Nine past and present archers, along with a coach, from Stettler’s Wm. E. Hay Secondary Campus will be embarking on the trip of a lifetime in July.
The archers have been invited to compete in the Africa Genesis Archery (AGA) World Tournament taking place at the end of July for the Canadian International National Archery in Schools Program team.
While the group is excited about the opportunity, most agree that it doesn’t seem real yet.
“It’ll get real when you’re on a plane for 12 hours,” said Wm. E Hay head coach Tanja Heatherington, wryly.
While the competition only runs for five days, from July 26-30, the team will be travelling for three weeks taking in the sites of South Africa, including a safari.
The Stettler All-Star Team going on the trip will be current students Hannah Sayles and Brooklyn Stewart, Grade 9; Megan Schrijver, Grade 10; Hayley Sayles, Grade 11; and Jayden Haustein, Grade 12.
Alumni archers making the trip will be Katlyne Glasier, Brooke Glasier, Bryson Haustein, and assistant coach and competitor Jessa Heatherington.
According to Tanja, Jessa’s mom, Jessa is the current Canadian record-holder in NASP, having shot 296 points out of a maximum of 300 during a tournament before she graduated.
The team will be competing under the guidance of Jacquelin Sayles, who is in her third year as assistant coach of the team.
NASP was founded in the United States in the early 2000s and made its way to Alberta around 15 years ago.
The trip the Stettler students are taking is completely self-funded; they have been raising funds through a variety of ways including a bottle drive and barbecue to be held on June 3 and a silent auction at an upcoming colour night at the school on June 7 at 7 p.m. The team will also be raising funds by helping with Steel Wheel Stampede cleanup.
For anyone wanting to support the team for their trip, contact coaches Heatherington or Sayles through the school.
