Nearly 2,700 students from more than 146 schools across Iowa gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds from March 27–29 to compete in the 19th Annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament—the largest youth archery competition in the state.
The event brought together student archers from across Iowa to compete in both Bullseye and 3D divisions, held in the Varied Industries Building and the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center. This year, the Bullseye competition was relocated to the Varied Industries Building, allowing for expanded space and up to 150 competitors shooting at once. Meanwhile, the 3D range featured 48 targets and accommodated nearly 100 participants at a time.
Participation in NASP has grown steadily in Iowa since its introduction in 2006. What began as a small program has expanded to more than 5,200 student participants in 2026. The program is designed to introduce international-style target archery in physical education classes for students in grades 4–12, promoting skill development, focus, and lifelong participation in the sport.
“As one of Iowa’s finest youth sports programs, NASP is about more than just competition,” said Zach Benttine, archery coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “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.”
In addition to competition, students had the opportunity to earn college scholarship funding. More than $30,000 will be awarded to top-performing archers based on results from the state tournament.
Top individual archers and teams from the event will advance to the NASP National Tournament, scheduled for May 7–9 in Louisville, Kentucky.
For more information about the program, including a recap of the 2026 tournament, visit the Iowa DNR’s YouTube channel. Complete tournament results are available online.
About NASP
The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a youth development initiative that introduces archery to students in a structured educational setting, helping build confidence, discipline, and teamwork skills through the sport.
