Norwich schools look to send 23 archers to nationals
NORWICH – After qualifying at the New York State National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) tournament in March, students on the Norwich Middle and High School archery teams will be traveling to Kentucky next month to compete in nationals.
The state tournament took place on March 15 at the New York State Fairgrounds, where the Norwich Middle School archery team took first in both the 3D target and box target categories. After winning first place in the state, the team as a whole qualified to compete in nationals.
Joining the 14 NMS students traveling to nationals will be nine Norwich High School archers, who qualified individually. The NHS squad just fell short of qualifying as a team, earning second place in the state.
"My kids have worked hard," said Norwich archery coach Terry Hagenbuch. "We've been going at this since November of this year, so they've worked real hard."
Every year since the school started its archery program seven years ago, Norwich students have qualified for and competed at nationals. But the last time a Norwich archery team as a whole qualified was in 2015, when the NMS team earned eligibility after winning first place in the box target category states.
"It's been a lot of fun going after school and shooting," said NHS tenth grader Andrew Mullen, who qualified to go to nationals based on his performance in the 3D target category. "I really enjoy it and I know a lot of other kids do too."
Archery has picked up popularity at Norwich in recent years, with 35 students in the club. Unlike other sports, archery is one where the playing field is level for all, regardless of size, gender, or financial standing.
"All the equipment is identical across the country, so the only thing that separates the shooter is the shooter," said Hagenbuch. "Everyone has to use the exact same equipment. It's an absolutely level playing field."
NMS student Braden Reid is in his second year on the archery team, and was the top individual placer on the Norwich team at states. While he said his personal bow at home is heavier, more powerful, and has a scope, using the standard bow at school has helped him with his aim. He said his favorite part about archery is, "Having fun, and obviously winning."
Reid said, "It feels good because obviously it's an accomplishment to go somewhere like that and be one of the best teams in the state."
Hagenbuch said the district has always been supportive of Norwich archers attending nationals, but given the district's financial standing and the number of students going, community members have begun an effort to raise $4,000 to offset the costs of the trip.
"In year's past the school has been very good with sending our kids," said Hagenbuch. "Typically we don't send the entire team; 2015 we did send the entire team and we had to fundraise at that time as well. It's a large fee and I get it."
In the future, Hagenbuch said the hope is to begin instructing archery in elementary school Physical Education classes, because NASP requires students to have gone through instruction prior to participating competitively.
"Because it's [grades] four through 12, our kids are really like two years behind when they get to sixth grade," said Hagenbuch. "And when they get to sixth grade, they're very excited about it, so that's why I have almost 40 students that were interested and came out for archery club."
If you would like to support sending the Norwich archers to nationals, a number of fundraiser options are posted on the Norwich High & Middle School Archery Teams Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/Norwich-High-Middle-School-Archery-Teams-2005162186457491/. You can also email NCS.archery.club@gmail.com.
Pictured: Students on the Norwich Middle School archery team and qualifying members of the high school’s archery team are invited to compete in the National Archery in Schools Program’s (NASP) national tournament in Louisville, Ky from May 9 to May 11. The NMS archery team won first place in the NASP state tournament on March 15 at the New York State Fairgrounds, earning eligibility to compete in nationals. The NHS archery team fell just short of qualifying, earning second place at states, but individuals who qualified will also attend the nationals. Pictured here, members of the NHS and NMS archery teams at the 3D Archery Qualifying event at Schrod Lake. (Jamey Mullen photo)
The state tournament took place on March 15 at the New York State Fairgrounds, where the Norwich Middle School archery team took first in both the 3D target and box target categories. After winning first place in the state, the team as a whole qualified to compete in nationals.
Joining the 14 NMS students traveling to nationals will be nine Norwich High School archers, who qualified individually. The NHS squad just fell short of qualifying as a team, earning second place in the state.
"My kids have worked hard," said Norwich archery coach Terry Hagenbuch. "We've been going at this since November of this year, so they've worked real hard."
Every year since the school started its archery program seven years ago, Norwich students have qualified for and competed at nationals. But the last time a Norwich archery team as a whole qualified was in 2015, when the NMS team earned eligibility after winning first place in the box target category states.
"It's been a lot of fun going after school and shooting," said NHS tenth grader Andrew Mullen, who qualified to go to nationals based on his performance in the 3D target category. "I really enjoy it and I know a lot of other kids do too."
Archery has picked up popularity at Norwich in recent years, with 35 students in the club. Unlike other sports, archery is one where the playing field is level for all, regardless of size, gender, or financial standing.
"All the equipment is identical across the country, so the only thing that separates the shooter is the shooter," said Hagenbuch. "Everyone has to use the exact same equipment. It's an absolutely level playing field."
NMS student Braden Reid is in his second year on the archery team, and was the top individual placer on the Norwich team at states. While he said his personal bow at home is heavier, more powerful, and has a scope, using the standard bow at school has helped him with his aim. He said his favorite part about archery is, "Having fun, and obviously winning."
Reid said, "It feels good because obviously it's an accomplishment to go somewhere like that and be one of the best teams in the state."
Hagenbuch said the district has always been supportive of Norwich archers attending nationals, but given the district's financial standing and the number of students going, community members have begun an effort to raise $4,000 to offset the costs of the trip.
"In year's past the school has been very good with sending our kids," said Hagenbuch. "Typically we don't send the entire team; 2015 we did send the entire team and we had to fundraise at that time as well. It's a large fee and I get it."
In the future, Hagenbuch said the hope is to begin instructing archery in elementary school Physical Education classes, because NASP requires students to have gone through instruction prior to participating competitively.
"Because it's [grades] four through 12, our kids are really like two years behind when they get to sixth grade," said Hagenbuch. "And when they get to sixth grade, they're very excited about it, so that's why I have almost 40 students that were interested and came out for archery club."
If you would like to support sending the Norwich archers to nationals, a number of fundraiser options are posted on the Norwich High & Middle School Archery Teams Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/Norwich-High-Middle-School-Archery-Teams-2005162186457491/. You can also email NCS.archery.club@gmail.com.
Pictured: Students on the Norwich Middle School archery team and qualifying members of the high school’s archery team are invited to compete in the National Archery in Schools Program’s (NASP) national tournament in Louisville, Ky from May 9 to May 11. The NMS archery team won first place in the NASP state tournament on March 15 at the New York State Fairgrounds, earning eligibility to compete in nationals. The NHS archery team fell just short of qualifying, earning second place at states, but individuals who qualified will also attend the nationals. Pictured here, members of the NHS and NMS archery teams at the 3D Archery Qualifying event at Schrod Lake. (Jamey Mullen photo)
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