SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources hosted the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Illinois State Tournament on Saturday, March 21 at the Orr Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Participation continues to grow as 1,056 archers from 38 schools have qualified to compete. Participation in the State Tournament has climbed steadily from 400 in 2012 to 700 in 2013 and 873 in 2014. Top finishers qualify for the NASP National Tournament to be held May 7-9 in Louisville, Kentucky.

"We are proud of the student-athletes who have worked hard to qualify for the State Tournament," said IDNR Director Wayne Rosenthal. "I am gratified to see the growth of archery as an extra-curricular sport. I invite anyone who is interested in archery and youth sports to come and see these accomplished archers compete."

Students will compete in three divisions, including Elementary (Grades 4-5), Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12). Members of the Illinois Archery Association provide volunteer support for the event. Last year's state champions were Schlarman Academy High School of Danville (Grades 9-12), Jefferson Middle School of Champaign (Grades 6-8), and Armstrong-Potomac Grade School (Grades 4-5).

NASP is a nationally acclaimed youth archery program that implements a curriculum-based archery education program into the public/private school system through the physical education department. The program started in Kentucky in 2002 and has expanded to include thousands of participating schools in five countries. Illinois was one of the first 10 states registered in the program.

Visit the IDNR YouTube Channel for a video of last year's Illinois State Archery Tournament: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poI8UYMqQn8


Qualifying schools include:

Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
Armstrong Potomac Grade School
Armstrong Potomac High School
Athens High School
Canton High School
Canton Ingersoll Middle School
Centennial High School, Champaign
Central High School, Champaign
Chicago Military Academy
Cuba High School
Danville High School
Evansville Attendance Center
Ewing Grade School
Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School
Georgetown-Ridge Farm Middle School
Georgetown-Ridge Farm Elementary School
Highland Middle School
Hubbard High School
Jefferson Middle School, Champaign
Lane Tech College Prep, Chicago
Lewistown
Mark Bills Middle School, Peoria
Metamora St. Mary's
Metamora Township High School
Next Generation School, Champaign
Oswego High School
Phoenix Military Academy, Chicago
Pinckneyville High School
Pinckneyville Junior High School
Riverton High School
Roberto Clemente High School, Chicago
Schlarman Academy, Danville
Schurz High School Jr. ROTC, Chicago
St. Bruno, Pinckneyville
Team Orion (Homeschool Group, Southwest Illinois)
Tremont High School
Washington Middle School, Springfield
Woodruff Career and Technical Center