When it comes to mastering archery, Mitch Munion is right on the mark.
The Mahtomedi fifth-grader won first place at the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Nationals in Louisville, Ky., topping a field of 1,573 fourth- and fifth-graders. Competition included archers in fourth through 12th grade from 39 states.
Munion, a student at O.H. Anderson Elementary in Mahtomedi, also took fourth place in the 3-D challenge in which animal-like foam targets are used. Team head coach Becky Lassila said Munion is in his second year on the archery team. He recorded his personal best score at nationals.
"He works hard every time he's at practice," Lassila said. "He's very focused. He loves what he's doing, which helps immensely."
Munion and fellow Mahtomedi archers practice with students from White Bear Lake. Local interest in archery has garnered support from administrators and physical education teachers, who recognize it as a sport and have been working archery into class curriculum, Lassila said.
For students, archery builds self-esteem and confidence, she said.
"Whether they realize it or not, it's the focus and the discipline that goes into it," she said. "When they're getting into it, they're really focused and they're really on, and I think that's a good feeling that they get."
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Archery in the Schools program is part of the NASP and aims to train teachers and provide students with the best equipment, training and curriculum available for the lowest price.
