting in their first tournament at James Monroe High School where they finished in 2nd place.
They brought home the 5th-place trophy from the Elkview Tournament in Charleston against teams from all over the state.
Alderson:
Alderson students have qualified full teams to the state tournament for middle and elementary for 2024.
The middle school team is sixth-ranked in Bullseye. Additionally, the elementary team is the second-ranked Bullseye team heading into the state tournament.
This is Alderson’s second season of competing at tournaments.
Last season the elementary team reached the world competition at Myrtle Beach.
The elementary team recently finished as runners-up at the state 3-D tournament on March 2.
The elementary team won first place at several local tournaments this season, along with numerous other individual awards.
Coaches:
Jason Ward, Matt Tabor, Andrea Edge, Darrell Pilson, Brain Honaker, Alicia Utterback, Greg Eary.
Ronceverte:
Ronceverte Elementary School is sending three students to the State Archery Tournament on March 30 in Charleston, West Virginia. Jaxen Hylton, Marlee Hicks and Nevaeh King will represent Ronceverte Elementary School. This is the first year that RES has competed in archery tournaments, and it will be the first year sending archers to the State Tournament.
Coach Courtney Hudnall said, “I am extremely excited for our school and these students getting to experience a ‘State Tournament.’ I started the program as an incentive to improve students’ attendance, academics and behavior within our school. Starting the program was not easy, however, I have had great help from coaches Nicki Wolfe and Riley Dodge, both teachers from RES. Alderson Elementary coaches also took me under their wings and gladly answered every question I had. The sport itself has a very family-oriented feel.”
Hudnall went on to say, “Coaches and their archers from all of the surrounding counties were extremely nice and helpful. Their archers would give my archers advice and the coaches were so patient and kind. Every tournament, each archer and our team scores improved. My coaches and I have enjoyed watching and experiencing all the improvements our team has made. We were tickled just to get a trophy for 3rd place in our last tournament at Mountain View. Nevaeh King scored a 172 at her first tournament and qualified for the state tournament with her highest score of 226 at the last tournament. Marlee Hicks scored a 143 her first tournament and qualified for the state tournament with her highest score of 228 and Jaxen Hylton went from scoring a 94 in his first tournament to qualifying with his highest score of 245 in the last tournament. Jaxen has been living a breathing archery since he started. In his exact words ‘I am glad I have finally found my place, a place where I am good at something.’ Your best athletes may not be your best archery shooters, which gives other students an opportunity to shine! I hope to grow the program and offer the experience to many more students as we continue this new journey.”
