Arkansas Baptist Takes Away Lots of “Bling” and $4500 in Scholarships
while qualifying for the National Archery Tournament - 2/6/10
Supported by the Junior High Cheerleaders and a huge parents/friends gallery, Arkansas Baptist took home more medals than any other Arkansas school from the Arkansas State National Archery in the Schools Program (ANASP) Tournament held in Hot Springs on Saturday, February 6, 2010.
The ANASP doubled in size from last year as did the quality of competition. The Arkansas Baptist Eagles were up to the challenge. AB’s Middle School Archers took second place with a score of 3022 out of a possible 3600, a major improvement from last year.
Erica Nicolas showed the true Eagle Spirit coming to the meet in spite of being sick and weak and still managed a “double shoot off” to take fourth overall in Middle School female division. Erica shot a 253 - only one point off last year’s senior high male best of 254.
Chad Grimmett, a sixth grader, shooting against seventh and eighth graders took overall fifth place in the Middle School male division with a score of 268.
Christopher Jones, another sixth grader, took first place in the 3-D competition sponsored by the Arkansas Bow Hunters Association.
The AB High School led by the Lady Eagle Archers also took second place with a score of 3155 out of the possible 3600, an improvement of 138 points over last year’s score. Justin Nesselrotte led the Eagles with an individual score of 281/300, the highest score yet to be posted by an Eagle, taking fourth place in the State overall. Last year’s winning score overall was a 276 and Justin’s 281 was only two points behind this year’s winner at 283.
The AB High School Lady Eagles rocked their targets and shocked more senior archers from around the State. Showing great poise and focus, two of AB’s tenth grade ladies not only held their own, but took both first and second place overall. Katie Colford took first place (277) and in addition to her trophy received a $2500 scholarship, and Katelyn E. Hogue took the second place trophy (275) and a $2000 scholarship. Interestingly, last year’s female winner shot a 263 and the senior male scored a 276. Way to go ladies!
When it came down to the State individual shoot off in both divisions, AB posted 25% of the competition field. All five AB archers who competed in the shoot off will receive individual invitations to the National Tournament to be held May 6-8, 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky as a result of placing in the top five at the State level. (Three AB archers competed in the High School Division shoot off and two AB archers competed in the Middle School Division shoot off.)
Both AB teams also qualified for the National Tournament, by besting the minimum score of 2600 for the Middle School and 2700 for the High School and also by their second place State finishes.
This performance would not have been possible without the dedication and practice of our archers, the guidance and patience of our coaches (Brenda Simmons, Jim Nesselrotte, Melan
ie Wiggins, Lesa Baxter, Cheryl Olmsted and Tara Hauck), the daily support of the administration and staff, especially Nate and Mack White, and Edra Taylor and of course the parents who allow their students to participate and who traveled to support them. And a special thanks to the AB JH Cheerleaders for taking their personal time to render an outstanding performance.
Thank you all, we hope to see you at the National Tournament in Louisville!
--Coach Keller
“They don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
--
Jim Foth
