The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

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  • Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen Woodlawn Elementary archery team member Daniel Bennett, 12, takes careful aim at the target during a recent competition in Chatsworth. The team has placed first in the state.

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March 19, 2010

Woodlawn archery team takes first

Rachel Brown Dalton Daily Citizen

DALTON — Woodlawn Elementary School just hit the bull’s-eye with a first place win among 21 schools competing in Georgia’s National Archery in Schools state tournament.

With a score of 3,168 out of a possible 3,600, Woodlawn’s top 24 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders scored tops among the 11 elementary school teams they competed against. They also outscored their middle school and high school competitors and set a record for the highest team score in the five-year history of the state tournament.

“We are on Cloud Nine,” said Coach Brad Bates. “I'm just tickled at how hard they worked. You could see the determination in their eyes all year long. They set a goal to win, and they did it. I just couldn't be more proud of them.”

Bates said the team will next compete against about 6,000 students from across the nation in Louisville, Ky. May 9-10.

Woodlawn placed third last year in its first state competition, and team members were determined to do whatever it took to be at the top of their game the next time, officials said. Bates said the team practiced four days a week after school, and several team members practiced at their homes, too.

John W. Mitchell, the state organizer from the Department of Natural Resources, said he was impressed with Woodlawn team members' determination.

“One of the things I'm really excited about is they went to a state match last year, they saw the standards that were set, and came up with an idea of how much they had to work and learn and help each other,” he said. “They're a true team.”

There were several individual winners from Woodlawn at the state championship.

In the girls category, Morgan Ray shot a 277 out of a possible 300, placing highest of any girl in the competition and earning a $1,000 scholarship and a Genesis bow and target. Teammate Haley Bagley, who was last year's state champ, came in second. Laura Alton placed third, and Bailey Coker placed fifth. In the boys division, Jordan Priest was state champion with a score of 271, while Isaiah Waters placed third in the elementary division.

All students shoot the same type of bow from the same distance regardless of age. They are not allowed to use sites. The competition consists of shooting three rounds at 10 meters and another three rounds at 15 meters. Students are required to score their own targets, a practice that helps with math skills, leaders said.

“The program has been great for building confidence in kids,” Bates said. “Not everyone is born with athletic talent ... but everyone can do this. Some kids just find that this is their sport.”

Bates has three assistant coaches: Kellye Flood, Will Linginfelter and John Bagley. He said he also appreciates support from the school administration and sponsors.

Coach Bagley said the children on the team never picked up a bow until they began shooting in October 2008. The team set a goal to shoot at least 3,000 points out of a possible 3,600. Now their goal is 3,250.

“They just absolutely have blown our minds,” he said.

Schools interested in participating in the National Archery in Schools program can contact Mitchell at john.mitchell@dnr.state.ga.us.

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