Payne places high in pair of divisions at 2025 NASP US Eastern Nationals

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. – This past weekend, the Allen County Intermediate Center Archery Team traveled to Louisville to compete in the 2025 NASP US Eastern Nationals, where roughly 15,000 students looked to place high enough to qualify for the 2025 NASP Championship, and not only did fifth grader Kannon Payne do that, he finished top-five in both divisions he shot in.

With a score of 288 in the Bullseye category, Payne ranked second in his group, and with a score of 285 in the 3D category, he finished fourth, both being tournament bests in the career of the young archer.

It was also announced after the competition that Payne made the Academic Archer All-American Team, which is given to a small group of archers in each division for not only performance during the shoot, but also performance in the classroom.

Only being in his second year with the archery team, Payne explained how his passion for the sport stemmed from his love of being outdoors.

“I’ve always liked hunting, and I know I can hunt with a bow,” said Payne. “I’ve always wanted to get good at it since second grade”

However, ‘good’ may not even be the right word to describe Payne’s growth in the sport, seeing as he is already accumulating top awards, and after getting to spend a few days meeting new people and new vendors, he shared his mindset that allows him to stay focused and excel at what he does.

“ I have this thing called the three Ps. It’s where I do persistence and if I’m doing bad or good, I keep doing it and push through and then practice where I practice every day and spend every time I have to shoot, and then my biggest one’s prayer going to God, and I know I can do it through him.”

The final competition of the season for Payne will take place June 5-7 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he will take on the grandest stage of them all: the 2025 NASP Championship.