The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

Murray County High School Indians

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  • Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen Woodlawn Elementary’s Richard Phillips, front, lets an arrow fly as other competitors take aim during the Region 4 National Archery in Schools Program tournament in Chatsworth on Saturday.

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February 12, 2012

Woodlawn sparks area’s bow-and-arrow growth

By Chris Whitfield chriswhitfield@daltoncitizen.com

CHATSWORTH — Woodlawn Elementary’s competitive archery program has quickly grown to be a state and national power, and now the school is helping to grow the programs in the area.

Five other schools — including two from northeastern Georgia’s Morgan County — convened Saturday at Woodlawn for the first Region 4 National Archery in Schools Program tournament. The growth is part of a statewide trend in schools adding archery programs to their curriculum, said Georgia Department of Natural Resources official John Mitchell.

Mitchell is one of two shooting sports coordinators for the DNR, and he said more than 200 schools have now started archery programs, up from 60 schools just three years ago.

“There is a lot more room for this program to grow,” said Mitchell, who retired as a county extension agent in Hall County before taking over the new DNR program that provides grants and training to schools wishing to join the program.

“In just the last year, we have trained and certified programs in Gilmer County, Gordon County, three more schools in Murray County, Bartow County and at Southeast Whitfield.”

Woodlawn Timberwolves coach Brad Bates said he was happy to see the expansion, especially close to home.

“I am real pleased that this is sport is growing in our area and hope it continues to get stronger and stronger,” Bates said. “It has grown by leaps and bounds since we started four years ago. We want Georgia to be a force in the national standings.”

Southeast High began its program as part of its vocational offering from agricultural teacher Julie Roberts, who serves as the school’s coach.

“We shoot in class two weeks a year, and a lot of the kids really got into it,” she said. “So, we started a competitive team, and we have been practicing a little bit, but we still have a long way to go.”

The Raiders were the only high school student-athletes in the tournament, so they made next month’s state tournament in Perry by default. As a team, Southeast shot a 2,646, which would have finished third in both the middle school and elementary school divisions. But with 16 participants, the first-year program has garnered good interest.

Southeast sophomore Matt Cloer said he has grown up in a household where outdoors activities were emphasized, previously shooting compound bow recreationally from January to August before hunting season. In that, he was following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who are both avid hunters and outdoorsmen.

“Mrs. Roberts told me she really wished that I would join the team, and it has been fun,” Cloer said. “It is the first time that I have really gotten to do it in an organized setting, and I am looking forward to more.”

Cloer led the Raiders with a 246 in the individual scoring out of a possible 300. Alley Pilcher had the top score for the Lady Raiders with a 222.

Woodlawn Elementary’s varsity team had the top overall score for all divisions with a 3,263, followed by Bagley — the top middle school — at 3193. Woodlawn’s Alyssa Laviana finished with 19 10s, seven 9s and four 8s to take the top overall individual title with a 285. Bagley’s Haley Bagley was second at 282, while Caroline Ridley of Woodlawn was third with a 276.

Morgan County Middle’s Jackson Mitchell had a 281 to lead the boys. Woodlawn’s Tucker Hemphill and Bagley’s Asa Hibbett finished tied for second at 280, with Hemphill getting the edge by having more 9s after both finished with 15 10s.

Woodlawn, winners of the state and national titles last year and the world title in 2010, is looking forward to defending its state title, posting a score that was nearly 20 points better than their national-title winning score last year.

“Our kids did really well, and what they shot today is what they have been doing in practice,” Bates said. “Our goal every year is to win the state title.”

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Murray County High School Indians