WINDSOR, N.S. — Avon View High School’s archery team once again emerged victorious at provincials, having won every year since the NASP competition has been held.
“We had six schools, including Avon View, and 60 archers. It was a pretty good representation of the students across the province,” said Donna MacMillan, a teacher at Avon View and the head coach of the archery program.
The Windsor-based high school, which hosted the event, was named the top school team Nov. 17 following stiff competition from École Secondaire du Sommet, Horton High School, Parrsboro Regional High School, New Germany Regional High School and Sackville Heights Junior High School.
Avon View had a total of 261.8 points, while the French school, based in Halifax, came second with 254.2 points, and Parrsboro placed third with 251.6 points.
MacMillan said she’s “very, very pleased” with how the school’s archery program continues to excel in the sport, especially since many of the archers are just starting out.
“The majority of our team this year are first year archers so over half of the students only started shooting in September,” said MacMillan. “The fact that they’ve progressed this much in two and a half months, I’m very pleased.”
Avon View’s Cameron Conners took home the top prize for archery for the boys’ red division, while Maddy David, from Ecole Secondaire du Sommet, received the top spot in the girls’ red division. Due to their top scores (269 and 264 respectively), they each received a new bow and a $1,500 scholarship.
Connors will be graduating in June. His sister won the female provincial title in 2017 in her graduating years as well, MacMillan said.
Donald Lohnes, the co-ordinator for the National Archery in Schools Program for Archery Nova Scotia, said he felt the competition “went very well” but had hoped for a larger turnout as it was the first year that they’ve been able to dole out $6,200 worth of scholarships.
“They’re for whatever education they decide to do after high school — so a community college or university,” said Lohnes. “The way it works is they have to tell me and NASP... which school they’re going to. The cheques are written to the school but sent to the student. This way, the money is going to where it’s intended.”
He said the sport is ideal for both boys and girls, and he’s optimistic it will continue to grow in popularity.
“I’m very pleased with how it’s taking hold (in the school system),” he said in an interview following the competition.
“We now have 82 schools that have the equipment and one university. The university is St. F.X. and they actually teach the program in the kinesiology class.”
Both Lohnes and MacMillan see archery as an inclusive sport, one that allows all skill levels to give it a try.
“I’m just really pleased to see the National Archery in Schools Program, or NASP, is really becoming a growing sport in Nova Scotia and the fact that you have students who may not traditionally be involved in athletics, feel welcome on the archery team and still involved in a competitive sport,” said MacMillan.
And the winners are...
The following are the individual results from the 2018 NASP Provincials:
Red Division — Male
Cameron Connors, AVHS, 269
Dylan McKinney, AVHS, 266
Chris Daniels, AVHS, 264
Red Division — Female
Mandy David, ESDS — 264*
Charlotte Samson, ESDS — 264
Erin Trottier, PRHS — 263
Blue Division — Male
Hunter Wagstaff, PRHS — 258
Felicien Dardenne, ESDS — 256
James Cheeseman, NGRH — 254
Blue Division — Female
Kate Barr, HHS — 255
Emily Marsh, PRHS — 247
Isabel Furhapper, HHS — 235
Black Division — Male
Fraser Murray, AVHS — 229*
Joshua Wright, SHJH — 229
Colton Ryan, NGRH — 228
Black Division — Female
Sophie Beaupre, ESDS — 230
Kaitlyn Wohlmuth, HHS — 223
Rylee Anne Swinemar, NGRH — 218
White Division — Male
Liam Jackson, AVHS — 200
Raff de Andrade, AVHS — 187
Dominic Graves-Smith, ESDS, 185
White Division — Female
Madison Armstrong, AVHS — 200
Tessa Bond, HHS — 197*
Kendalyn Benedict, AVHS — 197
* Denotes a tie score, with the archer who had the most 10s taking the higher placement.
