Oklahoma Archery in the Schools state shoot continues drawing record numbers

            A total of 1,085 students from across the state shot 43,745 arrows April 1 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Archery in the Schools annual state shoot at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City.
            Students at the state shoot came from 93 schools and competed in archery after a season of practice and competition in their respective schools as part of the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools (OAIS) program.
            The number of students at the state shoot reflects the growth of the OAIS program during its five years of existence. This year's state shoot saw an increase of more than 300 students over last year's shoot and almost 600 more students than were present in 2007. The state shoot also has grown so much that the Wildlife Department was forced to move it from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond to the Cox Center to accommodate more shooters.
            The state shoot is the season finale for the OAIS program, currently about 160 schools participate throughout the year. Coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma Archery in the Schools is part of the National Archery in the Schools program. The program partners state wildlife agencies, schools and the nation's archery industry to introduce students to the sport of archery. The Archery in the Schools curriculum is designed for 4th-12th graders and covers archery history, safety, techniques, equipment, mental concentration and self-improvement.
            The top three shooters in each category at the state shoot received medals and prizes. First place winners received a new Genesis bow, second place winners received a new set of Alpen binoculars and third place winners took home a new bow carrying case. In addition, the top five shooters in each category and first place teams automatically qualified for the national shoot to be held May 8-9 in Louisville, Ky.
            The top three shooters in each age category, as well as the top three team schools in each category, include:
 
High school boys
Casey Taylor, Keys, Score 380
Cole Thompson, Keys, score 379
Blake Blakely, Keys, score 376
 
High school girls
Amanda Mixon, Chandler, score 369
Korrie Gee, Coweta, score 354
Kayla Replogle, Coweta, score 352
 
High school top three teams
Coweta High School, score 3,171
Keys High School, score 3,148
Chandler High School, score 3,122
 
Middle school boys
Hunter Ginn, Coweta, score 379
Danny Phillips, Maryetta, score 369
Ryan Kelley, Coweta, score 366
 
Middle school girls
Abigail Unruh, Morris, Score 348
Hannah Lawhorn, Keystone, Score 346,
Dakota Provence, Wister, Score 343
 
Middle school top three teams
Coweta Middle School, score 3,147
Shawnee Middle School, score 2,936
Wister Middle School, score 2,909
 
Elementary school boys
Kolt Perkins, Zaneis, score 358
Chase Stocker, Garfield, score 347
Grayson Shockley, Cherokee, score 345
 
Elementary school girls
Hunter Tolliver, Zaneis, score 406
Hailey Pilkenton, Greenville, score 404
Hadlie Barnes, Greenville, score 392
 
Elementary school top three teams
Zaneis Elementary, score 3,018
Chickasha Elementary, score 2,969
Coweta Elementary, score 2,921
 
            In addition to the top three teams, several more schools scored high enough to compete as teams at the national tournament. In addition to the top three teams in each category, qualifying teams include:
 
High schools
Shawnee
Beggs
Carney
Crowder
Tecumseh
 
Middle schools
Maryetta
Morris
Zaneis
Cimarron
South Rock Creek
Keystone
Moss
 
Elementary schools
Wayland Bonds
Greenville
Cherokee
Houchin
Shawnee
Sperry
Moss
South Rock Creek
Morris
Beggs
 
            According to Lance Meek, OAIS coordinator, the state shoot was made possible by the efforts of hardworking people involved with theOAIS program.
            “The success of the OAIS program and state shoot is only possible because of the efforts of Wildlife Department employees and our partners such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Morrell Targets, participating schools and coaches, and volunteers from the archery community,” said Lance Meek, OAIS coordinator for the Wildlife Department.
            About 160 schools across the state have enrolled in the Oklahoma Archery in the Schools program, which offers archery to students, and grant money can make it easy for other schools to join up as well.
            “Thanks to a Wildlife Department grant, schools can now get involved in the program for a fraction of the cost of the equipment,” Meek said.
            Partial grants are available for schools to acquire all the equipment, including bows, arrows, targets, safety nets, curriculum and training necessary to begin an OAIS  program in their communities at little cost.
            In order to be eligible for a grant, the school must send a teacher to an eight-hour workshop where they will learn how to conduct the program at their school and instruct students in archery.
            Teachers interested in learning more about the OAIS program or in starting an OAIS program at their school should contact Meek at (405) 522-4572 or lmeek@odwc.state.ok.us  , or contact Colin Berg at (918) 299-2334 or cberg02@sbcglobal.net.
            For more information on the Archery in the Schools program, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.
 
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