Special Moments at the IBO World

 Originally, I was going to spend a lot of time on all of the people from my region who were able to make the cut and achieve some awesome finishes at the IBO World. While I still hold them in high regards, I got to witness something that made me take a step back and realize how special it is to watch some people work to achieve goals. 

  Although I'll never remember everyone, I'd like to give credit to Brian DiBona for winning in MCBH. This guy is a mad scientist when it comes to shooting 3Ds, and he always gives himself a chance to win every event by being consistent. Consistency is the key to winning at a national level. If you produce consistently good scores and finish well, you'll get a chance or two here and there. Congratulations, Brian, on your awesome accomplishment. Make your goal to strive for consistency like Brian.

  Payson Rienhardt has made an impact in the Northeast since coming onto the scene. He is also consistently at the top of every event he attends, which affords him the ability to have a chance at winning a national title or two, and he got it done at the World. He ran away from the field and showed once again why he is so hard to beat. Payson does well in college and realizes archery comes second in life. He's carved himself a pretty impressive path up to this point, and it's a pleasure to watch his success. 

  Jacob is always Jacob, and it's mind-boggling to understand how he is in every shoot-off at every event he attends. He never gets too high or low and watching him do his thing is always impressive. I've always enjoyed the conversations I've had with Jacob, and I appreciate his success because I know how difficult what he does time in and time out is for any archer. 

  I applaud all the others from my region who made the cut and gave a great showing. I'll name a few, and I'm sure I'll forget a few too, so I apologize for that in advance. Vermonters have always seemed to show up strong in these events, and Susan Eastman and Tyler Thygesen got it done and were able to dance on the final day. I will always appreciate Tyler's friendship. He's great with bows, runs a fantastic business, helps others whenever he can, and is always willing to listen no matter the topic. He's a top-notch person and his step-son, wife and family members are lucky to have him. I feel honored to call him a friend, especially after this year. I wish him and his wife an incredible new adventure with the baby this fall. So, from TTTT to BT, I love ya buddy. Thanks for everything. I appreciate you. 

  We can't leave Jon Thompson out. He has struggled a little bit since winning the world a few years back, but he gave himself another chance this year and lit it up. Although things didn't end up the way he would've liked after the shoot-down round, he still can hang his hat on a fantastic weekend at the World. John Libby, who is always a force, showed up again and did the best he could do too. He's always in the mix in every event he participates in. The Mainers and NH fellas always show up to play. 

  Although everyone knows Mike Price produces some great shooters out of Heritage Archery Academy, many of them go unnoticed because they just do their thing, Brian DiBona being one of them. Some others, like Kim Ferguson, Ricky Wright and Chris Wright always seem to be in the mix too. It says a lot for Mike's coaching, and I'm glad I get to receive advice from the same guy who gives it to them. 

  While we all know Logan Stevenson can shoot dots, he's usually off in left field while shooting 3Ds. After meeting up in early July and working on things, I was pleased to see him make a run at Payson in SPM. He gave it his best shot but came up a little short. His dad, Aron, also made the shootdown in MBO and gave it hell, too. 

  However, the star of the show was Zane Stevenson. A few years back, Zane was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It was a life-changing experience for him, and it's something that has to be managed daily. Most of the time, the people who battle the diseases don't get to see the numerous complications of it until it is too late. It's the leading cause of blindness and kidney failure and one of the leading causes of heart failure. The disease shows no mercy. It's a blind disease and the owners of it appear just like everyone else from a glance. THEY ARE NOT LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE. Let me repeat that again, THEY ARE NOT LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE. Type 1s are not Type 2s and Type 2s really don't have a clue what it is like to deal with this disease. Yes, they have their ups and downs, but a Type 1 has no choice in the matter. Type 1s can close their eyes and never know if they will wake up again. Death comes to us in our sleep and wraps its arms around us without care. The Reaper sits on our shoulder 24 hours a day just waiting to take advantage of any minor miscalculation we might encounter. 

  Zane's mom came to me for advice when he was diagnosed. I gave them a little bit of info and away they went to figure it out. That's what we all must do. All of us approach our disease differently. I can tell you it  is not easy to shoot archery. Our steadiness aligns with our blood sugar. If our blood is too high or too low, we cannot hold well. We must battle through this every time we head to the range. Our vision is often impaired and no two days behind the bow are alike. When we get nervous, we get adrenaline spikes that send our blood sugar levels through the roof quickly. There is no controlling these spikes and we have to find ways to navigate them when they appear. 

  With all of that being said, I decided to follow Zane for his shoot-down round. Although I could've watched Logan, Tyler and Jacob, I chose Zane because of the commonality we share: we are warriors of a hidden disease and we expect no mercy from others, death included. It'll take us when we are ready, and both of us know some of our kind will go before others. We are doing the best we can to extend our lives as long as possible.

  We stood at Target 1 for a while before finally getting started. There was a big crowd, with a lot of parents and friends following along for the excitement a final round at the IBO World Championship can present. Sometimes there are heartbreaking moments, but at the end of the 10 targets there is always one person who is celebrating a well-deserved victory. 

  I could see the nervousness in Zane when he stepped up to the first target and executed a great shot. He got himself a 10 and continued his 10 streak, only coming close to leaving the 10-ring one time, and it wasn't even that close. 

  He voiced some concern about not being able to hold the bow too well. His nerves were making his holding pattern a little larger than normal and he couldn't figure it out. After a few minutes, he figured it out and realized he had to focus on his breathing to get the pin settled. 

  Once he figured that out, watching him work was amazing. I felt like I was watching a younger version of Jacob behind the bow. He stepped off to the side and did some deep breathing exercises. After doing so, he smoked an 11 on a hard downhill shot on a deer. He said his pin sat quietly for the first time in the round. He was beginning to feel it. 

  Meanwhile, his closest competitor Greyson Webber, who is a dominant force in the YMR 12-14 class, had just cut the lead to three points with an 11 before Zane shot the 11 and went back in the lead by 5 due to Greyson's slightly off-mark arrow that found a home in the 8, just to the left of the 10. 

  Zane would execute three great shots to end the round and finished by shooting three 11s in the last 4 targets. He barely missed the one 11 he didn't get, too. As he drew his bow on the last shot of the tournament, his focus never changed. He followed his process precisely and didn't let any of the outside noise, which can sometimes enter the brain, cloud his preparation and execution of the shot. He made a perfect shot, and I watched the arrow appear in front of me in slow motion. Watching it spin ever so slowly on its journey to the target, my eyes got big and my heart pounded out of my chest when I saw the arrow bury into the 11-ring. Zane had finished the journey. Just as he set his goal to get through the day with his Type 1 diabetes, he also set a goal to get the job done. He did just that .

  Unlike most children, I had to learn discipline at a very young age. It has stuck with me for my entire life and I remain disciplined in all of my pursuits. I make no excuses because the disease turns excuses into calamities. I take accountability because without accountability there's no chance of warding off the demons of the disease that are inevitable. Zane is much younger than me, and he's just growing into himself. I hope he continues down the path and realizes every little decision can be the difference between life and death. We are warriors and we have no choice but to fight if we want to survive. 

  Zane, I'm proud of you and your ability to cope with the stress and not let your blood get out of control throughout the weekend. You looked like a lion amongst kittens. Your mental game held strong, and your performance under pressure was stellar. I'm glad I was able to watch you from a distance. It was one of the most amazing shooting performances I've ever witnessed. I know how hard you've worked to give yourself an opportunity to win the event, and I'm glad it all came together at the right time. I look forward to watching you grow and battle this silent killer that lurks in the depths under our skin every single day of the year. Great job! Two Type 1 IBO World Champions has a nice ring to it. Did it happen due to being required to be disciplined every day? Neither of us will ever know, but I'm sure it didn't work against us. Every day is a new challenge for us, just like every arrow is a new challenge for all of you. Just remember... an arrow isn't a matter of life and death, so it's OK to show yourself some grace when you're having a bad day of archery.

IBO World Championship

  

Unlike the ASA Classic the week prior, I had no time to practice for the IBO World. I got off the plane on Sunday and spent Monday and Tuesday at work. Tyler and Tom picked me up in the late afternoon to head to West Virginia for the 2026 IBO World Championship. 

  The ride down was uneventful, and we arrived around 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. After sleeping until about 7:30, we got up and went out for some breakfast. We decided to go to a place next to the road, and it was a strange experience. 

  Although the place didn't appear to be open, a middle-aged man propped the door open and welcomed us in. Once inside, we were surrounded by teenage kids who appeared to be working for the man. Sitting down at the table and looking up at a balcony, I saw a bunch of rooms that appeared to be hotel rooms. I'd imagine that's where the teenagers must've been spending their summer. We had our food within seconds of ordering it, and there was an odd sensation permeating the room. For the duration, I felt like I was becoming part of a Stephen King novel, and I couldn't wait to exit the building and head toward the resort where the event was being held. 

  After getting into the truck and letting the sights and sounds dissipate behind us, I felt at ease again. As the tires hummed across the pavement and we drove across the valley, my mind brought me back to 2015 a few weeks after winning the IBO World Championship when I was walking across the bogs of Newfoundland while searching for a bull moose. Although I've been many places, I haven't found many that can compare to the interior of Newfoundland. However, Canaan Valley in West Virginia presented a strong challenge. I could visualize moose feeding on the bushes around the water. While traveling through the old memories stored in the depths of my mind, I caught a brief glimpse of the last arrow I fired at the 2015 IBO World Championship to win the title. Closing my eyes for a moment, I watched the arrow hit just below the 11 on a black bear after executing a perfect shot. Then, I slowly opened my eyes and silently said, "Why not? Why not again this year? I have the ability to repeat the process and get the same result."

  With that last thought, we pulled into the parking lot and headed to get our cards. After visiting with many of our friend while walking to and from the truck, we decided to get a few practice arrows in and shoot targets on the practice range. 

  We broke up into two groups for practice. I shot with Tyler, Rob and Matt. After pounding four out of five 11s, I had to walk down the road to continue the course. In doing so, I saw a few people and began talking. The distractions made me lose my concentration, and multi-tasking isn't one of my specialities while shooting archery. I paid the price when I shot at the first target  and blanked it. I guess I put a little too much number on it. Things didn't go well for the majority of that stretch of targets. In the end, I finished the day with four 11s in a row and felt ready for Day 1. 

                                                                   Day 1

  Luckily, we found some practice bags down near the campsite and used those to warm up. We had the bags to ourselves, so we took our time and shared some laughs. It didn't seem like we were at the biggest IBO event of the year. Instead, it felt like we were at the annual Mead Spring Challenge. After winging a few arrows, we would split up and head onto my range to see who could survive murderer's row. Shooting directly into the sun, I had to laugh when I shot groups the size of a basketball. Eventually, I gave up and just focused on stretching out my muscles. 

  Finally, Tyler drove Wags and me to our course. I only had to wait a few minutes before being called to start. I would be shooting with Mike Sutter and Bill McCall. It was nice to see Billy the last two weekends after not seeing him all year. He had some eye issues that prevented him from shooting. I hope these two shoots showed him he's still in the mix and encouraged him to join us again next year. It's not the same without Bill. He's 60 now and has been on the tour since he was 18. He's been a staple in 3D archery, and I appreciate his friendship. 

  Making our way to the first target, I could see a standing grizzly that was tucked under a tree in the shadows. I knew it was going to be difficult to see, but I also figured Mike and Bill's arrows would give me something to aim at. Sure enough, they did. Bill's arrow landed just below the 11, and Mike's arrow was between the 8 and the 10 on the high side. 

  When I drew the bow, I picked up Bill's white vanes and settled my pin on them. Although the hold wasn't great due to target 1 jitters, it was good enough to hit pretty close to where the pin was when the shot broke. I expected a 10. It was a sinking feeling when we got to the target. That's when I realized I had been aiming at Mike's white vanes, not Bill's. I hit just about where I aimed, but my vision had failed me.

  Moving to the second target, I could see I would have a great aiming reference. The Corsican ram always has a little ridge that runs into the 11, which presents a perfect place to settle the pin. When my pin found its mark, I began pulling. When the shot broke, I knew it should've hit before it did. Seeing my arrow below the 10-ring gave me a sinking feeling in my gut. It's never good to start off with two 8s, but I also knew it was highly unlikely to continue in the same direction. 

  Walking down the road, I was hoping to turn my day around. Getting to the stake and looking down the lane, I saw a bomb of a boar at the end of it. When I hit full draw, my hold was a little jittery and the shot broke with more movement than normal. From the stake, I was pretty sure I had shot a 5. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear for a few days. 

   A few minutes later, I learned I had gotten an 8 by the skin of my teeth. The arrow landed on the outside of the 8 looking in. With three 8s in a row, I didn't think the streak could continue ... and it didn't. I quickly erased one of the 8s by shooting two 11s in a row on an impala and a Dahl sheep. 

  Feeling better, I made my way to the next target. When I got to the big ram, I knew it was going to be almost impossible to see without any arrows in it since it was tucked in a dark hole while we were in a little open area in a grown-up field. After pulling back and letting down two times, I knew it wasn't going to get any better. That's when I decided to hold the pin where I thought the 10-ring might be and execute a blind-bale shot. My blind-bale shot was executed perfectly, but the arrow landed directly above the 10 ring. It probably hit where the pin was when the shot fired. I gave the other guys an arrow to help them on their journey, and they both took advantage. 

  I quickly got back on track on the next target, a bomb of a bedded buck. I executed a perfect shot and walked away with another 11. Instead of boring you with a play-by-play for the rest of the day, I'll tell you the next three targets were the ones that were set to determine the winners and losers. It was a gauntlet that started with a coyote, moved to a turkey and ended with a gator. I walked away with 23 points out of a possible 33, and that summed up my finish. If I had shot three 10s, I would've walked away with a chance to win the tournament. I struggled with the yardage on all three of them and hit the coyote about 1/4 of an inch over the 8 line and the turkey about an inch over the 10. I finally recovered on the alligator and got a 10. Many people missed the alligator, and from what I heard, that target caused a few arguments. It was probably the most difficult shot of the tournament in my opinion.

  The rest of my day went well, and I shot great shots. I walked off the course at 10 down with seven 11s. I shot a strong round, but I never recovered from starting off with three 8s combined with three targets that were set to make a difference. I knew I would have a high hill to climb, and I wasn't surprised to see myself sitting in 17th place after Day 1. 

                                                                  Day 2

    Unlike most years at the IBO World, we were peer grouped on Day 2. I felt fortunate to be able to shoot with Ray Young. Ray is one of my favorite people in Senior Pro class. He's always supportive, and I love to watch him work. He never gets too high or too low, and the guy can flat-out get it done. He's quiet and goes about his business like a job. I admire his style and try to model myself after him. He's a pro's pro and a lot of people could learn by watching him and how he goes about his business. Thank you, Ray, for setting a great example for others. It's admirable and inspiring. I can only hope people look at me like they look at you. 

  We got off to a good start, and I felt good walking away from the first few targets with 11s. When I shot an 11 on the elk, I looked into the future and saw bugling bulls in September. I imagined making a shot like the one I had just made to start my day. Only time will tell if it will happen in real life, but I'm trying to will it into reality. I will know in about 36 days when I hope to find myself creeping through the yellow aspens while stalking a herd of grazing elk that has a bugling bull amongst them.

  Target 2, hogzilla, might have been one of my best shots of the tournament. I executed a picture-perfect shot and walked away with another 11. The 11s continued throughout the day. When we got to the mule deer, which was one of the best sets of the weekend, I dialed my sight and executed another perfect shot, scoring 11. We couldn't see the target's legs, as high ferns blocked our visibility from the stake all the way to the target. It was realistic and extremely cool. 

  After shooting that target, we went into a bottom that had a lot of shadows and bright sun peeking through the trees in certain spots. It made my pin almost impossible to see on four targets in a row. Without being able to see the pin, I couldn't tell where it was when I began pulling. When the shots fired, I believe they hit behind the pin, but I had to take 8s. 

  As we began heading down the homestretch, we came upon a long brown bear. When my pin settled on it, I felt strong. The pin sat down nicely, and I could feel the pressure building on my back end. When the shot cut loose, it felt like someone had cut the string from my release. Then, I heard Ray say, "Great shot." I had shot and inside-out 11, and it was my best shot of the weekend. 

  I made my way to the end of the course and did the best I could do. Unfortunately, I had dropped too many points to make my way into the finals. The first day held me back. I ended Day 2 with a 198, but my shooting was better than the score. I just missed a few due to lighting and a few due to yardage miscalculations. I can live with that. Like last week at the Classic, I had gained a lot of ground the second day and found myself at P10 for the tournament. Another top 10 is nothing to shake a stick at when you're competing agains the best of the best in a professional class. After they released the scores a few times, they made an error with Jackie Caudle's position on one of the last images released, having him in the 400s. However, Jackie struggled a little and was down near the bottom of the shooters for the tournament.

                                                                Final Thoughts

  Looking back at the weekend, I definitely came up short of my goal, but it wasn't for lack of trying. From the beginning of the season until I fired my last arrow of the tournament, something inside me had been telling me I was going to win this event. I'm not sure where it was coming from or why it was there because I feel like I'm going to win every event I shoot in. However, the feeling that encompassed my body throughout the year was unlike the normal confidence that goes in the quiver when I step onto the range every other weekend all summer. While it's neither here nor there, I'd like to know why it kept appearing in front of me for the last six months. I'll never know, but I find it somewhat inspiring as I move forward. Maybe I saw something for somebody else, or maybe it's just something that hasn't happened yet. Either way, I'll keep plugging along and doing my own thing. 

  When you get off to a shaky start, it can be difficult to recover if you're not mentally strong. I could've packed it in after target 8 on the first day and turned on the "I don't care anymore meter." As stupid as it sounds, I never think I'm out of it until I shoot the last arrow. I fight until the very end. You could pummel me until I'm lying in the dirt as part of the earth's soil, and I will still try to rise. I will never give up. 

  Going into Day 2, I figured if I shot 6 up I would have a chance to make the cut. It's definitely a tall task, but I've done it in the past and know I can still do it. After getting off to a good start on Day 2, I quickly began closing the gap to the top. I felt unstoppable, but things can change quickly in this sport. It can quickly become impossible to keep climbing if the soles of your boots blow out, and that is what happened. My eyes let me down. I couldn't see the pin for a stretch of four targets, leading to three 8s and a 10. I lost the possibility of continuing my march to the top by shooting two 11s and a 10, which would've been an 8-point swing. Those are the things that "old" eyes can't control. I did the best I could, and that simply wasn't good enough. 

  I shot my bow incredibly well for the weekend. I'm satisfied with the outcome because I didn't give any points away by shooting bad shots. I just needed to have a little bit of luck along with slightly better yardage estimations. It's unknown 3D archery, and sometimes the lay of the land gets you more than the shooting. That's what happened last weekend. I can live with that. 

  I'd like to give a shoutout to all of the local people who attended the event. We had some stellar finishes, and all of you should be proud of yourselves. I'll touch more on this in another entry in a day or two. I was able to experience some things while I was supporting others that I'd like to share, but I'll give all of that its own space.  Until next time ---------------> keeping shooting them in the middle. 

  

ASA Classic

  Wednesday morning greeted me with pounding rain. I could hear it pounding off the roof for the better part of the night. When my alarm sounded at 2:45 a.m., it didn't take me long to get organized and head to Albany International Airport for my flight to Atlanta at 6:00 a.m, where I would catch a flight to Huntsville, Ala., to meet Jacob. 

  The day passed quickly, and we found ourselves in Cullman late in the afternoon. After unloading our stuff at the hotel, we headed to the range for some quick practice. Although the shots on the bags hit behind the pin and created good groups, the time on the 3D practice range didn't go so well, as I launched an arrow 30 feet over a target and shot a few 5s along the way. I guess the day's travel had caught up to me. 

                                                                Practice Day

  We slept in for practice day and tried recovering to the best of our ability. We had to be at the site at 9:00 a.m. so Jacob could be at the Darton booth for the launch of their new bow, the Tritech 37. It seemed to be a hit and the shooters in attendance seemed to be excited about it. The Darton shooters also got new shirts, and they look sharp. 

  When we got to the shoot, we had to scurry around to find a shooter shirt since I learned earlier in the morning that I had forgotten to pack any. Thankfully, Eric Griggs had a bunch in a box that he was unloading, so he graciously offered me a shirt, and Jacob picked up a new ACU stool. 

  While on the butts, I spent a fair amount of time conversing with Darren Collins. He will always be one of my favorite people to talk to. You never have to wonder what he's thinking, and he tells it like it is. You would never know of his accomplishments with a bow if you didn't personally know him. I learned today that he's only four animals away from completing his second grand slam, and he doesn't think he's worthy of being in the Bowhunting Hall of Fame. That's crazy to me. I'm lucky to call him a friend, and I'm glad I met him during my travels in this wonderful game. 

  After having a good practice session, we hunt out inside for a bit to get out of the heat. We shared a few laughs with Loren Lohr and Richard Teasley, two of my favorite peers. When all was said and done, we packed up and headed back to the hotel to get some rest for Day 1. Both of us felt prepared and ready to go give it a whirl to see what a few Yankees could do. 

                                                                        Day 1

  We headed to the butts about 7:00 a.m. after getting breakfast at the hotel. It was a nice morning and the humidity wasn't too terribly bad. After shooting a few ends, we sat around and visited with Sam Coffin, Andy Jaquith and Rudy Abersold. I chatted with Arnold Abrahamsen for a few minutes when I went to the  restroom too. 

  As we left the range and headed toward our starting points for the day, I felt good. My head was in a good place and I felt completely relaxed. I was ready for the day and had no reason to be anything other than confident.

  I quickly learned I would be shooting with Don Kiertmeyer, whom I had shot with  in Kentucky, Mark Keesee and Tony Weston, whom I had never shot with in the past. Tony resides in the U.K and he always seems to have a good attitude, so I knew it was a great chance to meet a new person from another country and enjoy the experience. 

  When the cards were drawn, I got the lucky duty of having to be first on the first target, an uphill medium deer that was in the skyline. The sun glistened off the tree branches and made it difficult to see well, so I settled in the best I could and executed a good shot that missed to the right. 

  My woes continued on the next target, a long, downhill bobcat, when I hit that to the right too. However, I caught a 10 on that one before moving along. After missing a wolf to the right, I finally gave a few clicks to my sight and called it good. Then I climbed out of the hole getting a 12 on a short bear and a strutting turkey.

  Although my hold wasn't the best and my execution was slightly choppy, I felt good about my numbers an decided to be more aggressive than normal. After all, I had nothing to lose and. you can't win these things unless you shoot up. It wasn't about making the cut here for me, so I didn't have any plans of trying to stay in the mix and taking minimal chances. Instead, I decided to go for it. 

  Five targets later, I realized I had probably made the wrong decision when I sat on my stool and became slightly irritate with myself after barely missing over the upper 12 for the fifth consecutive shot. What could've easily been a 10 up on my card turned into 10 down. I had practiced extremely well earlier in the week at home, and I felt 100% confident in shooting at them. I had hit most of them at home and had no doubt I would hit them here. Unfortunately, that 1-2 inch miss shows up on the scorecard as a bad score when it was nearly a crusher score. I really can't be disappointed with that, even though I'd like to beat myself up a little bit. One of these days, they will all land, and I'll think back to this day when I was just a little off.

  At day's end, I had accumulated a few more 12s, but I also shot a few more 8s due to bad numbers. Amazingly, I shot a pile of 8s and never came close to shooting a 5. I wouldn't say I had horrible numbers, but my numbers weren't what they needed to be to come out ahead in this event. I guess we never stop learning. If I had to do Day 1 over, I would do the same thing again.  

                                                                    Day 2

  Going into Day 2, I didn't feel any differently than I did on Day 1. I decided to go with the same game plan to see where I would land at the end. After getting my target assignment, I was relieved to see I would be shooting with all good shooters who also had a mediocre Day 1. I would be shooting with one of my absolute favorite people with whom to shoot, Brian LuAllen, and Keith Ahlstrom and John Ball would round out the group. 

  Looking down the lane, I could see a howling wolf that would welcome me when we were told to "Shoot'm up." I could see a glare in the upper 12, and since I shoot uppers, I knew I would have a good aiming spot. I would follow Brian for the day, and I would be shooting second on the first target. 

  When I drew the bow, the pin drifted like it normally does on the first target, but I executed a good shot and the arrow pierced the 12. I was off and running. On my second target, I could once again see a glare just under the 12 on a strutting turkey, so I added yardage and held on it. When the shot broke, I figured I had it because it was another good shot. I landed another 12 on my card, and I was off and running for the day. 

  As the day progressed, my shot and my hold got better and better. The pin sat down nicely and my timing was good throughout the day. There was one shot which gave me a struggle, but I found a way to get through it and continue. 

  As I neared the day's end, I knew I had a good round going so I went for it on the last target of the day and secured another 12 on my card. I ended the day at 206 and moved from 30th place to 11th place for the tournament. Although that's a huge move for any class, something like that doesn't usually happen in a pro class due to the skill level of every shooter. It felt good to walk away from ASA for the year with a great round. I had no intention of shooting any ASA tournaments this year. After shooting in three of them and cashing a check at each one of them, it has gotten my mind thinking about trying Foley next winter. Although it's impossible to get anything practice that time of year, I fell the equipment I'm using now gives me a good chance to do well, and my experience can carry me through. I'll see how I feel about it as the fall brings me into and out of hunting season. 

                                                                        My Final Thoughts

  I had no intention of going to this tournament a month and a half ago. However, Jacob's progression through the tournament season made me want to be at this tournament. I love witnessing greatness, especially when it's a friend who is supplying it. Well, I wasn't let down. I got to witness it again. He shot another 30+ up round in unknown archery. That is mind boggling if you think about it, especially if you could see the ranges he's doing it on. He is definitely one of the all-time greats and his time isn't done. 

  Unfortunately, some more unfortunate weather came in right as the shootoff was getting ready to start. We stood out in the pouring rain and tried to keep stuff dry. When it let up for a few minutes, the organizers tried rushing through to get the Open Pros done and the tournament wrapped up. Although I wasn't in the shootdown round, it made me feel rushed, and it's never a good thing when you rush through things when shooting a bow. 

  In the end, I was glad I attended the shoot. I got to see my ASA friends one last time for the year, and it made me briefly consider attending a few events next year. I have no idea what will happen between now and then, but I'm leaving the ASA behind in 2026 with a positive feeling. 

  As far as the tournament goes, I experienced some highs and lows, but the lows were more from frustration. I had a lot of arrows that landed outside the 12 on the upper side for 8s, and they piled up on Day 1. At one point on Day 1, I shot five 8s in a row. Day one I had a lot closer arrows than Day 2, but between the two days, I probably had 20 plus points that were out by less than an inch. One of these days they will all land, and I built on that on Day 2. It's just a matter of playing the game a little smarter and holding back when I need to. This is one of the ones that had perfect line but actually missed by a substantial margin instead of the many one-inch misses I experienced over the weekend. My line was really good all weekend. 

  After finishing the tournament, I walked back to the vendor area with Glenn Meadows and Loren Lohr. As we talked, I got Glenn's take on the ACU unit he used on his bow for the first time this year. He used the one that screws into the bow, the same thing-ma-jiggy I wrote about Wade using last weekend. Like Wade, Glenn said he could definitely see the difference. He noticed the difference in the beginning of the round when he was a little jittery, and he also noticed the difference on the long, small targets when he usually experiences a larger holding pattern. Loren also said it made a big difference in his set-up too. If you're considering it, I'd give it a whirl. Don't expect it to help you aim better, though. It will only improve your aim slightly be eliminating some of the larger movements. You need to hold the bow fairly well to begin with if you're going to benefit from it. 

  Looking back at the weekend, Day 2 was my best shooting of the year so far. Nineteen of the 20 shots were executed perfectly. I couldn't have shot the shots any better, even if I were in my own basement blank-baling. I've worked hard on that part of my game, so I'll take the small victories and try to move forward with them. 

  Although the train went off the tracks on Day 1, I never acknowledged it. Instead, I believed I could shoot a great round the next day and someone battle my way back into contention. Never giving up is essential in the game, and you have to learn how to battle through the bad and celebrate the good when you experience them. The secret to long-term happiness in this sport is keeping your emotions level. If you live and die with whatever happens every weekend, you won't be longed for the sport of competitive archery. It will eat you... and your mind alive. Archery is supposed to be fun. When all is said and done ... it's a hobby, and I think we sometimes forget that, and it makes it much more difficult to shoot well. 

  When I was packing up and leaving the venue, I spoke with Jamie Drouillard for a few minutes. I was lucky enough to shoot with Jamie a few times this year. Jamie gave me a pretty good compliment and I took it in stride. I appreciated his kind words and consider him a good friend. He's one of the guys who roots for his competitors even though he wants to win too. He complimented me on my shot this year and how it has looked really good. 

  I also spoke with Tony Tazza after he announced his retirement from the ASA. Although he will be done with ASA, Tony will most likely come back to shoot the IBOs next year, and that will be nice. What's the old .38 Special song, "Back Where You Belong?" I also had a long talk with Brian LuAllen before we started our round on Saturday. He said he's considering hanging it up too. I get it, as we are all older and being on the road sucks and sometimes feeling like you're giving it everything you have and it isn't enough can be depressing. However, I've made lifelong friends in this sport, and these events are the only place I get to see them. One thing I've learned, which matters more than anything to me, is that if your peers respect you, you're probably doing alright, and I believe I've gained the respect of most of my peers. That's good enough for me. I've heard all the critics locally and in my region. Here's my simple message to all of them. I feel honored to be able to compete with other lions, for I am a lion too. 

The Northeast IBO Championship

 

  About a month ago, I was undecided if I would attend the Northeast IBO Championship in eastern Connecticut due to my busy schedule. However, I carved out the time in hopes of getting one last dose of practice in at a tournament setting before heading to the ASA Classic and IBO World Championship in back to back weeks. 

  We left at 5:30 a.m. so we could meet Tyler and Tom at the event. Being about a three-hour drive, it gave us plenty of time to discuss a lot of things, both about archery and life. The odd thing was there was a wide variety of ages in the truck, going from Wade in his 60s to Logan Stevenson, who is still in his teens. 

  The ride went quickly and seemed like it took about an hour to get there when we pulled in the parking lot about 8:15. After registering and heading to the practice range, I couldn't help but notice the perfect shooting conditions. It was crystal clear sky and bright sun. There wasn't a lick of humidity when we began the day. 

  After shooting a good group at 40 yards, I felt confident. They had huge dots on their targets, and I'm not a fan at aiming at stuff that is too large or too small. I need it the perfect size to allow me to shoot my best shots and feel comfortable while aiming. 

  Shooting a new trigger that Aron made for me, I was still trying to figure a few things out with it. That's when I drew my bow and sent an arrow sailing into the woods behind all of the target bags. It's probably still flying through the sky. I'm still not sure what caused the release to fire, but it did it again today (Sunday evening) while shooting at home. I'll need to figure it out if I'm going to use it a lot. 

  When I got my group assignment, I learned I would be shooting with Wade, Tom and Tyler. I knew I would have good arrows to aim at all day. When you're lucky enough to shoot with the best shooters in your region, you know you have to be on your game. 

  After the cards were drawn, I was told I would have to lead the first target, a roe buck. The number stuck out to me, and I executed a flawless shot with my new trigger. The arrow pierced the 11, and I was off to a good start. 

  As we meandered through the beginning of the course, the new trigger worked great. It allowed me to hit five 11s in the first eight targets before I ran into a few issues. After three 8s on the next four targets, I decided to switch back to old reliable. 

  That's when I drew on a stone sheep and easily nestled my finger on to the trigger. Unfortunately, it fired before I had the pin where it needed to go, giving me an 8 on a stupid mistake. I was able to settle in a little better on the next target and execute a good, solid shot, barely missing the 11 on the caribou. 

  The next target, a wolverine fooled a few of us in the group, with Tyler and I hitting each other at 12 o'clock in the 10-ring. I felt lucky to escape with a 10. The next handful of targets, I made perfect shots and cruised along shooting 10s. However, I got into a streak in which I didn't think I would ever get an 11.  Then, I executed an absolute perfect shot on a lynx. I knew I had smoked the 11. Unfortunately, I ricocheted off Tyler's arrow and found myself in the 8-ring. 

  When I got to the next target and saw that I had to lead off on a turkey, I felt confident with my number. Once again, I executed a perfect shot and the found my only 11 in the last 20 targets. Amazing how you can hit five of the first eight, then only hit one the rest of the way while executing great shots and holding the bow well at the same time. 

  When we neared the end, I was running out of gas and my blood monitor began to sing its ever-too-familiar tune of letting me know my blood was under 50. This made it a little difficult to hold the bow, see and focus, causing me to shoot a couple 8s near the end. 

  When we finally arrived at the last target, a rising boar, everyone was around and having a ball. While dealing with all of my other complications, it was difficult to get the last shot off. When on my last draw, I knew I had to get it to go, and I executed a perfect shot to end the day, scoring a 10 that landed an inch above the 11. I was glad to call it a day. 

                                                                Final Thoughts

  I'm glad I made the trip to Pachaug Sportsmen's Club. They put on a good shoot, and the grounds are phenomenal. I appreciate their efforts, even though the turnout was relatively low. 

  I can say that my performance has been almost the same at every event this year. I haven't had too many highs or too many lows. I've been slow and steady, almost like a turtle. I'm ready to shift gears and turn it up a notch, and I thought that was happening after shooting the first eight targets. I simply couldn't miss. 

  While the beginning of my round was amazing, I can attribute the hiccups for a few targets to the new release and the familiarity with it. I just need to keep using it a little bit at a time until it becomes second nature. I really like the feel of it. 

  After switching releases, my hold got better and I felt more at ease. However, I could't seem to get any 11s, but that was the general consensus in our group. Wade seemed to make up for the rest of us. Around target 4, he tried Tyler's ACU unit that screws into the riser. He turned into Superman after that, and it was  pure pleasure watching him shoot. It was like the Wade that I always strived to become when I was in my 20s. I could never beat him and wanted to find a way to shoot as well as him. Well, old Wade came back after trying his new thing-ma-jiggy. He held the bow like a rock and shot 11 after 11 after 11. If he didn't shoot it in the 11, he barely missed. I've seen a lot of people make it look easy at times, but this was the first time in a long time that Wade made it look easier than anyone I've seen shoot. That thing-ma-jiggy was exactly what he needed to boost his confidence, and it obviously helped him shoot better. That was the highlight of my day. 

  At day's end, I was glad to get off the course. While I shot OK, it wasn't nearly my best, and it certainly was nowhere near my worst. I was satisfied with the effort. All things considered, especially the low blood throughout the day, I managed to stay pretty consistent. 

  It was the worst the shadows have been this year. Every target had some type of shadow(s) on it, making it merely impossible to find solid aiming references that stayed in place. I did the best I could with limited visibility. While I didn't have my normal 11 count, I can attribute it to the shadows and the low blood that whacked me from the halfway point until the end. 

  All in all, I'm ready for the next two weeks. There's not much else I can do, and I look forward to seeing all of my archery friends from across the country one more time for the summer. God willing, I'll see them next year, too. Until then, everyone continue doing what you do best, and shoot as many arrows as you can. May all your arrows land true.  I've never had a lot of talent, so I've always relied on these things. Just remember that as you plug along on your journey through archery ... and life. 

3rd Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown

   Well, I went into this event with the least amount of practice I've had this year. I decided to take some time off and clear my mind, although I probably had more going on inside my skull than normal. I decided to take the advice I give so many other people and rely on my experience while taking a step back. 

  When Tyler and Tom picked me up and we got under way, I felt confident. We made the 10-hour journey through the blistering heat and ended up in southern Ohio around 3:00 a.m. Near the end of the journey, we played dodge-a-deer, as the little critters were out and about when most humans had long since retired to their beds. 

                                                                     Practice Day

  With the high heat and lack of sleep, I didn't feel overly ambitious on practice day. While Wade and Tom went out to shoot 20 targets, Tyler, Jeff and I shot a few arrows at the butts then headed to the practice range. After shooting well on the 10 targets, we packed our stuff up and headed to the Rocky boot outlet to see if we could find some bargains. I was quick to the draw when I spotted a pair of Rocky Outbacks, my all-time favorite boot. I quickly picked them up and purchased them. Eventually, Tom and Wade showed up and told us they had both shot well. The news made my day since both of them have struggled a little bit this year, and I believe it always helps when you turn the corner as the IBO World approaches. It allows you to bring some confidence with you to the dance. Here are my two new pair of shoes. 

Day 1

  When I reached tent where the target assignments were on the table, I learned I would be shooting with Mike Sutter, Glenn Meadows and Aaron Kilburn. I've shot with Mike in every event this year, so I knew that would be OK, and I shot with Glenn and Aaron the first day at Pipestem. 

  After drawing cards, I learned I would be leading off the first target. It was a brown bear down a tunnel. The number stuck out when I looked at it, and I didn't waste any time drawing, aiming and executing when we were told to shoot them up. I started with an 11.

  Within minutes, the heavens let loose and rain fell from the sky with a fury all its own. The heavy rain matted my shirt to my skin, and I felt like I was wearing extremely wet spandex. For a few minutes, the rain hammered us, but we picked our way through a short javelina, a bomb ram, a  medium-range Dahl sheep, a short panther and a decent black bear before getting called off the course due to an approaching thunderstorm. 

  The break lasted a few hours, and when we headed back onto the course, I started with a long stone sheep. I centered it and felt a sense of relief to keep my momentum going. Then, I navigated a steep downhill bobcat and a short medium deer across a small gulley. I continued focusing on making good shots and nothing else.

  A little over halfway into my round, I came to a downhill feeding doe. Being last, I listened to all of the arrows. Although the arrows didn't sound like the target was too far, my eyes told me a different story. After all three guys in the group hit high, I didn't change my plan. Instead, I used their arrows as an aiming reference and had 100% confidence in my number.

  When the shot broke, I instantly knew it was my best shot of the round. It felt like someone cut the string from my release with a pair of scissors. It was a perfectly executed shot, and the arrow flew like a dart. Unfortunately, it landed about 2 inches above the arrows in the top of the 10 and found itself in no man's land to score a 5. Sometimes it amazes me how you can miss where you're aiming by two inches and get a 5, but that's what happened. I just smiled and continued down the path. I knew I still had some time to make up for the mistake. 

  I quickly got back on track and shot a few 11s. When we got to #20, I had a hard time judging it, but when I settled in on my number I committed to it and made another great shot. My arrow landed inside-out on the 11 in the fallow deer. With two targets left, I saw a bedded elk at the next stake. Although the target looked monstrous, I studied it and took in the surroundings. When I cut the arrow loose, I was happy to see it land in the 10-ring, just to the left of the 11. 

  When I got to the last target of the round, an antelope, I noticed a lot of low holes. However, with others finishing their rounds and a lot of commotion on the round behind me, I lost my focus for a few minutes while studying the yardage and executing my shot. I walked off the range with an 8, but I was satisfied to know I had only left the 10-ring two times for the day, and one of the arrows was just from me not paying attention to where I was actually aiming and considering I could possibly hit higher than that spot. I walked off the range at 1 up and learned I was in the lead after Day 1. Although I had a few mistakes, I navigated the round OK, and gave myself a chance to win. After all, you sure can't win the first day, but you can definitely lose. 

                                                                         Day 2

  I slept like a baby Saturday night and was ready for the round to begin Sunday morning. I felt good about  the upcoming round and couldn't wait to get started. After getting to the stake, I learned I would once again be shooting with Mike Sutter. I guess he has become my shooting partner for the year. There's nothing wrong with that because he's been shooting well this year, and he always gives me good arrows to reference. He's also quiet and goes about his business while shooting. I can shoot with quiet people or people who like to talk. I don't mind one over the other, but knowing what to expect for the day is always nice. I also learned I would be shooting with Jeff Kirkland, whom I haven't shot with in a while. I always like shooting with Jeff. He's positive and roots for others to succeed. When mistakes are made, he feels for his competitors. Matt Bressler rounded out our group. I shot with him at the IBO World last year. Matt's always in the mix, so between him and the other guys, I knew it would be a battle right until the end. 

  We started on a long white goat. Amazingly, I was the only one who didn't 11 it. I had to settle for a 10, but I executed a good shot. Having to lead the next target, it was difficult to get a good read on it. They had leopard stuffed in a hole, so you couldn't se the legs, and it was very difficult to find an aiming spot. I did the best I could to aim in the right place. When my arrow struck the target, I was relieved to get a 10 without having a good aiming reference. 

  Making our way across a small field and down the road a little ways, a standing grizzly welcomed us at the next station. I excited a perfect shot and thought I had an 11. However, my arrow struck about a half an inch above the 11. I felt good walking toward the next target. I had just executed one of my best shots of the weekend. 

  When I walked up on the next target, I felt confident with my number. It was a boar across a small valley. I simply misjudged it, but I shot a perfect shot. My arrow struck the 8-line high. Scratching my head as I walked away, I readied myself to lead off the next target. 

  I made quick work of the medium deer that greeted me. The slight uphill shot was tough to get an exact number due to the legs being hidden, but it was pretty close. It was definitely a target I needed to capitalize on, and I did just that. I walked away with my first 11 of the day. 

  I quickly added to my 11 count when I smoked the next target, which was a wolverine. It was a tricky number to get, but I felt confident in it because I look at the target almost daily at the house. The course didn't get any easier when I walked around the corner and spotted a gator across a water hole. Everything in my gut told me it was closer than I thought, but I went against my instincts and let it eat. When the arrow struck the 8-line high, I was a little disappointed in myself that I didn't listen to the little voice in my head. I know better than to make mistakes like that one. 

  After escaping a high 8 on a black bear, I smoked a tricky fallow deer, bedded ram and impala, getting 11s on all of them. I was back on a roll and had erased the unfortunate 8 on the gator. Then, I came upon a long downhill brown bear. The number was obvious to an extent. I knew it was at least 50, but with all the bullshit setting of a few targets this year, you still have to be careful. All I had to do was execute a good shot. 

  When I drew the bow, the sight picture wasn't good from the rip, so I let down and started again. On the second draw the pin settled OK, but it wasn't great. However, as I was aiming, someone behind me decided to turn on a handheld, battery-operated fan, which distracted me for an instant, and that instant is all it took for my thoughts to drift. My focus went somewhere it shouldn't have, and I lost control of my intense focus. That second or two sent the train off the tracks, and everything suffered. It started with my mind, went into my aim and ended in my shot. It's amazing how something that simple can drag you underwater and contribute to drowning. Then, I was staring at a 5 in the target. Instantly, I figured I could make it up in the remaining targets and began my quest. 

  I shot just over the 11 on a caribou, then 11d a snarling wolf across a ravine and followed that with another 11 on a bedded doe. With three targets left, I didn't know where I stood, but I figured the 5 had probably done me in. Then, I had to lead off a grazing doe. Unfortunately, I lost the pin on the animal and couldn't aim at all. I simply couldn't see the pin. I battled it through a few letdowns, then I finally had to get the arrow off. That's when it hit to the left of the 10-ring. I quickly battled back and shot an 11 on the next target, which was a stone sheep. 

  Getting to the last target, a boar, I had memories of smoking a boar on my last shot a few years back to make the shootdown round. Although I figured I was out of it by a hair, I wanted to end this tournament the same way I ended the one in my memory. When the shot broke, I figured I had smoked the 11. I executed yet another perfect shot and my pin had frozen on the two arrows in the 11. I was highly disappointed when the arrow hit a fingernail width above the 10-line for an 8.  I walked away with an 8 and quickly found out I had missed the cut by 3 points... the story of my life. 

Final Thoughts

  I'm in the best place I've been mentally in a few years, and my confidence is growing. It feels good to be in the mix in every shoot again. I gave myself a chance to win this one, and I shot well on Day 2 but it just wasn't quite good enough. That's what happens when you compete against the best in the world. 

  My equipment is performing flawlessly, and I'm getting better with it every time out. I'm glad I chose the Elite Victra as my bow for the year. It feels good to choose the bow I want to shoot and not be bound to any company, shops or people. I chose the bow that I felt would give me the best opportunity to win, and as an amateur I won more with an Elite than any other bow. 

  A few people asked me how I slept knowing I was leading. I just laugh at the comment. I've led plenty of things over the years, and I've never really paid much attention to it. It's not a one-day tournament and leading after Day 1 or going into a shootoff doesn't mean a damn thing. I just stay focused and try to repeat what I did the previous day. I can't do anything more than that. It definitely makes shooting a lot easier. I had no expectations, but I did feel like I was going to win the event. 

  While everyone can do it, I can easily see where I could've won this event. I aimed in the wrong spot and knew I was doing it. It cost me 5 points. Then, the distraction that I encountered got the best of me, causing another 5 points to disappear. Those two shots alone were worth 10 points. I'll be better with these things at the next one. As far as the distraction goes, I just feel that was in bad taste. Sometimes people don't think when they do things, and other times people do things purposely. It's neither here nor there because in the end, I own it. My mental state was not where it should've been. If it had been, I wouldn't have heard any outside noise, whether it was people talking, birds chirping, or chipmunks racing through the leaves. I'm thankful for the unfortunate incident because it will definitely make me better going forward. I must've ignored that part of training for a little too long. 

  Once again, I had a great time this weekend. I love traveling with Tom and Tyler, and Jeff and Wade just round things out. I believe Tom and Tyler are a big reason why my shooting has turned around this year. They let me sound off when I need to, and they supply a lot of laughs and things I will always remember as time passes. I love those guys. 

  Once again, Jacob did Jacob things. I've never felt so happy for anyone as I did for him after this event. I've been fortunate enough to share a few long-assed car rides with Jacob this year and my perspective on life and his are two different things. I'm an old washed-up dude who shoots a bow and he's the Superman of 3D archery. He's taught me a lot of things about archery ... and life. Jacob is a good listener and pulls no punches when it comes to his thoughts or advice. More people need to be like him. You will never find a harder worker, more dedicated husband, loving father, incredible son or great friend. It's easy to respect and root for a guy like Jacob. Many of us celebrate his highs and mourn his lows simply because we love to see him succeed. He's a normal dude like all the rest of us, and that's what he likes. So, congratulations Jacob. It never gets old watching you do what you do with a bow and arrow. We are all proud of you, and you inspire us to try a little harder and give a little more when all seems lost. I wish I could've done my part and joined the shootdown round with you like a few years ago, so I'll give it my best to see if we can have a repeat of 2017 to end the year.