Youth win state archery titles

HOT SPRINGS — Addison Roberts of Valley View in the girls division and Chantry Blake of Acorn in the boys division won first-place scholarships March 4 in the Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament.

The tournament drew more than 1,600 archers from Arkansas schools. The archery program involves students from fourth through 12th grades. The younger archers through middle school competed March 3, while the high-schoolers competed the next day.

“It was one of the best tournaments we have ever had,” said Curtis Gray, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s program coordinator. “The crowds were great all weekend, with 8,000-9,000 people in attendance.”

Roberts and Blake both won their divisions by a single point. Archery is scored with 10 points for a bull’seye and points decreasing by one for each ring moving outward. Roberts and girls runner-up Harli Simmons of Arkansas Christian Academy in Bryant each had 20 bull’seyes, with Roberts tallying 288 total points to Simmons’ 287.

Roberts earned a $2,500 scholarship for finishing first. Simmons received a $2,000 scholarship. The third-place finisher, Sarah Shepherd of Little Rock Parkview, scored 286 points and received a $1,500 scholarship. Victoria Gawrieh of Genoa Central was fourth place with 285 points and received a $1,000 scholarship. The fifth-place scholarship worth $500 went to Staci Gwin of Hamburg, who tallied 284 points.

Blake led all competitors with 22 bull’s-eyes and totaled 292 points to win the boys division and its $2,500 first-place scholarship. Second and third place were decided by a 15-meter shootout, as both Connor Westlake of Bergman and Dylan Bradford of Hamburg had 291 points. Westlake squeaked through with the second-place prize and $2,000 scholarship, while Bradford took third and a $1,500 scholarship. Brody Webb of Acorn was fourth with 290 points, which was worth a $1,000 scholarship, and Jacob Clark of Batesville rounded out the top five with 289 points and a $500 scholarship.

Roberts and her Valley View co-ed team, coached by Nancy Best, were the firstplace finisher in the team high school state championship. Batesville was second, followed by Greene County Tech, Alpena and Rison.