ST. MARTINS - St. Thomas the Apostle School took a "Grace of God Day" recently when well more than half of its student body would be gone to the National Archery in Schools Program national tournament.
The school has 72 kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Of those 46 are eligible for the archery team and 39 participate, said Principal Leroy Heckemeyer.
This is the school's third year for the program. Heckemeyer said he is amazed at how successful the program is.
St. Martins Catholic School also has seen immediate response to the archery program. This was the first year for St. Martin's to have a team qualify for the national tournament.
In only its second year, the St. Martin's archery program has about one-fourth of the school body as participants.
"In the last couple of years, it's went crazy," said Ron Hentges, volunteer coach and certified with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Statistics say archery is growing faster than soccer right now, he said.
Other Mid-Missouri schools with competitive archery teams this year were Belle, Chamois, Helias Catholic, Immaculate Conception, Immanuel Lutheran-Honey Creek, St. Joseph Cathedral, St. Joseph - Westphalia, St. Peter Interparish, St. Stanislaus and St. Thomas.
As an alternate sport, youth who may not excel in traditional athletics find archery to be fun and challenging.
Archery requires good eye-hand coordination, attention to repetition, mental strength and the ability to stay focused.
St. Martins took 25 students to the recent national tournament in Louisville, Ky. They also had one student qualify as an individual.
Since December, the team had attended several local tournaments to earn a qualifying score, Hentges said.
And now, they are focused on the world tournament in July in Nashville, Tenn., which they qualified for at nationals.
"The kids are extremely excited,"
Hentges said. "It's something new - the kids haven't competed at that level before."
Next year, Hentges said he hopes to qualify an elementary team and a middle school team.
"You can see a huge difference in skills from the first to second year," Hentges said. "I'm curious to see what next year brings."
Mid-Missouri schools with competitive archery teams
Chamois Middle Team ranked 171 of 201 at nationals and 21 of 27 at state.
Helias High School Team 1 was 72 out of 192 and Team 2 was 160 of 192 at nationals. Team 1 was 3 of 17 and Team 2 was 6 of 17 at state.
Immaculate Conception Middle Team ranked 151 of 201 at nationals and 16 of 27 at state, its elementary team ranked 13 of 16 at state.
Belle Elementary School's team ranked 62 of 148 at nationals and 6 of 16 at state.
St. Martins Catholic School's Middle team ranked 157 of 201 at nationals and 18 of 27 in the state tournament.
St. Thomas Elementary team ranked 48 of 148 at nationals and 2 of 16 at the state tournament. The Middle Team ranked 84 of 201 at nationals and 7 of 27 at state.
St. Joseph Cathedral School's Middle Team ranked 132 of 201 at nationals and 12 of 27 at state. Its elementary team ranked 15 of 16 at state.
St. Joseph Catholic School, Westphalia, sent an elementary team which placed 102 of 148 at nationals and 7 of 16 at state. Its middle team placed 24 of 27.
St. Peter Interparish School's middle team ranked 159 of 201 at nationals and 11 of 27 at state. Its elementary team ranked 9 of 16 at state.
St. Stanislaus School's elementary team ranked 13 of 64 at nationals and 5 of 16 at state. Its middle team ranked 26 of 27 at state.
Immanuel Lutheran School, Honey Creek, and Trinity Lutheran School took teams to several local tournaments.