Aim True
Hannah Belch was Ocracoke's top scorer at the competition, beating Alan Doshier, Ocracoke's highest scoring boy, by one point. Close behind them was Christian Trejo, who shot the most "tens" (bullseyes) for Ocracoke.
Sixteen Ocracoke School students competed on Saturday in Winston-Salem, with scores on the spectrum from okay to pretty great. With 248 out of a possible 300 points, Hannah placed 2nd out of all 11 high school girls in the tournament, and was first out of three for 9th grade girls. According to the school's Facebook page, this score earns her an automatic bid to the National Tournament in Louisville KY. Go, Hannah! The top two finishers at the tournament, with scores of 275 and 272, were both high school girls. Girl power!
Alan was ranked 14 out of 20 high school boys, and 25 out of 84 with high school and middle school combined. He shot 6 tens for a total score of 247.
"We were in the middle of the pack," said Jason Daniels, who's the head archery instructor. "We weren't the best – or the worst, which is good for our first time. It was a learning experience and I'm proud of all the work they put in."
He also added that he had "a very, very good time" and that the kids are ready to do it again next year.
As an imbedded reporter (parent chaperone) on the archery trip, I witnessed firsthand all the excitement and fun.
The tournament was hosted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), and held at the Winston-Salem fairgrounds. Winston is a far piece from Ocracoke, and feels even longer on the bus. Luckily, we took the short bus, which travels at the speed limit. (The big bus is governed at 55 mph).
Kudos to our driver Denny Widener, who is powered by Diet Mountain Dew and a great enthusiasm for Ocracoke kids and their sports. Because the 10am Swan Quarter ferry was cancelled due to low tide, we got a late start on the 1:30pm, and after a couple of stops for gas and junk food and a Golden Corral buffet, we rolled into the hotel parking lot at 10:30pm. Whew! The kids were up by 7am for hotel waffles, and soon we were on our way to the show!
When we arrived our kids sized up the competition in their matching team tees. (Note: Ocracoke's archers need shirts next year. Alan's mom, Darlene, will make sure they get them.) We were scheduled for the first flight (a.k.a. round of competition) in the morning.
Here's how it worked: the kids lined up, two to a target, and shot all at once, using five arrows. Then they scored their arrows, and shot five more, then scored and shot five more. After that, they moved the shooting line back and did it all again. The best possible score is a 10 (bullseye), so a perfect score of 30 shots would be 300. Our kids shot between 146 and 248 points.
The competition's vibe was amazingly supportive, low-key, and non-stressful, at least for me as a parent. I'm sure the kids felt some performance anxiety (my daughter was a little dismayed that she didn't shoot as well as she has in practice), but they didn't show it. They were poised and clearly well-versed in the routine. (Everything is very regimented, for safety. According to their website, not one has ever been hurt at a NASP event.)
Ocracoke School's archery program began last fall. It's headed up by local sheriff's deputies Jason Daniels and Blackburn Warner, who took instructor education classes from NASP, along with the school's athletic director, Charles Temple. All three are now certified instructors. The program is funded by the Hyde County sheriff's department, which bought all the bows, arrows, targets, and other equipment for both Ocracoke School and Mattamuskeet School.
Part of NASP's mission is to introduce archery to all students, and to do it during the regular school day, usually as a part of P.E. Ocracoke grades 4–12 received two weeks of archery exposure with Jason and Blackburn. They learned safety, history, and the proper way to shoot with a bow and arrow. All NASP programs use the exact same bow – the Genesis compound – and the same type of arrows. Using uniform equipment means that all shooters, regardless of their school's or an student's financial situation, will have equal footing in competition. NASP also promotes archery equally among boys and girls, and allows participants to compete both individually and as a team.
After the in-school instruction was over, Jason and Blackburn welcomed the kids who took an interest in archery to practice after school. Teams are comprised of 12–24 kids, and at least 4 of them have to be of the opposite sex of the others. Team scoring is based on the top ten shooters from the team.
Jason knew he didn't have enough high schoolers for a team, so they planned to compete as individuals. The middle school had exactly 12 archers – until influenza struck the island. Three kids had to stay home ("They were sorely missed," Jason said), and so the nine remaining middle schoolers also competed on their own.
Jason explained how competing as a team is advantageous: By yourself, you're up against eighty other kids, but their are only nine other teams. The odds are better.
Jason and Blackburn plan to start the practices earlier next fall. "It was all a learning experience," Jason said. "We're fortunate to be doing the program at school, and the tournament was a lot of fun. I can't wait to go back next year. Kids will improve and they'll have more fun, too."
As for Hannah, our top scorer, she's all in for next year. Hannah, like some of the boys who competed, didn't have prior archery experience, but she does shoot things. She enjoys squirrel hunting with her grandfather in Colrein, NC, and also duck hunting. Her dad and brother have hunting bows, which interested her.
"When the opportunity to shoot with Jason came up, I said 'Yeah!'" she told me on the ferry ride home. She discovered she really liked archery. "You're a natural," I suggested. "Yeah, I guess," she agreed. "My friends started calling me Merida and the Green Arrow."
From the Ocracoke School multipurpose room it was a straight shot to the state tournament. Aim true, Ocracoke archers!
In the group photo below, the archers are: left to right, front row, kneeling: Tal VanVleck, Wyatt Giagu, Christian Stevens, Blackburn Warner, Jason Daniels, Elsie Kattenburg, Mariah Temple, and Katie Kinnion. Left to right, back row, standing: Jonathan Martinez, Brandt O'Neal, Edwin Perez, Julian Bennink, Parker Gaskill, Alan Doshier, Dylan Esham, Christian Trejo, Russell Stevens, and Hannah Belch
