Twenty-four Dodge County Middle School students recently competed in the Georgia Archery in the School’s Program competition.
Joshua Peterson, an eighth grader, won the individual state championship by firing a 286 (out of 300 possible points).
Peterson’s score was the highest out of 460 student archers from 24 elementary, middle and high schools. His 286 was the highest score ever recorded in the annual state tournament’s four-year history. Peterson will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship that will be held until he enrolls in a university, college or technical school. Peterson shot in the national tournament last year.
Dodge Co. Middle’s Cole Clements also placed second in the middle school male division with a 264. Breanna LaFavor was third in the middle school female division after firing a 241. Abbie Durden placed fifth with a 238 and Claire Greer placed seventh with a 233.
As a team, Dodge County Middle placed second with a total score of 2,829 and qualified to compete in the NASP National Tournament, held each May in Louisville, Kentucky. That tournament is the largest archery tournament in the world, with more than 6,000 archers expected to compete.
Dodge County Middle School’s team is coached by Tony Taylor. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources conducted the annual state archery tournament and coordinates Georgia’s NASP.
