Sartell-St. Stephen archery program wins at nationals, plans local tournament

The Sartell-St. Stephen Community Education archery program told the school board it returned from the Western National Tournament with top finishes and is planning a local tournament for next February.

"This was our third season. We had 98 archers, 15 coaches," said Bob Brzingka, identified at the meeting as the archery coordinator working with Sartell-St. Stephen Community Education. He said the district'taught program includes elementary, middle and high school participants and that the elementary team went undefeated at the Minnesota state level this season and placed at nationals among more than 2,000 archers.

Program organizers told the board they prioritize safety and in-school instruction. "Safety is our top priority," Brzingka said, describing the National Archery in Schools Program requirement that archery instruction be connected to the schools. He said the program provides equipment to schools when needed so costs do not come from school operating budgets.

Organizers described the season and logistics: practices twice weekly at Riverview for 50 minutes, a season that roughly runs December through March (sometimes extending into April for nationals), and a typical entry fee that covered attendance at four tournaments. Brzingka said high school participation remains small: "We need at least 12 archers, 4 male, 4 female, and 4 of any gender" to sustain the high school team.

The presentation included equipment and funding details. Brzingka said a discounted set of six 3-D targets costs about $3,000 and the program used sponsorships and fundraising (including raffle ticket sales) to buy two sets of 3-D targets and other multi-targets to fit the Riverview gym. He said volunteer coaches and some school staff complete the Basic Archery Instructor training and that community sponsors help with start-up costs.

Organizers also described outreach and next steps: continued recruitment in middle school to feed the high school program, a proposed local tournament to be held at Riverview or the community center in February, and coordination with district staff for facilities support and setup. Brzingka credited district staff including "Zach Dingman," "Dave Diminsky" and custodial staff for logistical help.

Board members and presenters discussed access and eligibility: Brzingka said the National Archery in Schools Program requires the program be taught in schools, which affects whether students from outside the district can participate. He said parent information meetings have helped set expectations and keep participation accessible for families with other activities.

Organizers invited further questions and said program contact information and photos are available on the program Facebook page.