Young archers excel

Front L-R: Abby Huffer, Ragan Oliver, Tyler Levanduski, Ryan Salom, Aidan Collins and Wesley Francis. Back L-R: Ryan Oliver, Wyatt Pogue, Taylor Gray, Tristan Hyde, Cade Pogue, Hunter Brant, Chris Francis, Olivia Huffer, Amye Francis Meghan Collins, Julia Francis and Emma Harris.

NEWBERRY – This year has been successful for Newberry’s Junior Olympic Archery Development Club (JOAD). As in years past, the members of this youth archery club have demonstrated their ability to compete successfully on a national level. Most recently, the team of 18 traveled to Hamilton, Ohio to compete with archers from across the nation. Over 400 archers, ages eight to 20, competed for four days. The competitions included a ranking round of 144 arrows, match play and team competitions.

The Newberry JOAD Club brought home a total of 10 awards. The strongest showing by the club was in the team rounds. Archers earning medals in the team round were Olivia Huffer: Silver, Abby Huffer: Bronze, Ryan Salom: Gold, Tyler Levanduski: Bronze, Hunter Brant: Silver and Ragan Oliver: Silver. Ryan Oliver, age 14, won third overall in the 15-17 year old division for Men’s Olympic Recurve Bow and Meghan Collins earned Silver in the Ranking Round, Gold in the Match Play/Olympic Round and First Place Overall in the 13-14 age division for Women’s Olympic Recurve. Archers Wyatt Pogue, Cade Pogue, Taylor Gray and Emma Harris had strong showings in their respective divisions. Aidan Collins competed for the first time at Nationals and enjoyed shooting with other archers his age.

Earlier in the year, the team brought home two Indoor National Titles earned by Ryan Oliver at the U.S. Indoor Nationals in Snellville, Ga., and a total of 19 South Regional Awards. The archers shot a total of 120 arrows. In the first ranking round of 60 arrows Gold Medals were earned by Wesley Francis, Amye Francis, and Chris Francis. Silver went to Tyler Levanduski, Tristan Hyde, Hunter Brant, Meghan Collins and Ryan Oliver. Hannah Collins and Bayleigh Bivens earned Bronze.

On day two and three of the ranking round, these club members brought home the following South Regional awards: Gold: Wesley Francis, Ryan Oliver, Amye Francis, Chris Francis, and Bayleigh Bivens. Earning silver were Tyler Levanduski and Olivia Huffer. Tristan Hyde and Meghan Collins brought home Bronze.

The club reached another milestone in January. Two members were selected to the National Junior Dream Team, which is comprised of the nation’s top youth archers. Chris Francis and Ryan Oliver were chosen to train with U.S. Olympic Coaches at the Olympic Training Centers in Chula Vista, Calif. and Colorado Springs, Col. Chris and Ryan attend coaching camps four times a year as a part of the National Team and receive weekly training from National Coach and professional archer Diane Watson from Hudson, Fla. Olivia Huffer attended the March camp as an invitee for observation and possible future selection. Archers chosen to the National Junior Team must meet a minimum qualifying score at a nationally ranked event, and maintain score and training requirements, while applying the national shooting technique. Several other archers in Newberry JOAD Club are striving to make the National Junior Dream Team.

While preparing for competition and training five days of the week, the archers were also busy fundraising. Their attendance at these events would not be possible without the support of local businesses. The archers sold website ads and banners for their practice location at West Park in Newberry, Fla. Over 30 businesses bought advertising from the club. Fourteen local businesses bought banners for West Park and major sponsor Nanoptics Corporation, a Gainesville-based fiber optics company, donated $2,000 for the travel to Ohio. With the help of the local businesses, LP Archery, NanOptics. Inc. and bagging groceries for tips at Hitchcock’s, the Ohio Nationals Team earned $10,000 toward travel expenses.

Most recently, several older youth club members gained their coaching certification by club leaders. Julia Francis, Chris Francis and Amye Francis will offer lessons to the public at club practices at West Park.

Newberry JOAD Club is a program sponsored by U.S. Archery. The local youth archery club was formed in 2010 by parents. JOAD offers both recurve and compound archers the opportunity to learn range safety and proper shooting technique in an environment that also fosters focus, increased self-confidence, and team-building skills. JOAD is open to any youth archer aged eight to 20, and is designed to grow with the youth archer. Introductory JOAD classes teach the fundamentals of proper shooting form. As the young archer develops, they will learn more advanced techniques. Newberry JOAD Club archers earn achievement pins and medals at monthly tournaments.

This fall, the club will turn its attention to giving back to the local community that supports its efforts. The club will host a Fall Food Drive for the Newberry community and host a Wounded Warriors Project Indoor Benefit Tournament in December. Newberry JOAD Club, a non-profit, volunteer-led 501c3 organization, wants to thank the many businesses and individuals that helped make this year so successful. The mission of Newberry JOAD is to promote a love of the sport of archery, while encouraging sportsmanship and volunteerism. To learn more about the club, get involved in youth archery or to become a supporter, visit www.newberryjoadclub.org, visit them on Facebook or drop by West Park to see their shooting skills in action.

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