Archery nationals will take place on May 9 in Louisville, Kentucky. It is hosted by the National Archery Schools Program. Senior Chloe Washburn is one of the many  members of the team who qualified for nationals. 

    “To go to nationals, you have to get through regionals and then go to state. Once you get to state, you automatically qualify for nationals. You basically get in because of your team scores. To get to state you need to get 276 out of 300 total points as a team,” Washburn said.

   Washburn estimates that around 20 members of the archery team will end up being able to attend nationals. The team is going to take a bus down to Louisville and spend the night. Then they will compete in the morning and then go back to Springfield afterwards.  

  Archery competitions are individualistic, with members individually shooting to contribute to a total team score.

   “We all shoot 10 meters three times and 15 meters three times. Sometimes, beforehand we will walk around booths and meet other archery teams,” Washburn said.

   Archery is a great way for students to form connections with others interested in archery and find a lifelong hobby that they can develop.  Senior Joella Balles is a foreign exchange student from Germany who has found a community in our school’s archery team and is also going to nationals.

   “Im an exchange student so it’s pretty cool I can go, since I am not always a Kickapoo student. I am excited to go to Kentucky. This is my first time doing archery, I did it for one day in my home country but I never did it as weekly practice before. I think I am not going to continue doing it in Germany since we don’t have the opportunity to do it at school,” Balles said.

   Our school is lucky enough to be able to offer archery, and regularly compete nationally in it.

    “I think our team will do well. We have people who have gone to nationals in the past, so I think we have a pretty good shot,” Washburn said.

   Joining archery is a great way to regularly practice your skills, such as shooting accurately, and holding your bow correctly as well as competing as a team.

  “As a senior, I think archery has taught me the importance of independence and precision. I have 100 percent gotten better at archery since I joined my sophomore year. After I graduate, I think I will continue practicing,” Washburn said.

   As our school’s archery team prepares for nationals with continued practice, they are also developing a hobby that they can continue to pursue throughout their lives.