News

Ad Astra Archery Tournament Successful

                                         Photo Credit: Michael Pearce/The Wichita Eagle

The 3rd annual Secretary of State Ad Astra Archery Tournament took place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at MacLennan Park in Topeka. An outdoor event, 155 school children from kindergarten through 12thgrade braved the chilly breezy day and took part in the competition. In addition, the general public enjoyed the Learn to Shoot area with one-on-one instruction. Archers and the public also enjoyed the horses from the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Posse, as well as the fishing clinic by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), and various rides such as the gladiator joust and whirly bird.

            Secretary of State Kris Kobach presented plaques and other items to the following winners of this tournament:

            K-3 division

·         

1st Place

:  Jalee DeVader, Centershot Ministries at Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene

·         2nd Place  Reagan Kobach, Centershot Ministries at Open Door Baptist Church

·         

3rd Place

:  KayLynn Hall, Centershot Ministries at Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene

4th-6th grade division

·         

1st Place

:  Grant Ricke, Clearwater USD 264

·         

2nd Place

:  Jack Rowland, Clearwater USD 264

·         

3rd Place

:  Hannah Schoonover, Erie Arrows (Erie & Chanute)

7th-8th grade division

·         

1st Place

:  Nikki Duerksen, Clearwater USD 264

·         

2nd Place

:  Jacob Spellman-Sak, Clearwater USD 264

·         

3rd Place

:  Cody Hanna, Clearwater USD 264

9th-12th grade division

·         

1st Place

:  Micaela Keehn, Jackson Heights High School

·         

2nd Place

:  Jessica Koch, Clearwater USD 264

·         

3rd Place

:  Bradon Williams, Clearwater USD 264

Ad Astra Archery Tournament Inc. was formed this year as a not for profit corporation.  Tax deductible donations enabled Secretary Kobach to present financial awards for the highest scoring archers in each division at the Kansas Archery in the Schools Program tournament held in Hays, Kansas, who are eligible to participate in the national championships of the National Archery in the Schools Program inLouisville, Kentucky, and who make the trip to represent Kansas there. Two individuals met the criteria this year, and they are:

Elementary School Division, 

1st Place

:  Katelyn Blanco, Clearwater

Middle School Division, 

1st Place

:  Tatyana Miner, Clearwater

            Special thanks to Gary Keehn (KDWPT) for serving as range master and Joyce Ellis (KASP tournament) and Shelby Stevens (KDWPT) for serving as scorekeepers. Plans are to hold the 4th annual Ad Astra Archery Tournament in the spring of 2014.