Since the first NASP (National Archery in the Schools Program) seniors graduated from high school, these avid archers have asked for an opportunity to shoot again with their teammates and coaches. On March 15, 2019, following the first day of the Kentucky NASP State Tournament, they got that chance at the first-ever NASP Alumni and Coaches Shoot.

Nearly 250 prior NASP archers, coaches and soon-to-be graduates took aim, showing they still love shooting their Genesis bow. And as they proved during the competition, they are still very good at it, too. These same Kentucky archers are the first members of the newly formed NASP Alumni Association.

Many of the Kentucky alumni archers formed teams with their prior teammates and coaches, and others chose to compete as individuals. Seventeen teams competed for the grand prize of starting a NASP program in a new school by donating a NASP start-up kit, valued at $3,200, to a school of their choice in need of a NASP program. Second and third-place teams won six new Genesis bows to donate to schools of their choosing.

When the scores were tabulated, the West Kentucky Bush Wookies came away with first place, the Trigg County Arrowcats finished in second place, and Lincoln County High School came in third.

In the individual alumni competitions, Courtney Campbell, Kaylin Smith, Samantha Hartman-Stackhouse, Morgan Belcher, and Katie Ridings were first through fifth, respectively, for women. For men, first through third were Shawn Clark, Dalton Hinkle and Clay Stevens. T Sanchez and Ryan Beard tied for fourth, with Roby Mullins earning fifth.

There were smiles and high-fives all around during the event. Sarah Purtee, a 2015 graduate of Southwestern High School said, “The Alumni Tournament was better than expected. It ran fast and smooth, and it was nice to see those of us who helped start the program get together and do what we loved for so long. I will definitely be going again.”

Courtney Blevins, a 2018 graduate of Bullitt Central High School, said: “I loved shooting the NASP Alumni Tournament, and I can’t wait to come back for the next one. It reminded me of where my love for archery began, and it was wonderful to see all the people that once shared the same passion come back to experience it again.”

The goal of the NASP Alumni Association is to reconnect former archers, encourage involvement in the outdoors, and give back to archers currently competing in NASP. Kody Appleby, a 2015 graduate of Hopkins County Central High School, touched on this when he said, “I’m so happy my team was able to win first. Not just to say we won, but to be able to say we got to help a school without a NASP program start one is great. Giving other kids the opportunity to be introduced to archery the same way I was is priceless.”