Hundreds of Student Archers Compete in NASP State Tournament in Helena

Charlie Godrich stood in the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds exhibit hall and, between shots, said, "I have learned a lot about keeping your breathing under control" as student archers from across Montana aimed at bullseye and 3-D animal targets for a state NASP competition hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Helenair photo captions noted a state championship trophy was on the line inside the exhibit hall.

Sources differ on scale and timing. KTVH reported "four hundred archers from over 25 elementary, middle, and high schools" competed in early March, while MontanaRightNow reported "nearly 500 elementary, middle and high school students" competed in Helena on March 18 and 19 and said the archers represented 15 schools, including teams from Trout Creek and Hardin. Photographs credited to Sonny Tapia for the Helena Independent Record are dated March 3 and show students marking scores and gathering arrows at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds.

Competition at the NASP state tournament followed a two-part format described in KTVH coverage: traditional bullseye target shooting from different distances and a 3-D course with animal targets. Helenair and Missoulian photo captions documented students retrieving arrows from 3-D targets and marking scores; captions named Twin Bridges' Jacob Grossman and Swan River Archery's Hayden Hickey among competitors photographed on March 3.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks organized the event as part of the National Archery in the Schools Program and provided trainer support and equipment cost-share for schools, according to MontanaRightNow and KTVH. Ryan Schmaltz, identified by KTVH as an education specialist with Montana FWP and by MontanaRightNow as FWP's NASP coordinator, said, "Looking around here, the kids connecting from all corners of the state is really cool; there is not really a corner of Montana that is not participating in the program now." MontanaRightNow also reported Schmaltz saying, "For these kids, it’s more than just shooting bows and arrows in P.E."

Students at the event described personal gains tied to the curriculum. KTVH quoted Cyan Dupuis saying, "It brings me a lot of happiness that I get to be able to participate in such a big thing," and Summit Cech saying, "It has definitely taught me to focus and be patient." KTVH also recorded Godrich calling the atmosphere "great" and "fun."

Statewide context provided in MontanaRightNow shows the tournament competitors were only a portion of a larger program: the story noted about 10,000 Montana students in grades 4 through 12 took part in NASP last year. Organizers emphasized in both KTVH and MontanaRightNow coverage that FWP runs basic archery instructor trainings and cost-shares equipment to help schools start NASP teams.

For schools or coaches interested in starting NASP, MontanaRightNow published contact information for Ryan Schmaltz at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: 406-444-9946 or RSchmaltz@mt.gov. Organizers and photographers documented heated competition inside the fairgrounds exhibit hall and a mix of regional teams traveling from communities such as Twin Bridges, Swan River, Trout Creek and Hardin to vie for state honors.