Blevins, Cundiff win NASP national titles

By STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Commonwealth Journal

Louisville May 13, 2008 01:08 am

— Pulaski senior Ben Blevins and Meece Middle School seventh grader Taylor Cundiff, both claimed National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) individual national titles on Saturday.
For Blevins, it was his first national title, while Cundiff garnered his third NASP national title, having won two elementary titles prior to this weekend.
Blevins fired a 297 (out of a possible 300) to edge out teammate Chad Leigh for the national honor. Leigh finished second overall with a 296 score.
Blevins shot a 149 at the 10-meter range and a 148 from the 15-meter range, as he pierced 27 center circles out of a total of 30 shots.
“I seem to shoot better at longer distances,” Blevins commented. “In ASA (Archery Shooting Association) events I shoot from 18 meters out and the 15 meter distance is not that tough for me.”
Blevins has been active in the sport of archery since first picking up a bow during 4H Camp when he was eight-years old. Since that time Blevins became active in the competitive field archery and 3D archery. Also, Blevins has been an accomplished archer on the national junior ASA level and even set a world record two years ago for his center circle atchery mastery.
But until now, Blevins had never practiced much with the NASP bow until this past winter and spring. Prior to a fifth place finish last year, Blevins had never finished near the top 10 in the NASP Nationals.
“Yeah, it was kind of frustrating that I had not done as well in NASP events than I had done in ASA events,” Blevins commented. “I told everyone that is was going out with a ‘bang’ my senior year in the NASP competitions.”
‘Bang’ might have been an understatement as Blevins captured both the NASP state and national titles in a span of two months.
Meanwhile, Cundiff fired a 289 to capture his third national NASP title and his first middle school national title. Cundiff had to fight off a host of contenders, as three other archers were deadlocked at 288 in the middle school division.
“I was really surprised that I won,” Cundiff said. “I don’t really concentrate on shooting any particular score. I just do the best I can do, but really didn’t feel like my 289 was going to win nationals.”
Cundiff’s apprehension may have been from a fourth place finish at the state level just two months prior, as Cundiff got his first taste of defeat at the newer middle school level.
“Getting fourth in the state really made me work that much harder in practice,” Cundiff admitted.
The Somerset archery team practices two times a week, but Cundiff would spend 2 to 3 hours a night practicing in his basement.
In the peaceful tranquility of his home basement, Cundiff was able to shoot scores of 296 and 292 just one week prior to the NASP Nationals. But the pressures of the NASP National event would make it more difficult for the young Cundiff to repeat those home basement marks.
“It is much easier to shoot by myself in my basement at home than it is in a big national event,” Cundiff explained. “I just tried to remember the things that I did right in my basement shooting sessions and I approached each shot in a step-by-step sequence.”
Pulaski County High School’s team placed fourth overall in the team standings.
Southwestern’s Blake Walters finished eighth overall with a 289. Pulaski’s Jordan Miller shot a 286 to place 18th and Southwestern’s Scott Smith fired a 286 to place 19th.
Former two-time national champ Ashley Rose, of Pulaski County, shot a 278 to place 16th, while Somerset’s Breanna Faulkner finished 22nd with a 276.
Northern Middle’s Andrew Leigh shot a 283 to finish ninth in the boys middle school division, while teammate Dakota Murphy finished 20th with a 279.
Northern Middle’s Kennedy McAlpin finished eighth with a 279. McAlpin is a former NASP elementary national champion. Shopville Elementary fifth-grader Hunter Merrick finished 15th with a 274 score.

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