Auburndale’s Draeger claims national archery title

AUBURNDALE — Olivia Draeger of Auburndale dominated the middle school girls competition at the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) World Championships, capturing first place in the 3D division and narrowly missing a second title with a runner-up finish in the bullseye division.

The three-day championship event, held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, drew 496 teams and 3,248 archers from across the nation. Draeger's victory in the 3D division marked a standout performance for the Wisconsin school's archery program.

In the bullseye division, Draeger finished second after losing on a tiebreaker rule, falling just short of claiming dual championships.

"She didn't stop there. She took 2nd place in the middle school girls bullseye division. Just missing the title because of tie breaker rule," said the team's announcement.

The Auburndale middle school team also posted strong results in team competition, with their 3D squad finishing seventh overall. The team came within 31 points of reaching the podium despite competing against year-round programs.

The middle school roster included Alma Baltus, Olivia Draeger, Maddie Draeger, Ellie Budtke, Dillon Hardesty, Gabe Heeg, Hadlee Huser, Evrette Meidl and Lyllie Specht.

NASP is a joint effort of state departments of education, departments of natural resources and archery industry leaders to introduce students to archery as a lifetime sport. The program operates in schools across multiple states, promoting physical education and outdoor recreation skills.

The championships represent the culmination of local and regional competitions that take place throughout the school year, with top performers advancing to the national level.