Washington’s archery teams honored

The archery teams in the Washington school district were honored Tuesday in the high school auditorium.

Most notable were the state champions.

Audrey Smith was a state champion in the elementary competition for 3D shooting.

For the first time in Washington history, the middle school team won a state team title. They were the bull's-eye champions and the 3D team was sixth.

Middle school coach Lee Applegate had asked his team before the competition to achieve a score of 3,250. The team shot 3,278 to win.

'Success comes with hard work and we had a great season,” Applegate said. 'It was just a joy to be around these kids.”

Applegate was emphatic when he said, 'We are really going to miss these eighth-graders.”

The middle school was the largest group ever, 'which took a lot of patience,” Cerka said, 'but was well worth it.”

The elementary team achieved its highest score ever when shooting at state and finished second in 3D. The bull's-eye team was third.

'It was a great joy to be around these kids and they were the best elementary group I have ever been associated with,” one of the program directors, Joleen Cerka, said.

The elementary team award went to Liam Peterson. The middle school team award was given to Levi Applegate. The high school team award winner was Meghan Case.

The team award was a coach's prerogative based on many things like attendance, work ethic, dedication and improvement.

High school coach Jim Peterson said his group 'was the best I ever had and that is a tribute to the coaches and parents.”

The high school team was fourth in bull's-eye and 11th in 3D.

The seniors were singled out.

'It's tough for me to see them leave,” Peterson said as his voice broke.

'A program is only as good as its leaders and we have terriffic leaders,” he said.

Peterson also pointed out that he had kids who always wanted to better other's scores.

'It was a case of I want to beat you to make you better.”

While the teams' scores at state were better than last year, they placed lower.

Quite a number from each school will go on to compete at nationals.

The top point scorers from each school were named.

From the elementary, Izzy Peterson notched 2,260 and Smith had 2,061.

Curtis Stender led the middle school with 2,503 while Cash pepper scored 2,428.

The high-schoolers were separated by a single point. Alexis Ide was at the top with 2,560 and Samatha Mellinger 2,559.

Besides Smith's state title in the elementary bull's-eye division, Izzy Peterson placed fourth while Quintyn Garibay and Emma Helfrich each finished eighth.

In middle school bull's-eye at state, Iris Peterson was sixth and Curtis Stender was eighth.

In the high school 3D tournament Sammy Mellinger placed ninth and she was sixth in bull's-eye.