Recently, Sportsman’s Clubs from Bethel Middle School, Canton Middle School, and Pisgah High School wrapped another successful year of learning and competition at the State Tournament held at the John F. Lentz Hunter Education Complex in Ellerbe, North Carolina. The tournament was sponsored by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which also owns and operates the education complex and oversees the organization of Sportsman’s Clubs in and community groups across the state.

Several dozen schools competed at the State Tournament – 26 middle school teams and 36 high school teams. In individual events, such as Middle School Archery, there were 125 competitors; in Middle School Shotgun there were 126 individual shooters. In High School Archery there were 186 individual competitors.

For individual achievements, Merit Kuykendall of Canton Middle School won first place and was named the Middle School Individual State Archery Champion. Tucker Lokerson of Bethel Middle School won first place and was named the Middle School Individual State Shotgun Champion. In the High School Archery competition, three Pisgah Bears placed 2nd through 4th in the state: Kenneth Farmer (2nd), Jesse Henson (3rd), and Logan Clark (4th).

Overall state results for the three Haywood County Schools were also strong. Pisgah High School finished 2nd Overall in the state out of all competing high school teams, racking up team finishes of 2nd in Archery, 5th in Shotgun, 8th in Hunter Skills, and 4th in Rifle. Bethel Middle School placed 7th Overall in the state out of all competing middle school teams, with team finishes of 2nd in Archery, 4th in Shotgun, 15th in Hunter Skills, and 7th in Rifle. Canton Middle School came in 13th Overall in the state for middle school teams, finishing 20th in Archery, 6th in Shotgun, 13th in Hunter Skills, and 10th in Rifle.

Team sponsors David Franklin and Chad Franklin were excited about the strong finish to the year for these teams, and they are looking forward to what our county’s great middle and high school Sportsmen will achieve next.

Submitted by:  William Hunt, Canton Middle School