The Andrews Varsity Shooting Team has advanced to the State Championship after winning their district tournament.

Congratulations to Braydon Rowland, Dalton Rose, Dalton West, Carley Clark, Kaden Postell, Mackenzie Stalcup, and Dylan Ledford.

The teams accolades include but are not limited to:
District Champs

Team champs in Shotgun
Team champs in Archery
Team champs in Hunter Skills
2nd place Team in Rifle
Dalton Rose is Overall Champion
Dalton West is Hunter Skills Champion
Dalton West second place in Archery

The Senior Team will advance to the State Championship on April 24th along with the Junior Individual Champs.

Below is the press release from the NCWRC-

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 8, 2021) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will host the 43^rd annual Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament (YHEST) state championship on April 24. Due to COVID restrictions, the participants will showcase their shooting and outdoor knowledge skills at ranges across the state to comply with safety and gathering guidelines. Each event will be under the observation of Wildlife Commission staff with scores being submitted electronically to declare the senior and junior champions.

“This year had its challenges, but the students rose to the occasion,” stated Carissa Daniels, Outreach Manager with the Wildlife Commission. “Being able to compete in YHEST has given everyone a sense of normality, and the opportunity to practice and promote safe shooting sports and wildlife education. It’s important to our state’s wildlife conservation efforts that we continue to cultivate the next generation of hunters.”

The Commission conducted 85 district competitions in March, which serve as qualifiers for the state competition, with 217 teams participating from 130 public and private schools, homeschool associations and 4-H clubs. This number was down from past years due to the pandemic, but still considered a success.

Competition is conducted on senior (high school) and junior (middle and elementary schools) divisional levels, with overall team and individual awards based on aggregate scores in all events. The first-place champions from each district and individual event will advance to the state competition and compete in rifle, shotgun and archery marksmanship and a hunter responsibility exam.

The state championship represents an opportunity for competitors who advanced from district events to showcase shooting and outdoor skills as well as knowledge learned through the Commission’s Hunter Education Program.