By7 STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Williamsburg — Winning National Archery in Schools Program tournaments is nothing new for Taylor Cundiff and Kennedy McAlpin.
Both local sharp-shooters had already claimed NASP national titles as elementary competitors.
Cundiff, a freshman at Somerset High School, has won two NASP national titles — an elementary title in 2005 and a middle school title in 2008. Cundiff also has two national runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2007.
McAlpin, a freshman at Pulaski County High School, won a elementary national title in 2006.
Last weekend, Cundiff shot a 288 to wins the boys’ high school division, while McAlpin posted a 282 to win the girls’ high school division.
However, Northern Middle School’s Tristan Abbott posted the overall best score of the day with an amazing 293. Abbott pierced the center circle 23 times, out of a total of 30 shots, to easily win the boys’ middle school individual title.
Somerset Christian middle schooler Ryan Cunningham won the girls’ individual title with a winning mark of 278.
Shopville Elementary’s Sarah Burton claimed the top honors in the girls elementary division with a best of 275.
The three local schools dominated the high school team standings with Pulaski County High School winning the regional team title with a score of 3212. Southwestern High School finished second with 3144 and Somerset High School finished third with 3139.
In the middle school division, Southern Middle School took top honors with 3127 total points, while Northern Middle finished runner-up with 3083 points.
In the elementary division, Shopville Elementary took top honors with 3203 points, while Nancy Elementary finished third with 2962 points.
Other top local high school archers included Vivian Pleasant of Southwestern — 275, Sarah Hansford of Pulaski — 271, Alicia Garland of Somerset Christian — 270, Emily Cox of Somerset Christian — 264, Hannah Blevins of Pulaski — 264, Lacey Reliford of Somerset — 262, Morgan Tapp of Southwestern — 260, Autumn McKinley of Somerset — 257, Preston Brainard of Southwestern — 285, Jayden Hudson of Pulaski — 281, Brad Poynter of Somerset — 275, Jared Epperson of Southwestern — 274, Devin Norton of Southwestern — 274 and Daniel Griffis of Pulaski — 274.
Other top local middle school archers included Debbie White of Somerset — 270, Charliann Bowcock of Southern — 262, Catelyn Acey of Somerset Christian — 249, Kaitlyn Merritt of Somerset — 249, Kaylyn Chaney of Northern — 246, Marissa Acton of Northern — 245, Joseph Gick of Southern — 284, Travis Black of Northern — 275, Austin Swartz of Southern — 271, Tyler McBryde of Somerset — 269, Lucas Roy of Southern — 269 and Aaron Norton of Southern — 267.
Other top elementary archers included Halee Lanigan of Shopville — 274, Kendra Hamilton of Shopville — 265, Alissa Rookard of Shopville — 262, Sara Purtee of Southern — 258, Josie Scruggs of Shopville — 255, Hannah Shawen of Northern — 252, Brittany Morgan of Shopville — 250, Colby Hays of Shopville — 277, Nicholas Casada of Hopkins — 274, Clayton Purvius of Shopville — 270, Elijah Daniels of Shopville— 267, Spencer New of Hopkins — 265, Jacob Willis of Shopville — 265, Cambden Ping of Shopville — 264 and Grant Norris of Shopville — 264.
The NASP State Archery Tournament will be held on Tuesday, March 23, at Louisville’s International Convention Center.
