County schools dominate state archery tournament

The podium was a popular place for Jefferson County archers at the National Archery in Schools Program state tournament on March 19 through 22 in Branson, Missouri. Twenty-three area schools participated in the bullseye tournament and proved the point that these kids are good.

Wade Conner, a sophomore at Hillsboro High School, shot a score of 296 out of 300 and took individual first place honors in the bullseye competition, and with his teammates posted the highest team score among the 51 high school teams.

Once again, George Guffey Elementary was the best among fourth and fifth grade students, and they were joined by top performances from other Fox C-6 District schools Lonedell, second place, Simpson, third place, and Meramec Heights seventh place. Windsor Intermediate Center finished in ninth place out of 22 elementary schools.

The Fox District also had the top performers in the middle school category for sixth through eighth grades. Ridgewood placed first, and Seckman finished fourth. Hillsboro Junior High recorded the fifth best score of 64 schools in the division.

Students who finished in the top 100 for their classes at Guffey include Allison Sullivan, 273, Zeralyn Smith, 270, Briella McCabe, 267, Tathoi Das, 267, Aylin Madzhitova, 265, Charlie Bullington, 264, Nora Burger, 263, Lena Cook, 263, Mani Jackson, 261, Jaxson Nanney, 260, Remy Bailey, 258, Julia Kovack, 253, Madeline Hazer, 252, Beckett Downey, 251, Mason Georger, 249, Oliver Rongey, 246, Lincoln Hoffman, 243, Ariel Garrison, 243, Kellie Zoellner, 234, Julianna Throop, 226, and Myles Dugan, 222.

Top 100 shooters at Lonedell were Jack Ferrario, 279, Stanley DeFrate, 262, Ian Iverson, 256, Lincoln Greiner, 253, Tristan Harralston, 252, Paulina Pullen, 251, Sophia Smith, 246, Rilynne DeLarber, 246, Bree McDonald, 245, Malcolm Harris, 245, Luke Duffe, 242, Sylvia Baechle, 234, Lillianna Littrell, 230, Conner Lanfer, 226, Lila Salazar, 204, and Alice Forbes, 188.

Simpson high scorers were Kynslee Beutel, 272, Joslyn Burgess, 264, Ariana Giljum, 263, Tessa Burgess, 260, Erik Whelan Bourne, 255, Angelina Smick, 249, David Parrish, 246, Edah Jusic, 241, Majda Aliji, 239, Maryam Aliji, 231, James Rose, 212, and Emma Schaefer, 209.

The best at Meramec Heights were Carter Kennon, 261, Jackson Olds, 259, Jaxon Arnold, 253, Bobby Renfro, 250, Maddie Hill, 248, Paisley Williams, 246, Kaitlyn Steinman, 246, Gabriella Romano, 234, Lanie Matthews, 231, Joe Gabler, 210, and BreLea Rees, 207.

Windsor Intermediate shooters scores included Rosie Hartman, 248, Lorelei Slate, 247, Addy McNabb, 246, Grace Kezirian, 245, Blaynee Buenniger, 243, Mia Stockwell, 231, Elizabeth Erb, 229, Colt Hodges, 229, Jaxon Bollinger, 221, TJ Sinclair, 215, and Caleb Welch, 207.

Seckman Elementary top shooters were Emily Buss, 263, Blake Slivkov, 255, and Daniel Barnby, 248, and Athena Elementary was led by Kolton Conner, 249.

Ridgewood shooters in the top 100 for their classes were Judah Martinez, 284, Elise Watkins, 284, Jasmine Collier, 280, Leo Pagan, 279, Armin Mujic, 278, Tripp Reinken, 277, Olivia Joggerst, 274, Bailey Eskew, 272, Truman Moore, 271, Logan Bloodworth, 270, Kaylee Storey, 270, Sydney Wolff, 268, Austin Kennon, 266, Gracie Jo Watkins, 262, Madeline Lenau, 261, and Logan Stevens, 255.

Seckman Middle top scorers were Danielle Crinnion, 285, Ethan Miles, 285, Luke Giger, 278, Lena Anderson, 276, Caden Schulte, 274, Paige Steinhoff, 270, Zoey Hatley, 269, Austin Bell, 269, Ethan McGee, 268, Ryleigh Peppers, 267, Elliette Howard, 267, Caroline Belcher, 266, Zoey Suntrup, 263, and Ella Anderson, 252.

The best at Hillsboro Junior High were Ava Luttrell, 284, Alaina Priscu, 281, Tommy Kuczynski, 281, Paxton Schnable, 277, Addy Goforth, 273, Jacki Kohler, 273, Bentley Beavers, 272, Kylee Olson, 271, Gavin Bishop, 270, Zayne Nichols, 264, Morgan Crosby, 262, and Talia Gross, 262.

Windsor Middle had seven shooters in the top 100 for their classes including Shelby Hodges, 274, Ty Riggs, 265, Alexa Zehr, 263, Jennalee Dews, 263, Shelby Schenk, 262, August Prehm, 257, and Haley Hayes, 255.

Jefferson Middle’s Macartney Grider shot a 260 for 49th place of 210 sixth grade girls.

The first place team from Hillsboro High School was led by Wade Conner, 296, James Kimbrell-Cave, 293, Austin Morgan, 289, Gavin Formann, 286, Olivia Heine, 286, Trenton Weber, 285, Briley Vontalge, 285, Adelynn Jaeschke, 284, Colton Olson, 282, Natalie Jeaschke, 281, Kaleb Greiwe, 281, Bryce Ludwig, 280, Samuel Pierce, 279, Jackson Betzold, 278, Thomas Kuczynski, 278, Avery Oshia, 275, Gavin Gross, 274, Rylan Luttrell, 274, Lucas Burle, 273, Christian Ahlheim, 273, Cole Huskey, 272, Reece Churchill, 267, and Jaxi Vontalge, 261.

Seckman High finished in 13th place among 51 high schools thanks to scores from Abbi Hartigan, 290, Alexa Formby, 284, Landon Marlett, 280, Cassidy Jablonski, 279, Ian Slaven, 277, Jackson Phillips, 276, Brayden Woolsey, 274, Collin Davis, 273, Maddie McConochie, 272, Jacob Boden, 272, Cameron Crinnon, 267, Logan Wampler, 267, Josie Lenzen, 264, Sara Balding, 263, Madeline White, 259, Sara Kitson, 257, Kaitlyn Richardson, 255, and Taylor Gallagher, 254.

Windsor High School top archers were Will Deters, 285, Joseph Stephens, 284, Owen Saeger, 278, Noah Poirrier, 276, Andrew Renner, 275, A’nyah Hutchinson, 270, Dakota Dedert, 269, Ella Schaumann, 269, Nick Guebert, 268, Ella Cate, 267, and Billy Belosi, 261.

Fox’s top shooters were Mason Cook, 280, Tanner Klotz, 279, Semir Mujic, 271, Braelyn Haynes, 261, Myra Burger, 259. The best from Festus were Natalie Yates, 290, Kylie Tucker, 276, and Olivia Lucas, 274.

Grandview was led by Ellie Kutrip, 283, Ethan McKinney, 271, John Roberts, 265, and Samantha Corio, 263. Top scoring Jefferson High archers were Carleigh Cook, 271, Ethan Vandiver, 270, Brooklynn Rapp, 268, Ben Vandiver, 268, Cameron Wideman, 267, and Olivia Kentch, 262. The best from De Soto High were Bailee Sickmeier, 268, and Jayda Kirkpatrick.

John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.