“Archers strive to shoot the perfect score. That is our goal. NASP on the other hand, has perfect archers striving for their personal best,” says Lisa Frye, Kentucky State NASP Coordinator. Frye’s words come just after, Paige Robbins, a NASP® student who attends Simon Kenton High School in KY shot a perfect 300, a rare occurrence in the National Archery in the School’s Program. In addition to Robbin’s perfect 300, Anna Herbert who attends Fowlerville High School in Michigan and lives nearly 300 miles from Robbins, also shot a perfect 300, days earlier–If that isn’t a fun coincidence!
When they compete, NASP®’s more than two million archers, shoot thirty arrows at an eight centimeter “10-ring” or bullseye (3.15-inch diameter circle). The first fifteen of those arrows are shot at ten meters (32.8 feet) and the second fifteen arrows are shot at fifteen meters (49.2 feet). NASP® archers shoot metric distances because NASP is practiced in countries outside the U.S. The average score at NASP®’s national tournaments with almost 15,000 archers, is a very respectable 252.
For NASP®’s first ten years of existence a perfect score of 300 was unheard of, indeed many thought the feat impossible with the basic equipment used by every NASP® student. In fact, until 2012, the highest score achieved in NASP® was a 298 posted by both a male and female archer. Then in 2012, a NASP® archer shot a perfect score. That archer was Richmond, Kentucky’s Ryan Long. Michael Downs followed at the All-Nation All-Star tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. He was competing against the best teams from the United States, Canada, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom. Just last year, in 2018, Kentucky’s T. Sanchez also scored a perfect 300 at the NASP All- Star event held in Alberta, Canada. In addition, seven other young men have performed with 300 perfection.
“NASP® is very pleased and proud of Anna and Paige demonstrating once again that NASP® archery is well-suited for boys and girls of most ages, abilities, and backgrounds,” says NASP® President, Roy Grimes.
“Paige is the perfect team archer. Kind, considerate, and as happy for her teammates’ successes, as she is of her own. Our Kentucky NASP®️ family is a tight knit group. We were thrilled to see Paige shoot her 300 and become the first Kentucky female archer to score perfect title. She now joins T Sanchez from Hopkins county, in our Kentucky NASP®️ 300 club. I’m certain T Sanchez is proud to have another join the club,” says Frye. As Anna and Paige join the 300 club, it just shows what hard-work, dedication, and focus can produce. Frye also mentioned that when archers shoot near perfect 296, 297, or 298s, the students sometimes ask themselves, “Why doesn’t the arrow like me?” Grimes suggests, “I’d say the arrow ‘likes’ that archer very much because to shoot a near-perfect score, bare-bow style without sights, mechanical releases or other common archery aids from ten and fifteen-meter shooting lines, is no common or easy feat! If an arrow doesn’t like me, it hides under the grass in my backyard!”
Jennifer Smith, coach to Anna Herbert, also had some inspiring words about her shooter. “Anna works so hard! She practices more than any archer I know and has been driven to be the best. She was the female national champion last year. Anna, along with a few other of our high school team, has also helped get our elementary program going. She enjoys working with our younger archers to help them be their best. She shares in their excitement as they continue to improve. Additionally, Anna is one of our high school mentors, working one on one with a younger archer in our program to develop goals and shot consistency. Anna has also competed in USA archery and NFAA events (though I can’t remember them all!).”
Because shooting a perfect 300 is so noteworthy, there are guidelines that coaches and archers must adhere to for it to be validated. For instance, the perfect score is only recognized if shot during an official archery tournament with archers from more than one school attending. Officials at the event have to vouch for the accuracy of the score keeping as do the archer’s respective lane mates and coaches.
So, while Anna and Paige receive their in-school NASP® archery lessons 300 miles apart, their 300 scores have made history in the world’s largest youth archery program. NASP® is proud to recognize them for their hard-work and perseverance in the archery program.
For the latest NASP® news and events, please visit www.naspschools.org
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
