The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section will host its third annual West Virginia Archery in
the Schools Program State Tournament at Summersville National Guard Armory on March 1, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the Division of Natural
Resources.
"Since our pilot program began in the fall of 2004, there has been a tremendous amount of interest from schools around the state," said Jezioro.
"From just a handful of participating schools the first year, we now have over 140 participating schools in the program. It is estimated approximately
30,000 students have gone through the Archery in the Schools Program in just four years, making it one of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section's largest and
fastest growing educational programs."
Students from the following schools will participate in this year's tournament:
New Life Christian
Duval Middle
Meadow Bridge Elementary
Nellis Elementary
Chapmanville Middle
Chapmanville High School
Summersville Middle
Cabell Midland High School
Madison Middle
Summersville Grade
Westwood Middle
Scott High
Richwood High School
Westside High
Parkersburg South High School
Ripley Middle School
WV School for the Blind
Guyan Valley Middle
Nicholas County High School
WV School for the Deaf
Pendleton County High
Ripley High School
East Hardy High School
Tucker County High
Capitol High School
Cameron Jr.
Moundsville Jr.
Baileysville Middle
John Marshall High
Sherrard Jr.
Tygarts Valley High
Elkview Middle School
Cameron High
"We at the DNR are very encouraged about the success of the Archery in the Schools Program," noted Program Coordinator Jerry Westfall. "The
program provides students an exciting activity, gives them a life-skill, and will possibly lead to future indoor or outdoor archery endeavors. This year's
tournament will be the single largest indoor youth archery tournament in the history of the state, with over 500 students participating. This tournament would
not be possible without the generosity of the City of Summersville, several wildlife and archery organizations, and a host of volunteers and interested
parents. I encourage everyone to come out and see how successful this tournament and the Archery in the Schools Program have become."
Tournament competition is open only to schools that have received the archery training provided by the Wildlife Resources Section.
For more information on the WV Archery in the Schools Program or to attend the next training, scheduled April 15 and 16 at Shepherd University in
Shepherdstown, visit the DNR's Web site at www.wvdnr.gov
Editor's Note: The tournament will be held in Summersville National Guard Armory from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and will be followed immediately by the awards
ceremony.











