By Michelle Popovich
Contributing writer
Special to the Tribune

The Pratt High School archery team hosted the Pratt State Qualifying Tournament (Bullseye) and the Pratt 3D Tournament on Saturday, March 1 at The Blythe Fitness Center. Fifteen schools from around the state participated in the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) tournament.

Schools participating included elementary, middle and high schools as well as homeschool groups. A total of 185 archers, 95 female and 90 male, participated in the bullseye tournament and 157 archers, 78 female and 79 male, participated in the 3D tournament.

Trophies were presented to the top three teams in each school division and medals were awarded to the top male and the top female archers for each division.

Those who participated in the are eligible to compete at the NASP State Tournament to be held at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson on Friday and Saturday, March 28th and 29th. Pratt High students Jesse Kemper (4th year archer, academic archer, and team captain) led archers Cadence Messick (2nd year archer, academic archer), Lochlan Willis (1st year archery, academic archer) and Taygan Smith (1st year archer) in the competition. In addition, eight Liberty Middle School Students competed, many for the first time, and had a blast shooting throughout the day, according to their instructor Aaron Austin, KDWP.

All USD 382 student archers represented their teams and the Pratt community well and will be competing at the upcoming state tournament.

The team extends special thanks the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife and the PCC Wildlife Outfitting and Operations Program students for all of their work making the tournament run smoothly and successfully. The Blythe Fitness Center has been instrumental in the success of the local archery teams by providing a great venue for practices and events.