July 22, 2014 -- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would like to congratulate Benton Elementary on their first National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) World Championship. The Benton, La., students became Louisiana's first world champion archery team on Sunday, July 13.

Benton Elementary participated in the NASP World Tournament July 11-13 in Madison, Wi. The tournament consisted of teams from the United States, South Africa and Canada. This was Benton's first trip to the World Tournament after a stellar year of archery competition.

Benton Elementary was the Archery in Louisiana Schools (ALAS) State Champions, and then competed in the NASP National Tournament, placing 8th in a tournament that included over 10,500 archers. The fine showing at Nationals earned the team the opportunity to participate at the World Tournament and they took full advantage placing first of 30 teams in their division.

Coach Perry Norcross left the National Tournament knowing that his kids did not perform to their full potential, but the berth into the NASP World Tournament gave them another opportunity to compete at a high level. The group of 4th and 5th graders, plus one 3rd grader, shot a score of 3,229 at the World Tournament, improving on their score from Nationals by 66 points and bringing home the title of World Champions.

Benton Elementary is a member of the Archery in Louisiana Schools (ALAS) program which provides NASP instruction to students as part of their in-school curriculum. All schools in the state of Louisiana are eligible to have the ALAS program. The ALAS program is facilitated and funded by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

For more information about the ALAS program contact ALAS State Coordinator Robert Stroede at rstroede@wlf.la.gov or 318-484-2276.