A favorite activity from the outdoors is being successfully replicated inside schools across Mississippi, and there’s no example shining more brightly than Saltillo High School.
Saltillo’s archery team had won state championship after state championship when, four years ago, head coach John Vines decided his kids deserved a shot at a national title. After a middling performance at the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) championship in 2022, the Tigers finished third in 2023 before notching up a spot to second in 2024.
Earlier this month, at the 2025 NASP championship held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the bullseye of first place was finally hit by Vines and company when the Tigers became the first Mississippi archery team to ever win a national title.
“It wasn’t an easy thing. It took a few years to get the kids used to it because most of the time, they start shooting in January, and after the state championship, they’re done. We can’t do that if we’re going to be competing at nationals. We’ve got to keep going until June,” Vines said on SuperTalk Outdoors with Ricky Mathews. “So, it took a lot of effort, hard work, and time on the range. But my team responded really well and did a fantastic job.”
Leading the Tiger pack was senior Caleb Pettigo with 294 of 300 possible points. Sophomore Dalton Burgett had 292 points, while fellow sophomore Brandon Armstrong had 291. The team as a whole scored 3,450, which was 72 points better than second-place Madison Central (KY).
Vines, who had never shot a bow before becoming head coach in 2020, reflected on how much the sport has not only taught him but also the students competing. He said it brings with it a life lesson that isn’t as prevalent in more explosive sports.
“Archery is different than any other sport that you’ll find on campus. If you look at baseball, basketball, football, and even your running sports, there’s a certain level of explosion that you’re looking for in those athletes,” he explained. “But with this sport, it’s all about slowing down and being patient and trusting the process.
“You have to anchor, you have to go through making sure that your hands are set, making sure that you’re going to slow down. If you’re going to shoot fast, you’re not going to do well. That’s vital to do in life, even. There are times in life that you have to get in a hurry, but the valuable lesson here is making sure you’re able to slow down and take your time when needed.”
While Saltillo’s dynasty has grown – including 13 consecutive state championships and now a national title – so has the presence of archery in high schools across the state.
Jason Johnson, associate coordinator of the Archery in Mississippi Schools programs, said the growth has been unprecedented since AIMS was founded under the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in 2005. The goal of AIMS is to introduce youth in grades 4 through 12 to target archery while enhancing their awareness of conservation as it relates to natural resources.
“We look at humble beginnings where our first state championship was about 10 schools participating,” Johnsons reflected. “Now, we have over 6,000 children participate in our state championship shoot every year. Seeing what Saltillo sis is like a proud parent whose child finally achieved what we’ve been wanting for 20 years.”
According to Johnson, archery is the fastest-growing sport in U.S. schools. Vines said some of the reasons are the community it provides and the fact that archery is more about strategy than athletic ability.
“I’ve got kids on my team that come from different sports, and then, I’ve got kids who come from band,” he said with a smile. “It’s a great community. It’s a great opportunity for kids who don’t necessarily have maybe even the best social situations. It’s an opportunity for them to learn how to interact with their peers.”
