WHITESBURG — The North Laurel High School boys’ archery team captured the 10th Region championship for the second straight year on Saturday after turning in a score of 1,970.
The Jaguars finished with 119 ten-counts while placing 21 points ahead of runner-up Letcher Central.
Corbin placed third overall with 1,947 points and 97 10-counts.
“Our boys team won for the second straight year,” North Laurel coach Jason Ivey said. “They were led to victory by senior archers Tayten Sowders, Trevor Woods, Carter Joseph and Matthew Cochrane. We are gonna miss them next year. They are great leaders, and always willing to lend a helping hand to their team.
“To say we are proud of both the girls and boys teams is an understatement,” he added. “It has been a honor being their coach. Some of them we have coached since fourth grade at Bush Elementary. I hope that we have impacted their lives as much as they have mine. Their love for the sport and each other is inspirational. Now onto state. We average a 281 score for each of top seven boys. If we can get that average up to 285 each, I have no doubt North Laurel High School will be your KHSAA Boys State Champions.”
North Laurel’s Tayten Sowders finished third overall with a score of 290 while finishing with a ten-count of 22. Reece Frazier placed sixth with a 288 while Elijah Ivey turned in a seventh place effort with a score of 286.
Douglas Estep (278, 12th), Matthew Cochrane (277, 14th), Kaden Helton (276, 16th), Noah Blake Elza (275, 21st), Blake Taylor (272, 29th), Zachary Adams (271, 34th), Carter Joseph (264, 53rd), Trevor Woods (262, 57th), and Joseph Gibson (258, 63rd) also turned in stellar efforts for North Laurel.
Corbin was led by Jace Hatfield, who placed fifth overall with 288 points and 21 10-counts. Luke Hatfield finished ninth with 280 points and 13 10-counts while Samuel Mayer placed 10th with 278 points and 15 10-counts.
Johnie Smith (276, 17th), Aidan Helton (275, 18th), Zach May (275, 19th), Jackson Lanham (275, 22nd), Hudson Coe (275, 23rd), Toby Smallwood (275, 24th), Jaxon Taylor (270, 38th), Kolby Ball (264, 55th), Luke Moore (254, 68th) rounded out the scoring for the Redhounds.
