The 13th annual Texas-National Archery in the Schools State Tournament and Scholarship competition is underway at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.
Nearly 2,300 students in the state participated in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas- National Archery in Schools Program event.
Ninety-six schools are being represented at the tournament, including several from Central Texas.
Twenty students from South Bosque Elementary, including Katie Mae Hensley, took part in the competition. A grant an educator applied for 10 years ago, allowed the Midway ISD school to offer the archery program to its students.
The fourth grader who is competing for the second time said she hoped to earn higher scores than last year.
"It's fun to compete," Hensley said.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Archery Coordinator Burnie Kessner, 43 percent of the participants at the event this year are girls. In addition, students with disabilities are also expected to compete in the inclusive sport.
"It's a very unique activity if a school incorporates it because anybody can shoot a bow and arrow. It doesn't matter how tall you are, how fast you can run. Your gender, anybody can do it,"
Students from 4th to 12th grade are competing to advance to the national tournament. In addition, high school students with the top scores will receive college scholarships totaling $30,000.
The tournament will continue on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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