Arkansas Archery Students Capture Eastern Nationals

LITTLE ROCK - Archers ranging from fourth to 12th grades recently filled the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kent., to take their shot at the 2026 Eastern National Championship for the National Archery in the Schools Program. When the last arrow was tallied and pulled from the targets, Arkansas high school archers Travis Cook of Lead Hill and Cash Hignight of Magnet Cove stood atop the crowd.The event, held May 7-9, was open to all students who qualified through state championship-level tournaments throughout the United States. Cook had tied Hignight at Arkansas’s state championship events in both bull’s-eye competition and 3D competition earlier this year but fell just short in the “card-off” tiebreaker to determine a winner. He chose the right time to claim victory, triumphing in the national bull’s-eye competition, scoring a 298 out of a possible 300 points. Not to be completely outdone, Hignight followed up Cook’s championship win by scoring 299 out of 300 in the 3D competition, taking the national-level first-place award in that discipline. “It’s been really fun watching these two young men battle back and forth all year,” Aimee Swaim, Archery in the Schools Program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said. “It’s really great seeing Travis come out on top this time, so he can be recognized for his excellent shooting ability alongside Cash, who’s edged him out twice. They both work really hard and seeing them both take first place in the same national tournament is incredible. This is the first time that any Arkansan has won at this level, and we have two.”The score of 299 posted by Hignight in the NASP 3D competition wasn’t his only amazing performance of the week.“Cash shot in four events, and ended up with three 299s,” Swaim said. “He also participated in Centershot Archery’s Eastern National Tournament, where he scored one ...