An estimated 1,300 students from 50 schools across Iowa will be in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on March 4-5, to participate in the 10th Annual Iowa Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament. This is the largest youth archery tournament in Iowa.
Iowa student participation in the National Archery in the Schools Program has grown each year beginning from scratch in 2006 to now more than 2,700 participants in 2016.
“We have found schools to be welcoming to this sport because it is so engaging and students from all levels of physical and athletic ability can participate and succeed,” said Donise Petersen, archery coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “We have archers with different levels of physical limitations to archers who are in other sports, band or choir. It’s fun, it’s safe and everyone can do it.”
The tournament will be held both on Friday evening and Saturday where archers will have the opportunity to compete both in Bullseye and 3D target events. The 3D targets will be set up in the warm-up arena in the east side of the building. This is the first year for the 3D target State Tournament. Competition on March 5 begins at 8 a.m. when 1,300 archers head to the main arena for the state tournament. There will be 50 targets set up which will allow 100 participants to shoot at a time.
Participation has increased so much at the state tournament that the event outgrew the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center. This is the first year it will be held at the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Admission is $5 for 18 and older, 17 and younger are free. Participants and coaches are allowed free admission to the Iowa Deer Classic at the Iowa Events Center.
12th Graders Shoot for College Cash
Archers who are seniors in high school can earn money for college.
The highest scoring boy and girl in the 12th grade of the Bullseye tournament will each receive a $1,500 scholarship, and the runner up boy and girl in the 12th grade will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for college.
The highest scoring boy and girl in the 12th grade of the 3D target tournament will each receive a $1,000 scholarship, and the runner up boy and girl in the 12th grade will each receive a $500 scholarship for college.
Scholarships are provided by Iowa Bowhunters Association, Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Iowa State Archery Association, Safari Club International and the National Archery in the Schools Program.
World Record Holder, Silver Medalist Archer to Hold Demonstration, Present Check
U.S. Paralympic Silver Medalist Matt Stutzman, of Fairfield, will be on hand March 5, to present a $10,000 check on behalf of BP to the Iowa Bowhunters Association National Archery in the Schools Program Foundation, to help increase the number of schools participating in 3D target archery competition.
Stutzman competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
BP, which is America’s largest energy investor over the past 10 years, is a proud supporter of Matt Stutzman and his quest to become the top archer in the world. Stutzman is one of seven Team USA athlete ambassadors that BP is sponsoring as they compete for a spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Additionally, BP is the first-ever corporate partner of the U.S. Olympic Committee to sponsor an athlete roster featuring more Paralympians than Olympians.
Stutzman, who was born without arms, set a new Guinness World Record on December 9, 2015, hitting a FITA target at 310 yards. Stutzman will address the participants then hold a demonstration shoot following the check presentation at 7:05 p.m.
BP America and local BP-branded fuel retailers are proud to play an important part in building awareness of Paralympic movement in the U.S. through grassroots support of Paralympic Sports Clubs. Since 2011, BP-branded retailers in 13 states have donated more than $900,000 to their local PSCs.