Seven Fergus Falls Youth Archers Compete at Minnesota NASP State Tournament

Elias Magnuson scored 268 points in the bullseye format at the Minnesota NASP state tournament, placing him in the top rankings of his division against a field of more than 2,000 archers. Walter Nebbeling posted 264, earning a top-division finish of his own. Both competed as part of a seven-member contingent from the Fergus Falls Youth Archery program that traveled to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center on March 27-28, where 2,084 participants from 92 Minnesota teams competed for state honors.

To appreciate what those scores mean: in NASP's bullseye format, archers shoot 60 arrows at ring targets scored one through five, with 300 as the maximum. Magnuson's 268 and Nebbeling's 264 reflect accuracy rates above 88 percent sustained across that full 60-arrow set, in a gymnasium packed with the best young archers in the state. Carmen Suchy also turned in a standout bullseye performance for Fergus Falls. The complete squad additionally included Rylee Torgerson, Emma Michael, Marissa Thoma, and Elliott Johnson, all competing under the banner of ISD 544, the Fergus Falls Public Schools district that serves roughly 2,950 students across seven schools in west-central Minnesota. Archers faced two disciplines at state: bullseye target archery and 3D target shooting.

The seven who made it to Duluth came from a pool of approximately 50 school-aged youth enrolled in the FFYA program, which runs through Fergus Falls Community Education and accepts boys and girls in grades 5 through 12. Certified Basic Archery Instructors deliver instruction following NASP curriculum guidelines. Eligibility to compete at area tournaments requires enrollment in Fergus Falls Public Schools or the Fergus Falls Homeschool program. The equipment students train and compete with is owned by School District 544 and was originally funded through a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grant with matching support from the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club.

Those roots reflect NASP's broader mission. The program launched in 2002 from just 21 Kentucky middle schools and has since put a bow and arrow in the hands of more than 21 million students in grades 4 through 12. More than 1.3 million students in roughly 8,891 schools now participate annually, with enrollment split evenly between male and female archers. Eighty-four percent of NASP instructors report the program improves students' self-confidence, and its safety record under program guidelines exceeds every ball sport taught in schools except table tennis.

The Duluth tournament was the 2024 Minnesota state competition; the 2025 edition moved to the St. Cloud Rivers Edge Community Center, held March 28-29, as the sport continues expanding statewide. Anyone interested in the FFYA program can contact Fergus Falls Community Education directly for enrollment and schedule information ahead of future tournaments.