Washington Middle School cleans up at State Archery

DES MOINES — It was a good weekend to be a Demon Middle Schooler on March 5-6 at the Iowa State Archery Championships in Des Moines. Washington’s junior high archers showed out for a phenomenal showing on the biggest stage.

The Washington Middle School squad finished Top-2 in both classes. The Demons won the state Bullseye competition with a final tally of 3,261 points, and played second in the 3D competition with a final score of 1,606.

Among teams the Demon Middle School squad beat out were Cardinal and Mid-Prairie, who took fifth and sixth respectively in the 3D competition. Cardinal also had a Top-10 in the Bullseye ranks, finishing eighth.

Washington filled the Top-20 in the Bullseye competition. Ethan Hotchkiss was the top archer on the squad, shooting 285, for third in the boys’ standings. Johannah Halvorson was fifth in the girls’ standings, with a 283.

Blake Sheetz shot 278 for 20th in the boys’ standings. Lily Brown and Emma Helfrich were 18th and 19th respectively in the girls’ standings, shooting 275 and 274.

In the 3D competition, Gabrielle Andrew took seventh on the girls’ side with a 272. Teage Pepper finished at 272 as well, good enough for 16th on the boys’ side, and Halvorson finished 11th on the girls’ side, with a 270.

Cardinal’s junior high team had four Top-15 finishes on the day. The Comets were led by Paiden Rupe, who shot 282 in Bullseye for eighth on the boys’ side, and a 275 in 3D, for 10th.

The Comets had a pair of 15th-place finishes as well. Emma Short shot 277 in Bullseye, and Makayla Barnes finished at 268 in 3D.

Mid-Prairie had two Top-5s in the Middle School 3D competition. Lael Seale’s 276 gave her fourth place on the girls’ side. Elijah Statler took fifth in 3D boys with a 282, and also tallied a 15th on in boys’ Bullseye, with a 280.

The Washington High School squad took 10th in both Bullseye and 3D. Cardinal sneaked past the Demons in the 3D standings, finishing ninth.

The top Demon highschooler was Jonathan Moore, who shot a 290 for sixth place on the boys’ side. Lana Frana was 17th, with a score of 287.

Cardinal’s high school squad was led by Haylee Fountain, who finished 15th in the Bullseye ranks, with a 184. Jenika Corder took 17th in 3D, with a 281, and Morgan Rupe was just behind her in 19th, scoring 281 as well, but finishing with less tens.

Washington had the best elementary team of the three, taking 6th overall. Cardinal’s elementary also landed in the Top-10, taking ninth. Both of those are in the Bullseye competition.

Washington’s Lincoln Elementary squad had two in the Top-20. Hunter Barnes shot a 267, for 12th, and Zach Hotchkiss finished at 266, for 17th.

Mid-Prairie had a couple of high-ranking elementary finishers as well. The Golden Hawks boomed with Preston Ford’s 270, which was second-best on the boys’ side in 3D. Mya Brenneman finished 12th in Bullseye, scoring 256.