News Staff Report
Athletes from cities, towns and counties across the southeast, including 11 Escambia County, Ala. residents who hit a collective bull’s eye in the archery competition, are “brimming with medal moments and golden memories” after the 41st Alabama State Games, which concluded last week.
More than 3,000 athletes of all ages and abilities competed in 23 different sports, disciplines or competitions during this year’s Games.
“Seeing these athletes get their medals, hearing the chatter as they come off the pitch, the diamond and the mats; that makes the Alabama State Games special,” Executive Director Laura Creel Burt said. “We’ve been saying all along that the Alabama State Games are special. Seeing these athletes — regardless of their age and what’s going on in their lives — make these memories and have these moments makes it so.”
Escambia County athletes captured the top three medals in two archery categories, Young Adult Hunter Female and Youth Hunter Girls. They also captured the top two spots in the Youth Hunter Boys category and took home gold medals in three other categories.
Medal winners from Escambia County, most of whom are members of the Poarch Creek Archery Team, are as follows:
Young Adult Hunter Female
*Gold — Sidra Brown
*Silver — Isabella Crews
*Bronze — Paityn Stephens
Youth Hunter Girls
*Gold — Sophia Murphy
*Silver — Tenleigh Peebles
*Bronze — Arieya Stephens
Youth Hunter Boys
*Gold — Jackson Rolin
*Silver —Jackson Rackard
Eagles Pin Boys
*Gold — Wyatt Stephens
Women’s Open
*Gold — Phenix Crews
Youth Open Girls
*Gold — Lynn Crews