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John Marshall Archery Headed Back to State

Monarchs have the tournament experience

Photo by Cody Tomer The John Marshall archery team qualified for the state archery championships in Summersville this Saturday. Front row, from left, Noah Beuke, Mark Utt, Ayslynn Klug, Rebecca Kuzma, Beth Allen, Melodee Howe, Morgan Mizgers and Madison Galloway. Middle row, Cody Gram, John Utt, Austin Gemensky, Colton Patrello, Claire McElwee, Cheyanne Parker and Alexis Guzek. Back row, Weslee Standiford, David Francis, Hunter Beuke, Josh Baker, Anthony Martin, Braden Caroll, Issac Woods, Curtis Hall and Kyrie Menendez.

MOUNDSVILLE — The last four years have been special for the John Marshall archery team.

Head coach Russ Howard has had the opportunity to watch his daughter Shelby Howard earn three state titles in four seasons.

After claiming her third championship win last season, Shelby picked up her diploma, leaving her father and the Monarchs with major shoes to fill.

It hasn’t been easy but the journey has led John Marshall to its second consecutive NASP West Virginia State Archery Tournament, which will take place Saturday in Summersville.

The one aspect of the game that Russ Howard is the most impressed with is the growth his team showed throughout the campaign.

It all came together for the Monarchs on a trip to Huntington earlier in the season, where they placed third in a highly competitive event.

“As a team, we have had a very good season,” Russ Howard said. “We went to a shoot at Marshall University and our high school came in third in the largest shoot in the state.

“The biggest thing that I saw from them was maturity. In the past, we have not done our best under pressure. I think it’s the ‘Wow factor.’ We just shot very well this time and their composure really stood out to me.”

This year’s squad does have state tournament experience led by junior Josh Baker and senior Kyrie Menendez, who each recorded scores of 275 in last year’s state final.

One key addition for the Monarchs is freshman Claire McElwee, who earned a trip to the national tournament last year after posting a score of 279 at states.

“Both Josh and Kyrie have been shooting well this year,” Russ Howard said. “Claire also moved up to the high school level after making nationals last year and she is shooting really well.

“Beth Allen and Braden Carroll are also shooting well for us.”

After failing to reach the state tournament three years ago, making the trip to the final shoot has been a goal put in place by the Monarchs ever since.

“Everybody wanted to get back to states,” Russ Howard said. “We missed it three years ago and we don’t want to be sitting at home.

“As a whole, our team has more dedication this year to try to do well.”

The top 24 shooters for the Monarchs get to travel to Summersville to compete for the title, but what Russ Howard has enjoyed the most about this year’s group is how any one of his 128 archers can step up into that top 24 range on any given day.

“Week in and week out, you never know who will be at the top at the end of the day,” Russ Howard said. “We have an even team that always has someone step up.

“We had two or three who were in the top 12 at the Marshall shoot who aren’t in the top 24 qualifying for states. That is just how diverse this team is.”

Nicole Shipman is an assistant coach for the Monarchs, who brings energy and enthusiasm to the team.

As John Marshall will make the trip as a team, three archers from Magnolia qualified as individuals.

Damon Witschey qualified with the state’s overall top score of 294 out of a possible 300, while collecting 24 bullseyes in the process.

Witschey is joined by teammates Hunter Higgins and Kameron Melott, who scored 281 and 277, respectively, while racking up 13 tens each.

In the middle school competition, Kenneth Arrick of Moundsville Middle School turned in a final count of 280 with 18 tens.

Bridge Street Middle School’s Sam Powers accumulated a 278 and 15 bullseyes, while Kaylynn Hall added a 272 and 13 tens.

This will be Hall’s second straight trip to the state finals.

Other high schools to qualify for the tournament include defending champion Ripley, along with Buckhannon-Upshur, Herbert Hoover and Pocahontas.

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