Twelfth Annual Texas-National Archery Championship Draws Record 2,174 Children, 85 Schools to Belton

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AUSTIN – More than 2,100 students from 85 schools across Texas are gathered at the Bell County Expo Center this week for the 12th annual Texas-National Archery in the Schools (NASP) Tournament and Scholarship Championship. Participants in the two-day event that starts today, range from grades 4-12 and are competing for college scholarships.

“NASP is the Swiss army knife of school activities because almost any student can participate and succeed,” says Burnie Kessner, Archery Coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “NASP fits all school sizes and shapes from small to large to public to private and the state tournament will be attended by students from small rural schools, large urban campuses and even homeschooled students. Competitions are unique because teams are mixed-gender by rule. Forty-two percent of participants registered this year are female.”

This year, a record 2,174 students are participating.

“This year is a milestone year for the state NASP competition because we’ll have over 2,000 students shooting for the first time,” says Kessner. “The first state tournament was in February 2006 and there were 126 students from 9 schools. Now 168 students will shoot every hour and 15 minutes for two days!”

This year, college scholarship awards totaling $30,000 will be awarded to the top five male and top five female high school archers. First place is $4,000, second is $3,500, third is $3,000, fourth is $2,500 and fifth place is $2,000 for both the males and the female winners. The Texas-NASP state tournament has awarded $151,500 to the top high school student archers since the inaugural state tournament in 2006.

First place male and female archers in each division also receive Genesis bows, and the high scoring male and female archer will receive a limited edition Genesis bow. Other competitors will be vying for trophies, ribbons and t-shirts in each category. Door prize drawings will also take place throughout the day.

Only schools that teach TX-NASP archery as part of their in-school curriculum and shoot a qualifying score in the State Qualifying Tournament are eligible to compete in the annual March tournament. More than 2,673 students from 101 Texas schools participated for a chance to move on to state.

First place teams in each division are automatically qualified to attend the national tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. Additional teams may attend with qualifying team scores along with 1st-10th place male and female individual winners in each division.

NASP® is a nonprofit foundation operating through financial support from a variety of generous donors including medal-level sponsors; Mathews Archery, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Morrell Targets, The Block and Rinehart Targets.

Toyota is the primary sponsor of TX-NASP and the program is part of the state’s hunter and bowhunter education efforts, programs supported from the sales of archery equipment through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act..

For information about the Texas-National Archery In The Schools program, contact Burnie Kessner with TPWD at burnie.kessner@tpwd.texas.gov or (979) 862-7341.