The fourth biggest story in Mid-Prairie sports from last year takes us to the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for the 2024 State Archery Championships, then onward to Louisville, Kentucky for Nationals.

The Golden Hawk Archery Club sent 50 total athletes to State in March.

The high school Hawks were 17th of 24 in 3D with their score of 1640. Elijah Statler led the Golden Hawk boys, placing 22nd of 198 with his score of 282 including 16 tens. The Golden Hawk girls were led by Sophia Puttman 61st of 176 with a 270 and 14 tens. In bullseye, the Hawks were 20th of 28 teams with a 3256. Top Golden Hawk girl was Averi Janecek 34th of 383 with a 281 and 17 tens. Landon Kuenster was 39th of 428 for the Mid-Prairie boys with a 283 and 13 tens.

The middle school Hawks were 16th of 23 in the team 3D standings with a 1578. Lael Seale led the way for the Golden Hawk girls in seventh place of 130 with a 278 and 13 tens. Top boys performance was Nickolas Kelley 31st of 200 at 273 and 11 tens. In bullseye, the Golden Hawks were 25th of 28 teams at 3116. Lael Seale was best for the Golden Hawk girls, finishing 15th of 304 with a 277 and nine tens. Noah Coblentz led the Mid-Prairie boys, placing 46th of 504 with a 275 and 13 tens.

Joshua Seale went top 10 in boys 3D with a 267 and 13 tens for seventh. Seale was also the bullseye leader, placing 30th of 199 in the boys contest with a 257 and four tens. For the girls, Blair Northup was 71st of 123 with a 225 and one ten.

The scores for Lael and Joshua Seale at State were enough to qualify them for the National Shoot in Louisville, Kentucky. Lael Seale scored a 278 with 16 tens, to place 55th of nearly 1200 middle school girls in the competition. She was 31st of 412 eighth grade girls and finished 181st out of more than 3000 girls who competed. Her brother Joshua Seale shot a 265 with ten 10s to place 51st of more than 800 elementary boys. He was 45 out of more than 500 fifth grade boys and placed 802nd out of more than 3300 boys at the competition.

The full list of Golden Hawk State archery competitors included high schoolers Tate Bombei, Kyla Karnes, Ava Miller, Morgyn Nafziger, Brynn Northup, Blake Peck, Johnathon Pickard, Milo Sieren, Allie Whetstine, Rylee Cady, Eli Conrad, Jacob Debler, Isabelle Frederick, Stella Janecek, Jaiden Lara, Brylee Miller, Madelyn Sieren, Harlee West, Madison Witthoft and Cailtyn Yoder.

Mid-Prairie Middle Schoolers competing include Lara Brenneman, Mya Brenneman, Preston Ford, Kylar Kiefer, Fiona McClellen, Beckett Miller, Morgan Northup, Nickolas Peck, Braxton Ropp, Joshua Seale, Joel Sellers, Landon Allen, Alex Conrad, Ty Gearhart, Easton Gorsch, Madilynn Liska, Gavin Luers, Levi Luers, Nolan Mohling, Greyson Naraine, Skylar Swift and Cole Troyer.

Tune in Wednesday as we unveil the third biggest story in our countdown with a look at Golden Hawk girls golf.