LOUISVILLE, Ky. – More than 7,800 young archers set a Guinness world record at the ninth annual NASP National Tournament at the Louisville Expo Center, eclipsing the mark set two years ago in Mongolia.
The NASP championship was held May 11-12, with 8,171 registered archers from Alaska to Florida and more than 200 volunteers participating. The Guinness record was set with 7,804 participating archers and was easily broken in the first day of NASP competition. The record was shattered by 6,781 archers.
Sixteen top archers also earned honors in the inaugural 2012 NASP/Army National Guard All-American Team. The All-American team recognizes the skill, dedication, determination and discipline required to be a top competitor and achieve national success through the NASP local, regional, state and national events.
Thanks to NASP partners Mathews Inc., Morrell Targets, Easton Technical Products, the National Field Archery Association, National Wild Turkey Federation and eager volunteers. The archery range featured 1,350 feet of shooting line, 270 lanes and room for 540 archers during each of the tournament’s 1-hour rounds (flights).
Every archer launched 10 practice arrows and 30 scoring arrows at an international bull’s eye target from 10 and 15 meters. No matter the archer’s grade, gender, or skill level, each used the same Mathews Genesis bow, Easton aluminum arrows and shot at the same size targets at identical distances. To maintain an accessible and affordable playing field, enhancements such as sights, stabilizers, or release aids are prohibited in NASP. In fact, the tournament format is exactly the same as taught for more than 2.055 million student archers in 10,373 NASP schools.
The 7,804 participating 4th-12th grade student archers traveled from 35 states. Alaska sent 27 students as the culminating event to its year of Physical Education archery lessons.
The tournament was staffed by approximately 200 volunteers. These dedicated individuals came from the United Bowhunters of Kentucky, Northern KY Bowhunters Association, Kentucky Traditional Bowhunter’s Association, churches, Kentucky State University, and the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
NASP students continue to demonstrate archery mastery with ever-increasing scores. High school freshmen Tyler Finley from Maysville High School in Zanesville, Ohio, and Matt Wiglesworth of Harrison County High School in Cynthiana, Ky., tied the NASP world record score with 298 points (perfect is 300). Thirteen ties had to be decided before the final standings could be sorted out. Ties occur when archers are matched with the same score and the same number of 10s, 9s, 8s, etc.
When the ties were broken, Finley won the shootoff and became the 2012 NASP National overall male archer. The next three places in the High School male division were also tied with 297’s.
The tournament’s top overall female archer of the tournament with 296 points was High School junior Wendi Thomas from Alma Bryant High School in Irvington, Ala.
In previous years $14,000 in college scholarships have been awarded by conducting the scholarship shoot off. This year, thanks to the generosity of many NASP sponsors, those scholarships totaled $50,000. Winners of the scholarship shootoff are listed below.
Award Sponsor MALE
Mathews Archery – $10,000 — Tyler Finley Zanesville, Ohio
Bass Pro Shops – $7,500 — Ryan Long Richmond, Ky.
Muzzy, Laporte, Wildlife Research – $5,000 — Matt Wiglesworth Cynthiana, Ky.
NEET Archery Products $2,500 — Conner Patterson Stanford, Ky.
Award Sponsor FEMALE
Gordon Composites – $10,000 — Tymbrie Snobl Alburnett, Iowa
Morrell Targets National Field Archery Association – $7,500 — Wendi Thomas Irvington, Ala.
Rinehart Targets, Shikar Safari – $5,000 — Mary Aldridge Frankfort, Ky.
Saunders – $2,500 — Macy Robles Cynthiana, Ky.
First place teams in the Elementary, Middle, and High School Divisions were:
• Foley Intermediate School from Foley, Alabama
• Trigg County Middle School from Cadiz, Kentucky
• Trigg County High School from Cadiz, Kentucky
For complete tournament results visit: www.archeryintheschools.org
Many dozens of exhibitors displayed their archery, outdoor, and “kid’s stuff” throughout the event. Several interactive shooting exhibits were also provided: Archery Golf, 3-D, Pop-Up Targets, Aerial Shooting, Bow Fishing, Recurve Range, and air rifle ranges by the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.
For the first time, students who had completed an on-line Hunter Education course could come to the tournament and complete an air-rifle field course to receive their Hunter Education Certification, Free Hunting Licenses, and sign up for KDFWR’s mentored hunting program.
Many of these national archers will meet again at the 2012 NASP World Tournament, set Oct. 2-4 at the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports near Orlando. Students will be able to meet and learn from their NASP peers in the U.S., Canada, Africa, and New Zealand.
Top finishing individuals, teams, and the inaugural NASP/Army National Guard All American Team standings are attached below.
2012 NASP Nationals Final Results
4th Grade Female
1. 278 Trellis Whaley, Lee County Elementary, Leesburg, GA
2. 276 Holly Snow, Piner Elementary, Morning View, KY
3. 275 Riane Tuthill, Chickasha Middle School, Chickasha, OK
4. 274 Summer Ross, Deputy Elementary, Deputy, IN
5. 271 Kate Douglas, Lake Park Elementary, Albany, GA
4th Grade Male
1. 288 Spencer Bartlett, Cairo Elementary, Henderson, KY
2. 283 Ryan White, Tyner Elementary, Tyner, KY
3. 279 Garrett Richardson, New Castle Christian Academy, New Castle, PA
4. 279 Tristan Blake, Lewisburg Middle, Lewisburg, KY
5. 276 Nate Wood, Holy Name Elementary, Henderson, KY
5th Grade Female
1. 285 Corie Young, Kirksville Elementary, Richmond, KY
2. 280 Anna Ezell, Bluffsview Elementary, Columbus, OH
3. 278 Alyssa Laviana, Woodlawn Elementary, Chatsworth, GA
4. 277 Birdie Maxwell, Parklane Elementary, Lawton, OK
5. 276 Macy Mitchell, Trigg County Intermediate, Cadiz, KY
5th Grade Male
1. 290 Zack Hogan, Richardsville Elementary, Bowling Green, KY
2. 290 Dalton Anderson, Foley Intermediate School, Foley, AL
3. 290 Dalton Hinkle, Cairo Elementary, Henderson, KY
4. 289 Brandon Aldridge, Westridge Elementary, Frankfort, KY
5. 287 Dylan Thompson, Bay Creek Elementary, Loganville, GA
6th Grade Female
1. 284 Riley Link, Holey Name Elementary, Henderson, KY
2. 284 Shelby Anderson, Foley Intermediate, Foley, AL
3. 283 Alyssa Decorrevont, Henderson North Middle, Henderson, KY
4. 283 Faith Terrell, Chandler High, Chandler, OK
5. 282 Kaylin Smith, Trigg County Intermediate, Cadiz, KY
6th Grade Male
1. 294 Logan Geer, New Prague Middle, New Prague, MN
2. 292 Jack Looney, Eagle Mountain Magnet, Batesville, AR
3. 291 Blaise Anton, Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, IA
4. 290 Jacob Morehead, Boonville Middle, Boonville, IN
5. 290 Jaden Carpenter, Jackson County Middle, McKee, KY
Middle School Female
1. 295 Mary Aldridge, Bondurant Middle, Frankfort, KY
2. 293 Macy Robles, Harrison County Middle, Cynthiana, KY
3. 292 Jenna Ischinger, Oxford Central, Oxford, NJ
4. 291 Kaila Cunningham, Trigg County Middle, Cadiz, KY
5. 290 Natalie Owens, Jennings County Middle, North Vernon, IN
Middle School Male
1. 296 Caleb Howard, Jennings County Middle, North Vernon, North Vernon, IN
2. 295 Nich Hope, Muhlenberg South Middle, Greenville, KY
3. 294 Jake Bartlett, Henderson North Middle, Henderson, KY
4. 294 Zac Smith, Ashville Middle, Ashville, AL
5. 292 Kadin Staples, Stuart Pepper Middle, Brandenburg, KY
High School Female
1. 296 Wendy Thomas, Alma Bryant, Irvington, AL
2. 292 Tymbrie Snobl, Alburnett Community, Alburnett, IA
3. 291 Sarah Shipley, Trigg County High, Cadiz, KY
4. 291 Cayla Goodson, Ripley High, Ripley, WV
5. 289 Megan Besecker, Troy High, Troy, OH
High School Male
1. 298 Tyler Finley, Maysville High, Zanesville, OH
2. 298 Matt Wiglesworth, Harrison County High, Cynthiana, KY
3. 297 Ryan Long, Madison Central High, Richmond, KY
4. 297 Connor Patterson, Lincoln County High, Stanford, KY
5. 297 Levi Miller, Meade County High, Brandenburg, KY
Overall Female
1. 296 Wendi Thomas, Alma Bryant, Irvington, AL
2. 295 Mary Aldridge, Bonurant Middle, Frankfort, KY
Overall Male
1. 298 Tyler Finley, Maysville High, Zanesville, OH
2. 298 Matt Wiglesworth, Harrison County High, Cynthiana, KY
Teams:
Elementary School Team
1. 3267 Foley Intermediate, Foley, AL
2. 3247 Eagle Mountain Magnet, Batesville, AR
3. 3243 Woodlawn Elementary, Chatsworth, GA
Middle School Team
1. 3394 Trigg County Middle, Cadiz, KY
2. 3359 Anderson County Middle, Lawrenceburg, KY
3. 3342 Stuart Pepper Middle, Brandenburg, KY
High School Team
1. 3437 Trigg County High, Cadiz, KY
2. 3412 Maysville High, Zanesville, OH
3. 3401 Logan Hocking High, Logan, OH
Scholarship Award Winners
MALE
$10,000 Tyler Finley — Maysville HS — Zanesville, OH
$7,500 Ryan Long — Madison Central HS — Richmond, KY
$5,000 Matt Wiglesworth — Harrison Co. HS– Cynthiana, KY
$2,500 Conner Patterson — Lincoln Co. HS — Stanford, KY
FEMALE
$10,000 Tymbrie Snobl — Alburnett Community School — Alburnett, Iowa
$7,500 Wendi Thomas — Alma Bryant — Irvington, AL
$5,000 Mary Aldridge — Bondurant MS — Frankfort, KY
$2,500 Macy Robles — Harrison County MS — Cynthiana, KY
2012 NASP/Army National Guard All-American Team
Tyler Finley, Male, 9th Grade, Maysville High School, Zanesville, OH – 298
Matt Wiglesworth, Male, 9th Grade, Harrison County High, Cynthiana, KY – 298
Ryan Long, Male, 11th Grade, Madison Central High, Richmond, KY – 297
Connor Patterson, Male, 9th Grade, Lincoln County High, Stanford, KY – 297
Levi Miller, Male, 9th Grade, Meade County High, Brandenburg, KY – 297
Korey McKay, Male, 11th Grade, Ashville High, Ashville, AL – 296
Wendi Thomas, Female, 11th Grade, Alma Bryant, Irvington, AL – 296
Chris Bee, Male, 9th Grade, Hartland High, Hartland, MI – 296
Caleb Howard, Male, 7th Grade, Jennings County Middle, North Vernon, IN – 296
Mary Aldridge, Female, 8th Grade, Bondurant Middle, Frankfort, KY – 295
Justin Mehs, Male, 11th Grade, Anderson County High, Lawrenceburg, KY – 295
Nich Hope, Male, 8th Grade, Muhlenberg South Middle, Greenville, KY – 295
Nathan Freeman, Male, 10th Grade, Tell City High, Tell City, IN – 295
Macy Robles, Female, 7th Grade, Harrison County Middle, Cynthiana, KY – 293
Tymbrie Snobl, Female, 10th Grade, Alburnett Community, Alburnett, IA – 292
Jenna Ischinger, Female, 8th Grade, Oxford Central, Oxford, NJ – 292