Moffat archers capture state titles

Photo courtesy of Amber Manchester Moffat Elementary Archers prepare to compete in the 2023 National Archery in the Schools Program Colorado State Tournament. Left to right: Kyren Plumley, Marcus Potter, Raina Chatterton, Lacey Sheffield, and Rory Grover.

MOFFAT — Moffat PK-12 Schools recently competed in the Colorado State National Archery in the Schools Program 2023 Virtual Tournament. For the second time in four seasons, the Moffat Middle School Team captured the Colorado State Championship title.

Moffat’s Middle School, 12-person team, bested Renaissance Magnet School from Castle Rock by 53 total points. Olathe Middle School rounded out the top teams with a third-place finish. Moffat’s coed team effort was made possible by the performances of the following archers: Shelby Morley, Chase Shellabarger, Tanner Shellabarger, Caiden Cross, Javad Taylor, Madison Payne, Daniel Hollenbeck, Kolina Skoglund, Kandra Pollard, Xander Schwartz, Wyatt Payne, and Ella Goizueta.

Shelby Morley, eighth grade, turned in the highest score across all divisions in the tournament to be named the 2023 Middle School Colorado State Champion Girl. Shelby scored 285 out of a possible 300 points. This is Shelby’s third time representing Moffat at the podium but the first time capturing the title.

Chase Shellabarger, eighth grade, was named the Middle School Colorado State Champion Boy for the second time in his Moffat career. Tanner Shellabarger, sixth grade, placed second.

Lacey Sheffield represented Moffat Elementary by edging out Chloe Fanning, Granby Elementary, to become the Colorado Elementary State Champion Girl.

Moffat archers posted six additional top-10 division finishes as follows: Austin Gardner, fourth place, High School Boys; Cairn Pike, eighth place, High School Boys; Caiden Cross, sixth place, Middle School Boys; Javad Taylor, tenth place, Middle School Boys; Madison Payne, fifth place, Middle School Girls; and Kyren Plumley, tenth place, Elementary Girls.

Moffat coaches, Jack Sciacca and Megan Shellabarger plan to take Moffat’s top contenders to the 2023 NASP Western National Tournament in Sandy, Utah, in late April. Donations to offset travel expenses are being accepted. Contact Jack Sciacca, [email protected], to contribute.

The National Archery in the Schools Program has grown to 1.3 million competitors nationwide. If you are interested in bringing NASP to your Colorado School, Contact Heather Hubbard, [email protected].