What I find most ironic is that she is just NOW going to get her own bow. If I had to wait till I got as good as her, I don't think I'd ever get a bow. :
;
Seriously, good for her. She should be proud.
Grute
MN DNR Home > News >
News Releases
White Bear Lake student finishes fifth in national archery tournament (2007-06-19)
Minnesota's fledgling school archery program took a big step forward on June 9, when three Minnesota teams competed in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) National Tournament at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
The program has spread to 42 states since its' inception in 2002. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) enrolled in the program in 2004, and now has more than 150 schools and 60,000 participants annually.
Hilltop Primary School from the Mound Westonka district finished 13th overall among elementary schools. Jackson Middle School from Champlin finished 12th in the middle school division, and Osakis High School took the ninth spot among high schools.
"I was amazed by the number of parents and siblings who made the trip to Kentucky to cheer for their kids," said Kraig Kiger, the DNR's National Archery in the Schools Program coordinator, who added that the Minnesota teams represented the state well. "You can tell that archery is an activity that can bind families together, and that it is an important part of the lives of a lot of kids."
White Bear Lake High School, which qualified for the national tournament by winning the state high school championship, was unable to send a full team because of a conflict with graduation. However, a number of individual White Bear Lake archers made the trip to compete, including the state high school girls champion Chantelle Skarda of Hugo.
Skarda, a ninth grader, shot a 285 out of a possible 300. That put her just three points behind the tournament winner Morgan Floyd of Richmond, Ky., and in fifth place overall.
Kiger said her performance is amazing when you consider she has only been shooting a bow since November. Her introduction to archery came through the school program, White Bear Lake's after-school archery club and the out-of-school Bucks and Buckthorn Program.
"She is a talented shooter," Kiger said. "But it goes to show you that archery is a sport that people can excel at with proper instruction and reliable equipment. I wonder how many more potential world class archers are out there that just haven't tried archery yet."
Skarda credits her success to good coaching by White Bear Lake teacher Jack Wachlarowicz and the volunteer after-school program coach John Slate.
"My coaches have taught me a lot about archery," Skarda said. "I am going to buy my own bow now so I can practice all summer."
Skarda intends to continue shooting, with hopes of becoming the national champion in 2008. Her coaches have no doubt that she can accomplish that goal. Wachlarowicz said a perfect round of 300 is not out of reach for the young archer. "I am willing to bet you on that," Wachlarowicz added.
The DNR is currently taking applications for Archery In School Equipment Grants. The one page application has an Oct. 31 deadline. Only school teachers or administrators may apply for the grants, but parents, archery clubs, hunting organizations and other individuals are encouraged to get involved and get the ball rolling in their school.
Physical education and outdoor recreation classes are the primary venues. The cost of the equipment is approximately $2,900, but with a DNR grant the cost is reduced to $1,500. The majority of schools receive local sponsorships to cover the costs.
The application and brochure may be downloaded from the DNR Web site at
www.dnr.state.mn.us.
For more information, contact Kraig Kiger at (218) 327-0583, or kraig.kiger@dnr.state.mn.us.
Check Out Our Forum Tab!
Topic: White Bear Lake High School Girl gets 5th in Nationals (Read 5927 times)
