Despite relying heavily on middle school archers, the Logan County Cougars won the KHSAA Regional championship Saturday in a tournament held at LCHS. Four of the seven scores that counted for Coach Tina Lynch’s team were by middle schoolers.
Meanwhile Lynch’s Lady Cougars came within an eyelash of going to state as a team. They tied with Muhlenberg County for second but lost the tiebreaker because Muhlenberg archers hit the 10-point circle 114 times to Logan’s 107.
“I am extremely proud of the Logan County Archery program and all the archers around our district. The high school team has met and exceeded every goal we have set for them this season. This has definitely been a year of celebrations. This little team of 20 archers hasn’t stopped improving yet,” Lynch says.
“The girls are the highest scoring team in the Regionals across the state that did not make it to the state tournament. We do; however, have three girls that will shoot as individuals; Rhonda Reeves, Chloe Watkins, and Taylor Haley.”
The seven boys whose scores counted were Michael Drake 292, Isaac Stanley 291, Asher Liles 283, Jaden Hayes and Mark Lynch 279 each, and Clacy White and Evan Dana 278 each. Stanley and White are students at Auburn while Lyles and Dana are from Olmstead.
Other Cougar shooters and their scores: Jayden Bowersock 276, Justin Pearson 274, Drake Cornelius 271, Daylan Lawrence 268 and Christian Skipworth 236.
Lynch says, “Because we do not have enough boys at the high school to make a team of 12, there are some middle school boys that competed with our high school team and did very well. Issac Stanley (Auburn), Asher Liles (Olmstead), Clacy White (Auburn), Evan Dana (Olmstead), Justin Pearson (Olmstead), Drake Cornelius (Chandlers), and Dylan Lawrence (Lewisburg). These boys with continue on to state with the high school team.”
Girls shooters and scores: Rhonda Reeves 291, Chloe Watkins 289, Taylor Haley 288, Kaylen Skipworth 279, CJ Raymer 275, Paige Baldwin 273, Lindsey Brinkley 272, Sydnee Claypool, Fayden Beadnell 270, Calie Dowell 268, Lindsay Allen 264 and Jenna Robertson 257.
The Cougars scored 1980 out of a possible 2100 points to win the championship. Muhlenberg County, which finished second in both the boys and the girls tournaments, shot 1969 and Meade County 1961. A total of 15 boys teams were entered.
The same three schools led the girls division. Meade County won this title with 1976 points while Muhlenberg and Logan each shot 1967. Sixteen teams were in this gender division.
The entire Cougar team and the three Lady Cougars will go to state April 26 in Lexington.
“This is another week of accomplishments for this small team of 20. They will be competing in the NASP state tournament in both the bullseye and the 3D qualifying tournaments on Friday, March 30,” Coach Lynch said. “From there they could continue on to the Nationals and then even Worlds.
“Who knows what this team has to show us. What a great group of kids and they deserve every award they receive!”