Sporting new duds, the Troy Elementary School archery team will make its way to Louisville, Ky. Friday to participate in the National Archery in the Schools Program Saturday, May 9.

Head coach Forest Lee says the Trojans are set to shoot at 2:15 p.m. Saturday and the archers are planning to come home having shot better than they did in state competition.

“They’ll be about 13,000 archers up there,” Lee said. “Our goal is to shoot better than we did at state and to out shoot any teams from Alabama that are going that’s in the elementary division.”

More than $2,000 was raised to fund the trip to nationals as well as buy the team new uniforms to wear at competition. Lee said those who had donated and supported the team were greatly appreciated by both the team members and parents.

“We would like to thank all our sponsors,” Lee said. “We would certainly like to thank everybody that supported us and help us with our expenses to Louisville, Ky. We’re real excited about going.”

Kameron Ousley, a fifth grader on the archery team, said he was excited to travel to Louisville and participate in competition and wear his new uniform.

“It’s great,” Ousley said. “I like it, because when we go in there, we’re going to walk around like we’re the boss.”

Abigail Salmon, Charles Henderson ninth grader, was the only high school member of the archery team to qualify for Nationals. Salmon shot a 283 in state competition earning her fourth place, but Salmon said she hopes she’s able to place this weekend as well.

“It’s been really fun, and it’s exciting ot be able to go my first year back and place so well at state,” Salmon said. “I’m just really excited. Just going in there, I do want to shoot better than I did at state and I think it would be fun just to place, but I’m just going to go and try my best.”

The archery team will leave throughout the day Friday to travel to Louisville, but Lee said they would all meet up Friday night for dinner downtown.

“We’ve got some meals paid for them, and we’re going to the Cardinal Hall of Fame in downtown Louisville Friday night to eat,” Lee said. “And, we’ve got our entry fees paid for competition. We’re really excited about going.”