The Department of Natural Resources today announced the winners of Michigan's Third Annual State Virtual Archery Tournament. More than 500 student archers enrolled at schools participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) competed in the recent tournament.

Team awards will be presented as follows:

High School Division

• 1st Place-St. Mary Cathedral High School
• 2nd Place-Laker High School
• 3rd Place-Northwoods Christian Homeschool Association

Middle School Division

• 1st Place-Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek
• 2nd Place-Portage Central Middle School
• 3rd Place-Coloma Middle School

Elementary School Division

• 1st Place-Hartland Farms Intermediate School
• 2nd Place-Laker Elementary School
• 3rd Place-Palo Community School

The 2007 and 2008 defending state champion, Mariah Kestila, 9th grade of Escanaba High School in Delta County maintained her position as the top female archer in the state by placing first among females in this year's tournament. Matthew Allen, 11th grade of Bark River-Harris High School in Delta County is the new male state champion.

The National Wild Turkey Federation provided trophies and medals for top ranking teams and individual winners. In addition, several archery equipment manufacturers donated prizes for tournament winners. First-place teams, an additional six qualifying teams and the top five male and female archers in each age division received an invitation to participate in the upcoming NASP National Tournament May 8-9 in Louisville, Ky.

"The state tournament is the culminating event for students and coaches participating in NASP," said Mary Emmons, coordinator of Archery in the Schools Program for the DNR. "Teams and individuals from 49 participating NASP states will be competing for college scholarships and other prizes at the national tournament."

For a complete list of tournament winners and scores, visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrarchery. For more information on Michigan's Archery in the Schools Program, contact Mary Emmons at (517) 241-9477 or e-mail her at emmons@michigan.gov.