The archery team has approached shooting season, and have high hopes of qualifying for state. Coach Jackie Downing’s ultimate goal is to qualify for state this year as a team.
“The ultimate goal is to qualify for state as a team,” she says. To qualify for state as a team, they have to get a score of 2,964 points. To qualify individually, they have to at least score a 247.
Some top archers this season have been freshman Kaylee Jackson, sophomores Barron Ward, Connor Hockett, and seniors Eastynn Holt, and Drake Murrell. These students have also qualified for state.
Freshman Cayden Hockett hopes to return to state again this year. He qualified in 8th grade.
“I hope to go to state again this year. I really need to slow down and take my time while shooting. I need to focus.”
Last year, 10 students qualified for state. They included graduates Alyson Alcantara, Elliot Kowal, seniors Eastynn Holt, Drake Murrell, juniors Wesley Jackson, Daytona Kinnan, Henry Breshears, and sophomores Levi Bilderback, Barron Ward, and Tommy Kaufmann.
This year, the team has not quite qualified for state as a team, but coaches are positive.
“We have not shot our best yet, but we are getting better,” Downing said.
This year, the archery team consists of 24 students and two coaches.
Sophomore Levi Bilderback has hopes of qualifying for state, which he had the previous season.
“I hope to qualify for state again this year,” he said.
Junior Daytona Kinnan hopes to improve as a team by raising group scores to qualify.
“Hopefully we will all raise our scores by at least a few points, so we can make a team qualifying state round.”
In their latest shoot, 5 archers qualified for state.
The state archery competition goes from March 19-22, 2025 in Branson, Missouri.
