July 7, 2026 – The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) proudly introduced its inaugural Grand Champion Award at the NASP® Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, recognizing the nation’s most accomplished all-around student archers through a new season-long championship.
Unlike traditional titles that reward a single outstanding performance, the Grand Champion Award recognizes archers who demonstrate consistent excellence across the entire season. To earn the title, competitors combined their scores from four premier NASP® events:
· National Bullseye
· National NASP® 3D
· Championship Bullseye
· Championship NASP® 3D
“The Grand Champion Award represents everything we hope to inspire through NASP®,” said Tommy Floyd. “It’s not about having one perfect day—it’s about learning the 11 Steps to Success, mastering consistency, and competing with excellent sportsmanship throughout an entire championship season. These student archers have proven they can excel in both Bullseye and NASP® 3D, and they have set the standard for what it means to be a Grand Champion.”
Because Grand Champion standings remained confidential, only the scoring room team knew who was truly in contention. Throughout the weekend, archers and coaches were busy tallying scores and trying to predict the outcome, but the inaugural title wasn’t officially decided until the final flight of arrows had been scored, creating one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
2026 NASP® Grand Champions
Girls Division
Isabella Caplinger (8th Grade), Maysville Middle School, OH
· National NASP® 3D — 1st Place (297)
· National Bullseye — 2nd Place (296)
· Championship NASP® 3D — 1st Place (293)
· Championship Bullseye — 1st Place (291)
Boys Division
Callan Hignight (10th Grade), Magnet Cove High School, AR
· National NASP® 3D — 13th Place (294)
· National Bullseye — 3rd Place (296)
· Championship NASP® 3D — 1st Place (297)
· Championship Bullseye — 1st Place (297)
The inaugural Grand Champions demonstrated exactly what the award was created to recognize. While neither archer won every event, both consistently performed among the nation’s best across all four competitions to earn the highest combined scores of the season, proving that sustained excellence—not a single standout performance—defines a Grand Champion.
The Grand Champion Award itself is a work of art, thoughtfully designed and crafted by Christie Zimmer and Joel Zimmer, directors of NASP® 3D. NASP® is grateful for the time, talent, and creativity they invested in creating an award that reflects the prestige of the program’s newest honor. Their craftsmanship ensures the Grand Champion title will be celebrated with a trophy as exceptional as the achievement it represents.
The Grand Champion Award extends beyond Championship weekend. Through a partnership with the Archery Hall of Fame and Museum, located within the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, each Grand Champion will be permanently recognized alongside some of the most influential names in the sport of archery. NASP® extends its sincere appreciation to Diane Miller and the entire Hall of Fame team for helping celebrate the achievements of NASP® student archers and preserving their place in archery history.
With both inaugural Grand Champions still eligible to compete in future NASP® seasons, the race to earn—or defend—the Grand Champion title has already become one of the most anticipated traditions in NASP® competition. To learn more visit www.naspschools.org.
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