Columbia Academy will be hosting two big events this month that are sure to draw droves of people to Marion County.
The private school is this year’s host for the MAIS AAA South State Tournament, held Feb. 12-16, and the annual Columbia Academy Cougar Classic, an archery tournament, will begin Wednesday, Feb. 27 and conclude Saturday, March 2 at the Columbia Expo Center.
Head basketball coach Dale Watts said South State is going to be a big deal for both the school and the community. With 24 teams coming to Marion County, 12 each for boys and girls, there’s going to be a lot of athletes and their supporters swarming to the area.
“I think it’s going to be a huge community impact, more so than our state tournament last year because it’s going to be more teams,” he said. “There are going to be some teams coming out of north Louisiana, and it’s going to be a big impact on the community because I think the crowds are going to be bigger. There won’t be as much traveling as there was in the state tournament. With the proximity it’s going to bring a lot of people in.”
Watts added restaurants and hotels are going to reap a lot of benefits from the event being held in Columbia. He also said having South State at home will also help Columbia Academy’s basketball teams.
“For them to play in a tournament on their home floor is an advantage,” he said. “With our home crowd, I’m hoping Cougar Nation will really rise up.”
For the archery tournament, more than 60 schools and 100 teams will be heading to the Expo Center to compete in the four-day event. The tournament includes elementary, junior high and high school teams, and CA archery coach Mike Barber said there will be roughly 1,700 archers competing.
Barber said that in previous years during the event buses could be seen at restaurants all across town, bringing a lot of business to the community.
“Every place on the highway you see school buses. We really try to get them to eat at the concessions, but as a reward a lot of teams go out to eat.”
There will also be several schools competing from the Coast and from the Jackson area that have to travel a long way and need to spend money in Marion County.
“They’re going to stop to get some gas, get some drinks or get something to eat,” Barber said. “I’m sure there’s an impact there.”
Barber said his high school team has been shooting record highs in recent matches and should be among the favorites.
