West Side student wins archery title
West Side Christian's fledging archery program scored a bullseye during the recent Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program (ANASP) State Tournament. The school's elementary and middle school teams both advanced to the state competition with Gracelyn Sinclair taking first place in Elementary School Girls Division.
Sinclair, a fifth grader, scored 269 to top Lilianna Green (261) of Arkansas Arts Academy and Maleah Treat (260) of Eagle Mountain Magnet.
“I have been coaching archery for three years and this is the first time one of my teams has made it to the state tournament,” said Coach Jerry Burress. “This year both elementary and middle
school made it. On the elementary level, I had the state's top girl and third overall in the elementary level. Gracelyn Sinclair worked very hard to raise her score to 269. Right beside her working
just as hard was her teammate Grayson Bailey, who scored a 254.”
West Side Christian, with 17 archers, finished third in the Elementary Division in the regional. Sinclair shot 254 to lead the girls with Grayson Bailey scoring 227 to pace the West Side boys.
“With Covid this year, archery has looked somewhat different. Our archers always look forward to going and competing in the regional tournament,” said Burress. “This year both regionals and state tournaments had to be shot virtual. As their coach I am very proud to say that the archers arose above all the challenges that they had to face.”
West Side's Middle School team advanced to state with an at-large bid.
Micah Wake was high scorer in boys with 270, finishing 15th. Madelynn Conley and Sofie Jerry both scored 204 at the state tournament.
Wake shot 259 in the regional tournament while Kaitlyn Earnest led West Side's girls at regionals with 246.
Leaders for West Side's high school teams were Chase King (269) in boys and Kimber Mitchem (256) in girls.