New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
Public contact: (505) 476-8000
dan.williams@state.nm.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MARCH 10, 2014:
YOUNG ARCHERS SCORE BIG AT STATE TOURNAMENT
RIO RANCHO – Young archers loosed 18,930 arrows Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center, where teams from across New Mexico gathered for the third annual National Archery in the Schools State Tournament.
“This was our biggest turnout ever – 631 kids,” said Brian Guzman, program coordinator for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “There was a lot of good competition, and a whole lot of fun.”
Aztec High School’s Clint Valerio was the top archer of the day, scoring 290 out of a possible 300 in the High School Division. Twenty-one of his 30 shots were bulls-eyes. His teammate, Douglas Hood, scored 280, helping Aztec beat defending champion Albuquerque Institute of Math and Technology by 167 points. Dalton Hamilton of Mescalero took third place with an individual score of 277 to help his team win third place.
Twenty middle schools, eight elementary schools and nine high schools registered for the tournament. Archers shot 15 arrows each from distances of 10 and 15 meters. The winners advance to the national tournament later this year in Louisville, Ky.
Jared O’Toole of Koogler Middle School in Aztec scored 273 to take individual honors in his division. Jahnesta Killen of Albuquerque Institute for Math and Science and Lulu Benitez of Albuquerque’s Washington Middle School each scored 269, with Killen’s 13 bull’s-eyes breaking the tie. Mesa View of Farmington took the middle school team title, followed by Albuquerque Institute for Arts and Science and Washington.
In the Elementary School Division, Juan Carrillo of Albuquerque’s Pajarito Elementary took the individual prize with a score of 256. His teammate, Nadia Gonzales hit nine bulls-eyes to edge out Carlos Reyes of Las Cruces Sun Rise Elementary for second place. Both archers scored 250, and Reyes had three bulls-eyes. In the team competition, Seven Bar Elementary of Albuquerque won its third straight title by outscoring Pajarito Elementary 2,607 to 2,575. Sun Rise Elementary took third place with a score of 2,519.
The top three archers in each division won Genesis compound bows. The top three teams won trophies. Complete lists of individual and team scores can be found on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us under “Events and Opportunities” or by clicking here.
Approximately 100 schools and home-school students across New Mexico participate in the National Archery in the Schools Program. Schools receive free training for instructors, and the Department provides 50 percent of the funding for each school to purchase archery equipment. For more information about the program, please contact Brian Guzman at (505) 231-4375 or brian.guzman@state.nm.us.
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