The school's fifth-grade archery team recently won the state champion-ship, and on Friday, 20 of them will travel to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the national event. Individual winners include Joshua Jones, who took first place in the state for elementary school boys, and Bailey Patool, who won third place in the same category. Emily Lawal finished second among elementary school girls.

Some might be unaware that elementary schools sponsors archery clubs. But Springfield's has been around for three years, nurtured by a grant from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources in conjunction with the National Archery in the Schools program.

Students at Springfield get a taste of the sport in the early grades but can't try out for the team until they reach the fifth grade. The school now has about 40 children in the program.

We think it's great that schools broaden the options for young athletes with programs such as this. Only so many students can be on the basketball or football teams, and archery gives others the chance to develop a skill and compete -- possibly with archers from across the nation, as the Springfield team will do.

Someday, you might even see them in the Olympics.

Congratulations to these young ... bowpersons. And congratulations to their coach, John Barrow.

The archery team is accepting financial help to pay for the trip to Louisville. If you would like to contribute, contact Barrow at the school, 548-8150, or by e-mail at barrowj@fort-mill.k12.sc.us.