New Mexico Wildlife magazine Conserving New Mexico's Wildlife for Future Generations
The world of competitive archery has witnessed the rise of new, young talent from New Mexico. Ashlynn McGinnis, a student from Deming High School, made a significant mark in the 2024 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) IBO/3-D National Open Championship held in Daytona, Florida, on June 6-8. With a commendable score of 293 points out of 300, Ashlynn secured second place in the high school female division.
Ashlynn’s achievements at the NASP IBO/3-D National Open Championship are a personal victory and a source of pride for her school and the state of New Mexico. Because of Ashlynn’s academic achievements, she earned one of just 34 coveted spots as a recipient of the NASP High School Division All-American Academic Archer award.
Ashlynn’s journey in archery began at the young age of 10, under the guidance of her father Erik McGinnis. Her passion and commitment to archery was evident when she joined the archery program at Red Mountain Middle School. Her natural talent and hard work have paid off through the 2023-2024 season, with her taking top honors at the Cougar Classic, City Bullseye Championship, Red Mountain Shoot-Off and the Rio Rancho On-Target Tournament.
Ashlynn admirably placed second at the New Mexico State 3-D and Bullseye Championship and was the top-placing New Mexican at the Western National Championship in Salt Lake City. Her performance has put her on the map as an archer to watch out for in future competitions.
New Mexico was well-represented in Daytona for the 2024 NASP National Championship with 45 archers from various school programs, including SAMS Academy, Red Mountain Middle School, Albuquerque High School, Deming High School, Cibola High School, Rio Rancho High School, Bosque School and Estancia Valley Classical Academy. SAMS Academy placed 14th in the high school team division with a score of 1,643 points.
Participants ranging from elementary to high school students competed in categories that tested their abilities with bullseye and 3-D animal targets, offering a comprehensive challenge that reflected real-world hunting scenarios. The event is a competition and a celebration of the sport of archery, emphasizing safety, sportsmanship and the joy of participating in a community with shared passions.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish sponsors the NASP program in New Mexico. NASP introduces target and 3-D archery as part of the in-school curriculum for students in grades four-12. NASP tournaments are not just about hitting the bullseye; they are about discipline, focus and developing skills that will serve students well beyond the range. For more details regarding the NASP archery program and how to start a program within a school, please reach out to Bruce Atencio, NMDGF Archery Education Coordinator, at Bruce.Atencio@dgf.nm.gov.
