Local archers take aim at national competition

Four students from Stikine Middle School and Wrangell High School participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) have qualified to take aim in the national-level competition in Kentucky next month.

Competing in the Alaska NASP Virtual Tournament on March 24 from a range set up inside the Evergreen Elementary School gym, Trevor Miller, Cody Thomassen, Sean Rooney and Garrett Miller all placed highly at the state level.

Trevor Miller took first place in the state for the Middle School Boys Division, first place for seventh-grade boys, and fourth place overall for boys. For taking first, he will also receive a new bow as a prize. Miller qualified for Nationals last year as well and attended with his grandfather and uncle.

Thomassen took third place for the High School Boys Division, third place for twelfth-grade boys, and third place overall.

Rooney took second place in the Middle School Boys Division, second place for the seventh grade boys, and eleventh place for the Overall Boys Division.

Garrett Miller placed seventh for tenth-grade boys. With these scores, all four young men qualify to attend the Nationals competition in Kentucky from May 7-9.

The virtual tournament allows students from schools across the state to compete from their own range facilities. A dozen Wrangellites participated in last month's virtual tournament, and this was the second year the middle school has been involved in the growing archery program.

"It's a pretty cool program," explained Jenn Miller, who along with Winston Davies coaches the team. She will also be accompanying the boys to Kentucky, which will be a first-time trip for her. "I'm super excited to see what it's all about."

Miller and the four boys will all be traveling at their own expense. They will be joining some 12,880 other archers from around the country signed up to shoot during the three-day tournament.