Joe Manchin III, Governor
Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : February 22, 2008

Third Annual “West Virginia Archery in the Schools Program” State Tournament to be Held March 1 at Summersville National Guard Armory

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section will host its third annual West Virginia Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament at Summersville National Guard Armory on March 1, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the Division of Natural Resources.

“Since our pilot program began in the fall of 2004, there has been a tremendous amount of interest from schools around the state,” said Jezioro. “From just a handful of participating schools the first year, we now have over 140 participating schools in the program. It is estimated approximately 30,000 students have gone through the Archery in the Schools Program in just four years, making it one of the DNR Wildlife Resources Section’s largest and fastest growing educational programs.”

Students from the following schools will participate in this year’s tournament:

“We at the DNR are very encouraged about the success of the Archery in the Schools Program,” noted Program Coordinator Jerry Westfall. “The program provides students an exciting activity, gives them a life-skill, and will possibly lead to future indoor or outdoor archery endeavors. This year’s tournament will be the single largest indoor youth archery tournament in the history of the state, with over 500 students participating. This tournament would not be possible without the generosity of the City of Summersville, several wildlife and archery organizations, and a host of volunteers and interested parents. I encourage everyone to come out and see how successful this tournament and the Archery in the Schools Program have become.”

Tournament competition is open only to schools that have received the archery training provided by the Wildlife Resources Section.

For more information on the WV Archery in the Schools Program or to attend the next training, scheduled April 15 and 16 at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, visit the DNR’s Web site at www.wvdnr.gov

Editor's Note: The tournament will be held in Summersville National Guard Armory from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and will be followed immediately by the awards ceremony.

**DNR**