Lake Highland Preparatory School Archery Teams Win Conference Championships

Orlando, Fla. (March 10, 2016) – Lake Highland Preparatory School’s (LHPS) Middle School and Upper School archery teams won the Olympic Archery in Schools (OAS) regional conference championships on Saturday, March 5.

“In 2013, Lake Highland added archery to its variety of competitive sports offered on campus for ninth through 12th graders,” said John Winchester, Upper School varsity archery coach and AP physics teacher. “Since then, we’ve seen an increasing interest in the sport, and it has become yet another outlet where our students can excel.”

With last weekend’s win, the LHPS Upper School holds three consecutive regional titles, having won every year since launching the sport.

“It takes dedication and concentration, but I really like it,” says Sophia Buoniconti, LHPS junior and varsity team captain. “Every breath counts.”

OAS requires athletes to use recurve bows and models its conference and state championships after the Olympic format. This level of competitive archery is offered in 19 Central Florida schools and 78 in the nation … and it continues to grow.

In the fall of 2015, LHPS opened the sport to 7th and 8th graders. The Middle School is following the lead of their varsity counterparts with a win during their first season, too.

“To win regionals in our first year as a team speaks volumes about the students’ enthusiasm, dedication, and sheer determination in this sport,” said Megan Blakely, Middle School archery coach and eighth grade English teacher. “I could not be more proud of these young men and women, and I am excited to see them continue to mature and shine as this amazing program grows.”

By winning the regional conference championships, both the Upper School and Middle School LHPS archery teams will advance to the state championship, which takes place April 2 at the Easton Newberry Archery Center.

Results from last weekend’s events are on the following pages.

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Founded in 1970, Lake Highland Preparatory School is the 8th largest co-educational independent day school in the nation, featuring two campuses totaling forty-two acres in the heart of Orlando. LHPS educates approximately 1,950 students in grades Pre-K through 12 in a rigorous college preparatory program. The school is accredited by Florida Council of Independent Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Florida Kindergarten Council.