STATE TOURNAMENT TO SHOWCASE OHIO'S "ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS" PROGRAM
Nearly 700 Ohio student archers will compete on February 29
COLUMBUS, OH - Nearly 700 students from all over Ohio will compete in the state's second annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament, scheduled for Friday, February 29, at Veterans Memorial, 300 W. Broad St., Columbus.
The tournament will once again be held in conjunction with the annual Arnold Sports Festival, spearheaded by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, which oversees the statewide program.
Participants will compete for individual and team awards in high school, middle school, and elementary school divisions. The top-finishing team in each division will represent Ohio in Louisville, Kentucky at the NASP National Competition in June.
"This is an excellent opportunity for students and teams that participate in the program to showcase their hard work and dedication," stated Kevin Dixon, shooting sports coordinator for the Division of Wildlife. "This tournament will not only give students the chance to experience competitive shooting, but will also introduce like-minded students from across the state who are interested in archery."
The NASP program is rapidly growing and gaining popularity among both students and educators. It was introduced into 17 Ohio schools in 2004. More than 200 Ohio schools now have teachers certified to instruct target archery.
The first NASP program was launched in Kentucky in 2002. Since that date, more than 40 U.S. states and Australia have adopted it.
NASP teaches target archery to elementary, middle and high school students, right in the school gym. The curriculum covers archery, safety, equipment, technique, concentration skills and self-improvement.
When students are introduced to the sport of archery, the in-school educational component is only the beginning. Many NASP-participating schools then start after-school programs and archery teams.
For details on the upcoming tournament, or to learn how your school can join the NASP program, visit www.wildohio.com on the Internet.