Pine Grove Elementary archery advances to world tournament
Published 9:00 am Monday, May 30, 2016
- Submitted PhotoThe Pine Grove Elementary archery team is pictured, front, from left, Gage Francis, Logan Deal, Karter Fletcher, Emma Allbritton, Frank Ruepp, Isaiah Francis, Sam Hardman, Abby Rykard and coach Amie Burnam; middle, from left, Taunya Thompson, Lauren Greer, coach Sue Ann Christie, Dylan O’Neal, Amber Anderson, Triston Gartman, Steven Ruepp, Todd Moye, Brady Wells and Abigail Gilbert; back, from left, Marcus Black, Evan Velazquez, Jeffrey Drake, Aiden Francis, Ben Hardman, Lake Fletcher, JR Chris, Owen Lancaster, Grace Edmondson and Carter Ellington.
VALDOSTA, Ga. — The Pine Grove Elementary archery team improved its ranking at the National Archery Tournament last week, finishing in the top 29 percent in the U.S. to advance to the world tournament in June.
In its second year participating in the national tournament in Louisville, Kentucky, Pine Grove finished 45th out of 156 teams in the nation. Last year, Pine Grove finished 119th out of 148 teams in the elementary division.
Pine Grove also participated in the 3D challenge, presented by the National Archery in the Schools Program and the International Bowhunting Organization. The team finished 19th out of 66 teams. The Pine Grove archery team will now compete in the world tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., beginning June 24.
Archery has opened new worlds for the students at Pine Grove. Not only has it been a fun activity to participate in with friends, it has also provided opportunity for travel and new experiences. Archery students have to work hard, remain disciplined and learn to focus. It teaches respect, responsibility and gives students a sense of pride to be part of something.
There is no funding for sports at the elementary level. The program is run solely by volunteers and the program relies on community support to help make everything possible. The community helped Pine Grove to take 27 students to the national tournament by donating items to the program’s raffle, purchasing banners and targets and providing monetary donations.
