DES MOINES - Nearly 2700 students from more than 146 schools from across Iowa competed at the 19th Annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines from March 27 - 29. This is the largest youth archery tournament in Iowa.
Archers competed in both Bullseye and 3D competitions at the Varied Industries Building and the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. This year, the bullseye competition moved to the Varied Industries building for extra space, allowing up to 150 competitors to shoot at the same time. 48 targets were set up for the 3D competition, allowing for up to 98 participants at a time.
Iowa student participation in the National Archery in the Schools Program has grown each year beginning from scratch in 2006 to now more than 5,200 participants in 2026. The program promotes student education and lifelong participation in the sport of archery. It aims to provide international-style target archery training in physical education classes for grades 4-12.
"As one of Iowa's finest youth sports programs, the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is about more than just competition. It’s about teaching discipline and perseverance, empowering students of all skill levels, and fostering the confidence and personal development necessary for them to succeed," said Zach Benttine, archery coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Archers participating in the Iowa Archery in the Schools Program can earn money for college. More than $30,000 will be awarded in college scholarships based on performance at the state tournament.
Top individuals and teams will advance to the national tournament held in Louisville, Kentucky from May 7 - 9. To learn more about the program, watch our 2026 Archery in the Schools Tournament recap on the Iowa DNR's YouTube channel.
Complete tournament results are available online: