This year marked the first-time youth were required to meet a qualifying score in addition to participate in three season matches to compete in the state-level championship. Despite the new requirement, 25 counties were represented, including 17 participants from Ward County.

Indoor archery matches are divided by age and bow type:

– Age divisions include Beginner (ages 8-10), Junior (11-13), and Senior (14-18), and Masters (ages 14+ who have qualified for a national contest).

– Bow divisions include Barebow (no sights or releases) and Freestyle (includes either a sight or release).

Submitted Photo Archers competing at state representing Ward County include: back row, Tyson Perdue, Grady Mostad, Quade Everson; front row, Heston Seifert, Hadley Yoder and Tabitha Hauge.

Ward County results:

Senior Freestyle Archery Division:

– Fifth place, Teagan Strilcov, Minot, score: 296.

– Also competing, Stetson Brandvold, Ryder; Faith Carpenter, Granville; and Breanna Mindt and Cole Whitcher, both Minot.

– Third place team: Brandvold, Mindt, Strilcov and Whitcher, combined score: 848.

Submitted Photo Senior Freestyle competitor Stetson Brandvold takes aim during the state 4-H archery match.

Senior Barebow Division:

– Second place: Reagan Albert, Garrison, score: 279.

– Also competing, Brynlee Bloms, Carpio, and Elizabeth Michel, Berthold.

– Third place team, Albert, Bloms and Michel, combined score: 817.

Junior Freestyle Division:

– Fifth place: Quade Everson, Minot, score: 148.

– Ninth place, Tyson Perdue, Minot , score: 144 (tied with three others).

– Also competing, Tabitha Hauge, Surrey; Heston Seifert, Burlington; and Grady Mostad and Hadley Yoder, both Minot.

– Third place team, Hauge, Everson, Perdue, and Yoder, combined score: 436.

Junior Barebow Division:

– Taryn Albert, Garrison, represented Ward County with a score of 249.

Beginner Freestyle Division:

– Third place: Owen Peterson, Minot , score: 144.

– Fourth place, Kelby Yoder, Minot, score: 141.

– Third place team, Peterson and Yoder, combined score: 285.