Daviess County has been the host of both Regional and State S3DA Archery Competitions over the last week. Archers from around the state gathered both weekends with Regionals being hosted at the Daviess County Lions Fair Grounds, and State Competition at the Owensboro Convention Center.
Local clubs, Owensboro Archery and Daviess County Archery, were among the top scorers for both Regional and State. Western Kentucky is well represented with a host of teams, including, Owensboro Catholic Archery, Trinity High School, Ohio County Archery Club, among many others. Age ranging from seven years, to adult.
For the regionals, Violet Mindrup with the Owensboro Archery Club, took first place for Jr Eagle female division, with a score of 143 and 14 bullseyes, while Hoyt Wilson of Ohio County Archery Club took first place in the Jr Eagle males, with a score of 143 and eight bullseyes.
The top scorers in the Eagle Division, female, was Alyssa Jackson from Owensboro Archery Club with 150 and 22 bullseyes, and for the males, Lucas Murphy from Daviess County Archery Club with a score of 146 and 10 bullseyes.
Team Scores were also a part of the matchup. Owensboro Archery Club took first place in Jr Eagles and Eagles. Inside Out Archers of took first place in Youth and in young adult, Owensboro Archery Club came in first, with Daviess County Archery following in second place.
In the state competition, Open Jr. Eagle, Jackson Congero of Owensboro Archery Chub took first place and fixed pin was topped by Lucian McDowell of Inside Out Archers of KY, both for the males and first place for female fixed pin Jr Eagle was Gracelynn Lay of AimTakers Archery. Fixed Pins Eagle Male had Ethan Sadler of Central Kentucky Nock Busters at first place and Keely Sanders took first place for the females.
Owensboro Archery Club came in first place in the state in Jr Eagle and Eagle. Daviess County Archery Club came in second place in the state’s Young Adult. More scores can be found here.
Even with the scores being tallied, awards presented, and the archers preparing for the National Competition, the teamwork and camaraderie among everyone is hard to beat when it comes to archery. Regional Coordinator and Head Coach for OAC, Adam Logsdon spoke about this saying that it’s a “Great sport unlike any other where everyone supports each other.”
The good sportsmanship doesn’t stop with the archers. Coaches from all around help each other for the common goal of achieving confident teams with focus and determination to never give up. Logsdon continued to discuss the shooters focusing. “Stay out of your own head and focus on the target, not what everyone else is doing. Archery is a lot like golf in the sense that you’re playing against yourself. When you begin to worry about what everyone else is shooting, your scores go down.”
David Frederick from Anderson Archery, has spent the last 18 years coaching and is also a Regional Coordinator, said that the archers enjoy coming to Daviess County for the Regional and State Tournament. “It’s a well run tournament with a nice relaxed atmosphere.” He also had a tip for the archers, saying “Go in, relax, have fun, and try to make it a strong shoot.”
Of course, there are countless people that help in making all of this happen. One being Head Coach Matt Murphy of the Daviess County Archery Club. Without his leadership and the help from the other coaches in the club, and the many parents involved, the well-run tournament and relaxed atmosphere wouldn’t be possible.
