Caldwell County Archers aim for the National Title

LENOIR, NC (February 27, 2019) — Hudson Middle School Archery team won the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) competition and will compete at the national tournament held in Louisville, KY this May.

The team scored 3,137 to claim the state championship title, a first for Hudson Middle School in only its second year of competing. All team members also qualified to compete individually in the NASP tournament. Congratulations to the following team members: Easton Harris, Jon Spears, Abbi Clarke, Persaius Stringfield, Trina Hurtado, Hugo Martinez, Maliah Lawing, Deuce Eldreth, Dylan Loveless, Kent Byrd, Jesse Jones, Alex Martin, Bryson Genwright, Lily Honeycutt, Kelsea Kiziah, Seth Hensley, Lauren Harris, Trinity Hicks, Emma Moore, Ethan Siraton, Finlee Young, Bailey Creech, and Pyper Cable. The team is coached by Bill Knight, former Caldwell County Schools PE teacher, and Assistant Coach Clint Joplin.

A number of these middle school students began their interest in archery as elementary students on the Baton Elementary Archery team, which placed 2^nd in the state this year at the NASP tournament. The school district hails the Baton Elementary Archery team for the overwhelming support from parents and community and its early successes, winning the state championship in 2017. Bill Knight, current coach of the Hudson Middle School team, also started the team at Baton Elementary and coached the Baton Elementary team to its championship title.

The Baton Elementary Archery team is presently coached by Baton Elementary PE teacher Colt Kale and Instructional Assistant Pam Walker. The runner-up state championship team members are Andrea Ibarra, Ava Duncan, Ayden Gilbert, Brinley Lewis, Brooklyn Hartley, Caleigh Burnette, Cheyenne Brittain, Emma Micheal, Gracie Abernathy, Jacob Gurley, Jamen Dula, Jaxon Hall, Karleigh Howell, Katie McCall, Keagan Brown, Lane Gross, Macey Hartley, Mykala Cook, Morgan Hensley, Myers Jud, Noah Bolden, Scout Stevens, Tori Fulton, and Trinity Key.

Baton students Morgan Hensley and Andrea Ibarra qualify as ranked 9 and 10 out of state to go to Nationals. They are ranked 1st and 2nd in the ranking of fourth-grade girls in the state. Jamen Dula posted the highest individual score with 240 points.

For all qualifiers, the National competition will be held in Louisville, KY, May 9-11.

The principal of Baton Elementary School Jason Teffeteller said that he is proud of the discipline and character all of these students demonstrate both in and out of the classroom, “They are excellent examples of sportsmanship as they strive to be the best in the state and in the nation.”

Both the Hudson Middle School Archery team and Baton Elementary Archery team will be recognized for their accomplishments by the Board of Education at its March 11, 2019, School Board meeting.