Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will host the state’s National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) tournament in Belton. More than 4,000 students from 150 Texas schools will compete March 26-27 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. Participants will compete in Bullseye and 3D Archery competitions. They will contend for scholarships, awards, and qualify for the NASP National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky.
“The National Archery in the Schools Program engages students of all ages, genders and athletic or academic ability,” said Kendrick Gray, Archery Coordinator for TPWD. “Students all use the same equipment, school-owned bows with no sights and no mechanical accessories, so it’s all about their abilities, not the gear.”
These competitions are part of Texas’ hunter and bowhunter education efforts. They consist of unique teams of mixed gender by rule. Females comprise 45 percent of participants registered this year in both the state qualifying tournament and the state tournament.
Participating schools vary greatly in size, from small to large, public to private. Students from small rural schools, large urban campuses and even home schools will attend the state tournament.
TX-NASP will award a total $45,000 in continuing education scholarships at the tournament. The program has awarded more than $180,000 to the top high school student archers since 2006.
College scholarships will go to the top five male and top five female high school archer competitors, along with trophies, medals and new bows and arrows in all categories. First place male and female archers in each division receive Genesis bows, and the high scoring male and female archer will receive a limited-edition Genesis bow. Door prize drawings will take place throughout the event.
Learn more about the Texas-National Archery In The Schools program.
—courtesy TPWD
