The Platte County Archery team will head to Branson this weekend to take part in the MoNASP State Tournament that will be held Friday and Saturday.
The Pirates will have members from five schools in the district competing at the Branson Convention Center.
There will be 112 students representing Platte County in the event, which will have a bullseye and 3D competition very similar to the meets held locally, but on a much bigger scale.
CODY THORN/Citizen photo
Platte County Middle School student Wren Wilkins, a sixth grader, is one of many Platte County Archery team members set to compete in the state finals this weekend in Branson. Wilkins and many of her teammates have been practicing during spring break, such as this one Tuesday at Compass Elementary.
Head coach Dana Stephenson, in her first year at the helm, will have teams from Compass Elementary, Platte City Middle School, Siegrist Elementary and Barry Middle School competing in the team standings.
Platte County High School will have six individuals competing: Owen Wilkins, Chase Murphy, Autumn Colstion, Chase Valizan-Crispin, Kasydie Shipp and Kasten Green.
Platte City Middle School earns the distinction this year as being the first school to compete in Tier 1, the highest competition level at state. By virtue of that, the school has qualified for the NASP National and World finals later this year in Louisville, Ky.
Compass will be competing in Tier 2, while Barry and Siegrist will be in Tier 3.
The team practiced on the 3D targets last weekend, which included shooting turkey, deer, coyote, bear and bighorn sheep.
Practices have been held at throughout the week leading up the team leaving on Thursday.
The Civic Center in Platte City was used for some practice, while Siegrist and Compass held practices Tuesday morning.
Stephenson is assisted by Michael Powers (Siegrist), Kim Morgan (Platte County Middle School), Stacy Platt (Barry School). Stephenson handles working with PCHS and Compass. Numerous parent volunteers also assist Stephenson throughout the season.
“I feel confident they will do good,” Stephenson said. “It will be a little different with 120 kids shooting at the same time. We are used to 40 kids shooting at the same time.”