Team members who will be headed to Lancaster on Friday including seniors Lexis Drukenbrod, Arreanna Anderson, Jolynn Durlin, Caitlyn Banister, and Lynsey Arthur; juniors Ayden Bailor and Callan Patterson; sophomore Allyson Spencer; freshman Taylor Blystone; and eighth-graders Emerson Shatz, Wyatt Greeley, and Alex Foster. The coaches are Michael Patterson and Matt Irons.

Students who scored at least 220 out of 300 during a qualifying event or showed marked improvements from tournament to tournament are eligible for the state event.

The Spooky Nook – “the largest indoor sports complex in the United States,” according to its website – is hosting the event for the first time.

The top 10 archers at the state event will qualify to move on to the national championship in Kentucky.

Photo submitted to Times Observer Tidioute Community Charter School archery team members practice Wednesday before heading to the National Archery in the Schools Program Pennsylvania State Tournament.

“I’m really hopeful that we will have a few archers who will be able to compete for one of those top ten spots,” said coach Patterson. “One of our seniors, Lexis Drukenbrod, had consistently shot well in tournaments this year, and we believe she is capable of making that next step. We also have some excellent young archers participating this year.”

Team members have been practicing four days per week since September and have been able to hone their skills year-round in the school’s practice building. That will change next year, as the school’s foundation has future building plans involving that building. Anyone familiar with an appropriate practice venue is encouraged to contact the school.

“NASP is an activity that doesn’t discriminate based on popularity, athletic skill, gender, size, or academic ability,” according to NASPSchools.org. “It’s a different kind of team sport. It’s open to any student. Its biggest supporters are professional educators. Teams come together around one thing: archery. The National Archery in the Schools Program is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades four through 12. And through it, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.”

According to NASPSchools.org, “NASP is an activity that doesn’t discriminate based on popularity, athletic skill, gender, size, or academic ability. It’s a different kind of team sport. It’s open to any student. Its biggest supporters are professional educators. Teams come together around one thing: Archery. The National Archery in the Schools Program is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4th – 12th. And through it, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.”