DALTON, Ga. — Susana Cruz, 11, says she didn’t expect she and other members of the Eastside Elementary School archery team would qualify for the state championship tournament when the season began last fall.

But they made the cut at the regional tournament in Athens earlier this month.

“It was really an emotional moment for me, and I think for the entire team, when we found out we were going to state,” she said. “I really wanted it to happen, and I’m glad we made it.”

It’s the only elementary school in Dalton or Whitfield County to qualify for the state tournament. In Murray County, perennial powerhouse Woodlawn Elementary School also qualified. Only the top 11 elementary schools in the state were invited to the state tournament.

Eastside Elementary School will head to the state tournament on March 6 in Perry.

This is the first year that Eastside fielded a team, though it did have an archery club last year.

“I’m really proud of them,” said coach Scott Ellis. “Some of them were really nervous (at the regional championship). But they overcame it and did really well. I always had faith in these kids because they amaze me every day. But they have exceeded my every expectation. No matter what happens at state, they have done something they can be proud of, something this school is proud of.”

Ellis said the atmosphere at an archery tournament isn’t like that at many other sports.

“I think golf is a good comparison,” he said. “It’s more quiet. You don’t want to break their concentration.”

The team took part in the regional tournament in Athens.

“I’d never been to a tournament that big,” said Jaslyn Rios, 10. “It was nerve-wracking, but I think I did really good, and I was so happy when I found out we were going to state.”

“I was really nervous,” said Eli Gonzalez, 10. “But I calmed down, and I think I did pretty good.”

Ellis said part of his job as coach is to keep team members from getting too nervous.

“I try to joke around with them and keep them loose,” he said.

Ellis said the team will be practicing four days a week until the state tournament.

He said having the archery team and the archery club have really opened up opportunities.

“We’ve got some kids who are really involved in other activities, other sports,” he said. “But we’ve also got some kids that this is their activity, and they are really devoted to it, and they really put in the time and effort.”

Tristian Sosa, 11, said he wasn’t thinking about state championships when he tried out for the archery team.

“I didn’t know that much about archery,” he said. “I just thought it looked like fun, and it has been fun. Going to the state tournament is going to be great. But I had fun and would have done it even if we didn’t go.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the archery team can send checks to the school at 102 Hill Road, Dalton, GA 30721. Earmark the donation for the archery team.