ASA Pro-Am Metropolis

  Well, I don’t really know where to start this. I’d guess that half of the people reading this don’t know that the mythical hero Superman, the superhero that most children adored, came to be known in Metropolis, Illinois. As a child, he lifted the back end of the car above his head… and the rest is history. We were all able to witness some heroic actions on Saturday evening, as a new Superman was born… Jacob Slusarz. 

  Although I’ll get to Jacob, I’ll share my weekend with you since that it what I do on this thing every week. Let me preface this by saying that Jacob and I had drastically different weekends, but there is no gain without pain, and sometimes the pain can be difficult to endure. 

      Practice Day

  The ride to Illinois was grueling. After getting up at 4 o’clock to start my workday, I was about shot when we hit the road around 2:00 p.m. Knowing we would encounter the time change, we drove until about 1:00 a.m.

  It was a short night of sleep, as we were back on the road by 6:30. When we arrived at the venue, the heat was blazing. The car thermometer had a balmy 95 degrees showing. 

  A few days prior to heading to the shoot, I was undecided which bow to bring. After throwing a sight on the bow I got the previous week and shooting a few arrows out of it, I said, “What the heck do I have to lose?” 

  Before putting the bow in the case, I shot a few arrows to make sure the tape was good. Unfortunately, after not paying attention when I took the bow out of the press, I shot a few arrows and didn’t realize one cable was not inside the track on the roller. Three shots later, the serving was shot on the cable and started sliding where it had separated. This forced me to pack the bow I’ve been struggling with and shoot with an unsteady aim once again. 

  During the ride, Jacob and I talked about the situation and collectively decided I had nothing to lose by shooting the new bow. However, we needed to unwrap the serving off the cable. I had already put a Teflon cable slide on it so the unwrapped cable wouldn’t face the stress of the roller guard. When we pulled into the venue, Jacob had the bow ready to roll. We walked to the target butt and started our weekend. The bow felt unsteady, and I changed tapes on it while waiting to shoot arrows. I had to get the 20 sighted in and start there. I had no idea what to expect. In the bright sunlight, I couldn’t see the pin well and didn’t know where it was sitting in the dot. The blue fiber washed out against the white backdrop. 

  After about 45 minutes, I felt confident that the bow was as good as it was going to get, and we headed to the practice range. We methodically made our way through the range. Although I was a little inconsistent, I chalked it up to the new bow and the long ride. Jacob actually noticed that I was holding steadier than I have this entire 3D season. When we packed up our gear and headed to the hotel for the evening, we both felt good about the next day. 

  Day 1

  When I walked out the door of the hotel and spotted a pile of dog shit in front of the door, I didn’t know if that was a sign, but something in my gut told me it wasn’t a good thing. 

  Instead of going to the practice butt, we headed directly to the practice range to get in as many targets as possible. As we went from target to target, I gained confidence with my new setup. Things seemed to be clicking, and it felt good to finally be able to hold the bow well after all the struggles I’ve faced this year. I was finally able to explain why the arrows hit where they did. 

  Walking to my target assignment, Jacob and I took our time. I had no expectations. As other shooters started showing up, I was glad to see some good guys in my group. I would be spending the day with Bill McCall, Jackie Caudle and Blake Burger. Looking at the first target, I wasn’t happy to see that I would be starting on a 47-yard blesbok. 

  When I drew my bow, I felt some of those beginning-of-the-tournament nerves, and I quickly realized the new bow was going to be slightly different than I had experienced on the practice range. I got a 10 on the target, but it wasn’t pretty

  A few targets later, I lost back tension and the string started going forward, firing the release. Luckily, I escaped with a liner 10. I was lucky I didn’t miss the target with that one. Although the rest of the day allowed me to feel different things with the new bow, I began feeling a little more confident halfway through the round and finished the last 10 targets at + 4. Unfortunately, the first 10 targets left me feeling like I had taken a severe bare-knuckle beating. I’ll be the first to admit that I was somewhat embarrassed at my performance, but many great shooters struggle at times. Billy has been in almost all the shootoffs this year, and he and I finished the day with the same score – 186. The round left me with a positive imprint. With less than 50 arrows through the bow before I began the tournament, it took be about 10 targets to figure out that this setup would not be forgiving to any relaxation of the bow arm. If I’m not rock-solid on the front end, I will go low left or straight left. I made note of that and called the day a success – but not on the scorecard. Hopefully, the success of that round will show up when I need it the most in the future. I can only go up with the bow. It takes all of us a while to figure out what bows like and dislike, then we must take action to make things happen. My 186 was easy to look past when I learned that Jacob was the leader in Open Pro. He smashed the course, shooting 11 12s for a 218. 

  Day 2

    With a start time of 7:30, we were on the practice range shortly after daylight, and it was hard to see. We both shot OK, but we both hit a lot of targets high due to the lighting. As we neared the end of our practice, the lighting got better, and Jacob started being Jacob. He pounded 12 after 12, and I felt good about what was to come. 

  When I got to the area where target assignments were being given out, I learned that I would be shooting with Bill McCall again, and we would have Darrin Christenberry and Tim Boykin in our group. Although I had a piss-poor day the day before, I felt somewhat comforted to see who was in my group. Although I would never wish evil upon anyone, it made me realize that all of us are good shooters, but we all ended up on the same stake the second day. When you’re competing against the best of the best, there is just no room for error.

  Instead of going through the round arrow for arrow, I’ll just give a quick rundown of how it went. After shooting the 20-target round the first day, I learned what I needed to pay attention to with the new tool in my hands, and I did just that. I shot at a lot of 12s and barely missed many of them. I ended up getting two of them and shooting two 8s along the way. One 8 was due to going too long in my hold, which resulted in a weak shot that hit dead left of the 12-ring. The other 8 was on a shot that I couldn’t find a place to put the pin, and the shot fired before I was settled in. At the end of the day, I felt satisfied with my first 40 targets with the brand-new bow. After the first 10 targets of the tournament, I quickly evaluated the issues I was encountering and fixed the problem, only having one shot get away from me in the last 30 targets. Over the last 30 targets I shot four 12s and two 8s for a total of 304. However, the first 10 did me in. I’m glad I took the chance on the bow and decided to give it a whirl in a tournament. The bow aims well, and I’m sure I will shoot it well in the future. You will never know how a bow truly shoots if you’re only shooting it in your backyard. A little bit of tournament pressure will tell you what you need to do to make it right. Although I think I can do well with it where it is currently set, I’m going to increase the draw weight a little bit and see if it makes any difference. I should know quickly what it’s going to do. Overall, I’m disappointed with the results from the weekend but excited about what is ahead. 

  Although I would never recommend shooting a bow that has less than 50 arrows through it and no sight tape, I’m glad I did it. I learned a lot, and there’s not better way to learn anything in archery than jumping into the fire while trying to keep your feet off the hot coals. I jumped up and down while crossing the fire bed and ended up finishing in the exact middle of the class. I’m not happy about it, but it lights a fire in me to improve my ASA game

  I’m four national events into my 3D schedule, and I have three remaining. While this year has not treated me nearly as well as last year, I’m still plugging along and giving everything I have. I’ve struggled mightily with my hold this year, but I feel my shot is better. I’m hoping the change of bows will help me get back to where I stayed throughout last summer. After four events last year, I had an ASA in which I finished in the middle, and three IBOs in which I finished third two times and 9^th in the other one. This year, besides this shoot, I have a 6^th and 7^th at the first two IBOs and a 13^th at the ASA in Kentucky. While it’s not great, I have struggled this year, but I feel the work I’ve been putting in will guide me to a better finish. 

  I’d like to take a few minutes to congratulate some fellow New Yorkers. Michael LeFever laid it down this weekend. He had a stellar weekend and ended up in 12^th place. That’s laying the hammer on people when you come from an area where ASA practice is limited and you’re competing against people who do it all the time. Congratulations, Michael. We are proud of you. 

  I also got to see Katie and Glen Bordwell in the lunch line while we were waiting for lunch after our final round. It was good to see Glen and talk with him for a bit. I can remember competing against his dad many times when Glen was just a kid. Katie made it into the shootoff and put on an awesome display as she climbed up the ladder and finished in third place. It was cool to see a New Yorker put on a show like that in the shootoff. 

  Louis Price also put on quite a show but came up just short of the shootoff. Sometimes you just need a tad more luck to get you into the dance. He fell just short of the big show, but it wasn’t for lack of laying it down. I didn’t see Louis all weekend, but I’m always rooting for him to succeed. 

                                 Superman Showed up at the Shootoff

  I’ve watched many shootoffs in my life, and I’ve even been in a few here and there, but I’ve never seen anything quite like what I witnessed on Saturday evening. 

  Jacob led the qualifying round from start to finish, shooting the highest score of the day on Day 1 and backing that up with a solid round on Day 2 to go into the shootoff in the number one position. 

  After we shot our final round, we watched Dad shoot for a bit. Then we decided to walk to the practice range to get a few arrows in before the big dance later in the afternoon. Instead of shooting, I just traveled along behind Jacob and offered some spotting skills – and distraction. I jabbered on the phone while he was trying to shoot. There were barely any shooters on the range, so we randomly went to different targets. 

  When it was time to pack up and head off the range, I knew he was in a good place. He hit every single 12 and 14 he shot at, and he shot about 20 arrows. It was almost as impressive as the time I watched him shoot 27 out of 30 11s on the marked yardage shoot out to 70 yards. 

  When Go-Time showed up, he was ready to perform. We briefly discussed his plan for the aoudad. He decided he wanted to shoot near the bottom of the 11 to make sure he had a solid number for the rest of the ones he had judged in the judging period. He figured if he hit in that area, he would be good to go on the rest of them. 

  As he drew his bow and settled in, the shot broke cleanly, and he was off to a good start. He hit behind the pin, but everyone else in the shootoff stroked their targets. He quickly found his lead gone, but that motivated him to go all in. He quickly told me he was gunning at the 12 on the hyena. When the shot broke, we both thought he had hit it really low and had a WTF moment between ourselves. We laughed when he looked at it and said, “Nope, smoked it.” The shadow the arrow had cast after landing gave us a false impression of the location of the arrow. It was a stress-relieving, funny moment we got to share together. 

  After smoking the 12, he told me he was going after the 14 on the turkey. He settled in, and I watched the stabilizer remain motionless until the shot broke. When we both looked at it, we couldn’t believe the arrow had hit high. Then, we were fooled again and laughed another time… living on the edge. His binoculars told us we shouldn’t call arrows by trying to tell where they hit with our bare eyes. He got the 14 and found himself sitting pretty with two shots left. 

  Then, we looked at the long grazing doe. The legs were hidden behind a hill, which made the target tough to judge. Jacob decided he wasn’t going to take his foot off the gas pedal. He was feeling good about his shot and was going to play the safe side of the 12. As he got into his shot, a few nerves settled in and the shot fired just as the pin drifted to the right of the 12. Suddenly, the feel in the crowd changed. The arrow landed in the 8, and the crowd expected the two titans of professional 3D archery to capitalize on this mistake. The lead was suddenly gone, but the determination he was going to come out on top was still burning within. We shared a few profanities after the mishap, and it was the first time we didn’t have a good laugh after the shot. However, we chatted for a minute and realized it was time to let that arrow go and get to business on the next one. Jacob told me he was going after the 14 because he had nothing to lose. I watched the hold and felt confident when the bow fired. I couldn’t see the target. Then, he whispered, “Oh, Sh*t. I think it’s low.” Well, once again the power of scoring from the line was wrong when he looked through his binoculars to see the arrow had kicked, and it was in the 14. He would be the leader going into the 6^th and final arrow, so he would be the last shooter. 

  I watched intently as the other shooters made their shots. When Levi hit the 14 out of the gate, I knew that arrow meant that Jacob would have to have at least a 10 to win because he was leading on bonus rings. Then, when the 14-master of shootdowns, McCarthy, came to the stake, most people in the crowd figured he would punch his ticket to the top step of the podium. 

  When his arrow hit, I saw it on the big screen and realized it was a pinch low. Instantly, I told Jacob all he needed was a 10. I’m not sure what I said or what we talked about, but we shared a few thoughts and kept it light. We never talked about anything to add any pressure and tried to make it like the time we were on the practice range a few hours earlier. As he was getting ready to shoot, I spotted a woodchuck running amongst the walls of the fort behind the target. I wondered if Jacob saw it, and I was going to make a joke about it, but I didn’t want to break his concentration. I’m not overly religious, but I said a quick prayer for the arrow to fly straight and land where it was meant to land. Seconds later, we both heard one voice in the crowd say, “He got it,” and we grabbed each other and hung on tightly. I’ve experienced may incredible moments in my archery career, and this moment was one of the best I’ve ever experienced, and it didn’t even have to do with me. I know how much Jacob puts into his craft and how much he deserves to win. He never says much, but he works hard and lets his work show on the course. When he fails, as we all fail, he makes no excuses even when valid excuses could be made. Instead, he takes accountability and does things to improve. His mental game has improved tenfold from one year ago next week, and this is the true difference. 

  We walked down the road in the pouring rain last year after the third leg of the triple crown. I was feeling good because I had made my way into the shootoff, and Jacob was not feeling well. It’s hard to comfort a good friend when things go wrong, but I did the best I could. If I could have traded my spot with him at that time, I would have done it. However, he used that day and found something inside himself to become better. He found a new way to approach failure, and that moment made him a winner this weekend in my mind. He did things after that event that many others would never consider, and I applaud him for his efforts. Since that day, I’ve seen a new person who has an awesome outlook. Failures are no longer failures. Instead, they are just things that happen. There is no reason to chase perfection because no person can be perfect. Since reaching the bottom of the barrel last July, Jacob has gone on to make it into the top peer group at the IBO World, the shootoff in Vegas, the shootoff at Indoor Nationals, the shootoff at the 2^nd Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown, and the shootdown this weekend, where he capped it off with a win. There are very few professionals who can match those accolades, and it’s even more amazing that he shoots with all of us just like he’s one of us. Congratulations, Jacob. This was an amazing moment, and I’m sure your dedication will continue to lead you down whatever path you may choose to follow. All of us New Englanders and New Yorkers are proud of you. I've been at this game a long time, and I love rooting for all of my friends. There is no greater feeling than when a friend gets it done, whether it's a personal best, a top 10, or a podium finish. All the small victories mean the same too. I hope I'm able to encourage all of you and give you my support all the time.

 

  

 

  

2nd Leg of IBO National Triple Crown

  When I headed to Franklin, Pa., for the Second Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown, I didn't have high hopes going into it. Lately, I've struggled mightily with getting my setup to be forgiving. I have to be at my absolute best to record a good score. If I'm not, I have been paying the price... dearly. Last year, almost all of my arrows hit behind the pin, and my bad shots weren't too terribly bad. This year, the bad shots are scoring poorly and causing me to fall just out of the top five at every shoot. However, after last weekend, I believe I've found a course of action to follow to rectify some of these issues. 

                                                           Day 1

  When I looked at my target assignment, I was glad to see that I would be shooting with two long-term friends, Darrin Christenberry and Digger Cogar. All three of us started this journey at about the same time in the early '90s when national 3D archery tournaments were in their infancy. Along the way, we battled it out in a few different classes and found a mutual respect for each other. These are two of the very few guys whom I route for even though I'm shooting against them. If they succeed, I'm as happy for them as I am for myself if I have a few lucky days. Shooting with guys like this make it a lot easier to relax and have a good time. 

  As I walked down the roadway with Jacob to get to my first target, I was none too happy when I saw what I would be starting my day on... a bomb of a slightly uphill grazing doe. Although the distance didn't leave much to guess on, I knew it would be a tough shot to start due to early round jitters. The first target tends to be the worst one as far as any nerves running through the system and starting on one of the toughest targets on the range doesn't help. 

  When the horn sounded, I was ready to roll. Coming into anchor and settling the pin onto the target, the pin began dancing wildly through the midsection. Momentarily, it settled, then bounced up, dipped down and the string cut loose from my release. I knew the arrow was going to hit low, as the pin was low when the shot broke. Luckily, I caught a liner 10 at 6 o'clock. I wasn't complaining because I knew I had escaped a near disaster. 

  The rest of the day was hard to remember due to a variety of reasons, but I remember the entire day feeling like I was in a boxing match and trying to stay out of harm's way due to the inability to throw any punches. It took a beating in the corners of the ring, but I blocked the majority of the blows. 

  In the beginning of the round, things were clicking, and I was holding a perfect line on every target. Gradually, I began hitting a good distance to the right. I also shot a long mountain lion for the perfect number according to what everyone else shot it for, and hit under the 8-ring. It wasn't the best of shots, but it definitely didn't feel like it should have hit where it did. I was irritated and a tad bit pissed off that the outcome. In a stretch of about five targets, I dropped 12 points due to a shaky sight picture and less-than-perfect shots. However, I didn't feel like the shots were bad enough to lead me into a mess that would be hard to recover from. 

  As we neared the end of the day, the wind picked up and the trees were swaying wildly when we approached a turkey. I felt like I had a good number when I drew my bow to lead it off. When I hit full draw, I realized I was going to have to let down and turn the brightness up on my light, as the blue pin washed out on the target due to the sunlight hitting it. 

  When I hit anchor the second time, I could see the pin better and began pulling. When the shot fired, Digger told me I had gotten a liner 10. I was relieved to hear the news, and I walked back to my stool to take a breath and try to process everything that had gone one throughout the day. 

  When we finally arrived at our last target of the day, an uphill black bear, I felt confident I could end the day on a good note. However, I tried muscling through the shot when the pin was violently gyrating through the 10-ring, and I paid the price -- again. The arrow hit just right of the 10-ring, and the 8 got recorded on my card. I ended the day at 185 with only three 11s. It was not a day to write home about. However, Darrin lit it up and was the high score of the day in Senior Pro. He ended at 202. Everyone else in the group shot the same score as me, so it appeared we would be in the same group the next day. 

 That evening, we watched the Bowhunter Defense Shootoff because Joe Ricard was in it, and we wanted to cheer him on. We watched him stroke his first shot. He looked calm, in control and smooth. He looked like he had done this shootoff thing a zillion times. As he kept sending competitors home, he gained strength and seemed in the zone. It was fun to watch and cheer him on. In the end, he ended up shooting a high 10, and his competitor shot an arrow that was closer to the center, eliminating Joe. 

  Afterward, Joe said he couldn't believe how badly he was shaking. He said he was feeling the nerves pretty good, but he gained some confidence because he was still able to do his thing and score well even with all of the nerves coursing through his body. I guess now he knows what we go through when we're out there in the big shootoffs at the end of these things when everything is on the line. I'm not sure if I liked the old day when their weren't any shootoffs and the shoot was done after 40 or if I like the five-target round to determine the winner. I have had fun and got some good experience in the ones I've participated in, and I'll be pushing forward to get in another one soon. I'm definitely putting in the work, so we'll see what happens. 

  After we watched Joe in the shootoff, we headed to dinner to celebrate Jacob's birthday, and we had a great time. We spotted these two clowns outside the place where we decided to eat. We took it all in and watched them for a bit. They provided plenty of entertainment for all of us. 

  Day 2

    Going into Day 2, I had no desire to shoot my bow. I hadn't felt well for the better part of the week, and when I woke up that morning, things were exactly peachy. I don't believe I ever took off any of my heavy clothes throughout the weekend due to a slight chill. I was trying to stay warm. I'm not sure if it was allergies bothering me or a cold. 

  When I got my target assignment on Day 2, I was glad to see I would be shooting with Larry Goza and Jeff Wagoner. Then, we got a last-minute add-on to our group when Digger got moved into our group. This made for one of the best days I've ever had on the range. We had a great time, and it was like we were shooting in the backyard on a Friday night. We laughed, joked and just relaxed. It was one of those groups that everyone wishes to be in. 

  Once again, I drew the worst target of the range to start on in my opinion. It was a bomb of a coyote in the near max yardage area... and we couldn't see it at all. It was 8:00 a.m., and the shadows were horrendous. I was the third shooter, and I watched Jeff lead it off by sending an arrow under it. He couldn't see it well and didn't have enough number on it. Digger was the next shooter, and he smoked it. When I heard his bow go off, I got a good idea how far the target was away from the stake and felt confident. When my shot broke, I knew it was going low. Luckily, like Day 1, target 1, my arrow landed in the bottom of the 10-ring with a less-than-stellar shot. I was ready for the rest of the day. 

  As we meandered through the course, I felt good about my shot but not my hold. When we came upon a nasty gator, I was somewhat concerned about my poor hold, but I knew if I powered through the shot when the pin hit the kill zone, I should be OK. I felt confident with the bomb number, even though I had heard a lot of people missing it before we got to it. When my shot broke, I was happy to see my arrow at the bottom of the 10-ring. I had escaped another nasty one. At that point, I knew I only had one small target left, the javelina. 

  After leaving the gator, I had to lead off an impala a short time later. It was a great set and didn't leave any area to see the target from another angle. It was located behind a few logs and between a few trees. When my bow fired, I knew the pin was moving pretty fast, but I got lucky to smoke the 11-ring. I felt really good after that shot, and a little confidence started building. 

  I watched the group in front of us shoot a javelina and was able to listen to the last shooter's arrow. Instantly, I got a good number in my head, and I knew it was much longer than the target appeared. I knew it was in the last five-yard stretch of the blue stake's max distance. I just had to narrow it down. 

  I made quick work of that and set my sight. When I drew the bow, the pin settled nicely on the white hash mark in the 11-ring and the bow fired. I escaped without losing any points and felt good about the shot. 

  Moving through the rest of the targets, I felt better and better about my shot. Along the way, I had given up trying to hold the bow steady. I realized there was no hope for that, so I decided to pull hard as soon as the pin got into the 10-ring. I figured if I could get the shot off quickly, it would land in the 10, and I would avoid losing points. I knew I was shooting well and probably making up a lot of ground on others. 

  When we got to the last target of the day, a short stone sheep. I think it might've been the closest target of the day, but I can't recall for sure. It was in that 35-37 range if I remember right. I had to lead it off, and it was in a dark hole. As I viewed it with my binoculars, I tried to get a good reference point but just couldn't find one. 

  Finally, I drew my bow and settled in. The shot didn't feel good from the start, so I let down and took a breath. When I drew the second time, I couldn't find a good place to hold the pin, then I overhead a little bit and tried muscling my way through the shot. When it fired, I knew it was going to the right, and the arrow landed just to the right of the 10-ring. When it hit, I felt like crap about what I had just done. I deserved what I got, and I know better. 

  I was glad to be done and couldn't wait to get on the road. On my way out of the woods, I met up with Jeff Kirkland, and he asked me where I ended up. When I told him, he told me I had made the shootoff and was the fifth guy in. I really couldn't fathom that since I had done so poorly the first day. However, I felt good about Day 2. Although I wasn't sure he was correct, I had a glimmer of hope. 

  On my way to the truck, I stopped to talk to Tony Tazza and Loren Lohr and learned that Loren had edged me out by two points... the two points I had just lost on the easiest target of the day. That summed up my weekend. 

  

    Although I didn't make the shootoff, we learned that Jacob would be going in at the number 5 position. He had an incredible day and shot a 211 with 13 11s on the second day on a nasty course that preyed on many of the best professional shooters in the business. I felt good about my shooting, and I'll be the first to tell you that the score Jacob came off with was something to write home about. McCarthy was the only person who bettered him on the day, and it wasn't by much. 

    My Take on the Weekend

  I didn't feel the best this weekend and avoided a lot of people. I just wasn't feeling 100% and my stomach was wreaking havoc on me. It wasn't an enjoyable experience. I was ecstatic for Jacob when I learned the made the shootoff. It's proof that hard work pays off, and it also showed that your'e never out of it. He and I were both well back in the field after Day 1, and he climbed into 5th to make it to the shootoff and ended up finishing in fourth. I finished in the number six spot. I finished in 7th at the first one and 6th at this one. Although it's not as good as last year, I feel decent about it due to the struggles I've encountered so far this year. I'm doing my best to make changes to help, and I hope to see the changes show up in the results. I feel like I may be getting close, but it's kind of early to tell right now. I do know all of my points I've lost in the three national events I've shot this year have been due to a poor sight picture and sub-par shots. I will work to improve the forgiveness of my setup, and I will eliminate the bad shots. Knowing that's where points are lost makes it easier to concentrate on that area. My numbers have been good, so I'll keep doing what I do for that. 

  It felt awesome to be reacquainted with the guys who pushed me to succeed in archery. Guys like Digger and Darrin made me better along the way without ever knowing it. Back in the day, I knew if I could hang with them, I was in good shape. We all shared our time at the top, and it just felt rewarding to be sharing a group with them all these years later. These friendships and moments are what keep me returning to national events. I'll be forever thankful for the things archery has brought to my life. 

  Although I haven't done much ASA in the last 20 years, I will be heading to Metropolis this weekend. I'm still wading my way through it and trying to figure out how I want to play it. I just want to be ready for the Classic in case I choose to go. There are no definite plans for that yet. I didn't have time to get anything set up that brings my confidence to a new level, so I'll just go and try to shoot good shots and see where I end up. 

  I'd also like congratulate my long-term travel buddy Wade Chandler for getting on the podium at this leg. He works as hard as the rest of us at this, and I'm glad that he found his way onto the podium. This is well-deserved and makes me happy. 

Massachusetts IBO State Championship

 

  I had a fantastic week of practice. All my numbers were spot on, and my shot was taking shape nicely. I changed the length of the connector quite a few times on my release to try to get it to feel better at full draw. Finally, I felt confident with where I set it on Friday morning. My aim felt steady, and my shots broke effortlessly from 50 yards, as I kept 11 out of 12 arrows in the white on a 5-spot. After doing that, I put the bow in my case and called it a day. I would wait until the next day to see how the bow would perform on an actual 3D course. 

  I left the house at 5:45 to get Jacob in Clifton Park. Dad chose not to go because his eyes are so bad he can't see the target at all. His first eye will get done this Wednesday. Hopefully, he will be able to see the targets better and have more fun while shooting. I give him a lot of credit for sticking do it during this trying time. I'm not sure if I would've had the will power to do what he has done. 

  On our ride to Conway to participate in the Massachusetts IBO State Championship, we had all we could handle with the twisty roads. My McDonald's Sausage McMuffin didn't settle well during the ride. When we finally reached the club, both of us were nauseous, and my stomach was shot. 

 After getting out of the car and shooting a few practice arrows, I realized it was going to be one of those days where I would struggle mightily to get any type of steadiness in my sight picture. I couldn't hold the bow to save my life, so I tried accepting it and going with the flow. I wasn't sure what was causing the unsteady sight picture, but I'd be willing to bet that my four-mile hike through the mountains the night before probably led to the issue. I collected trail cameras from last fall, and my backpack was loaded with cameras and other junk, so it put a strain on my shoulders as I was bushwhacking my way to and from the vehicle. If that's not what caused the issue, it was most likely a combination of the ride and four hours of sleep. 

            The First Half

  We actually started on the second half, and our first target was a leopard. It was a great to start the day. It was about 35 yards but the set of the target made it extremely difficult to come up with a number that made me confident. When I drew the bow, I quickly settled into the kill zone. The pin was a little shaky, but I pulled until the shot fired. The arrow found its way into the 10-ring, landing about 1/2 inch out of the 11 on the left side. I felt good about the start.

  As we picked our way through the next few targets, I made a perfect shot on a boar and hit it just above the 11-ring. I managed to record my first 11 of the day on a Dahl sheep, but I barely got it. When we made our way out into a small field and spotted the long, uphill mt. lion, I knew it wasn't going to be an easy target to lead off. When I hit full draw, I couldn't see a thing through my scope. I had to let down and ask Barry to hold an umbrella. I couldn't tell where the glare was coming from, but it was so bad I couldn't see anything other than evergreen trees. The umbrella ended up helping, and I was able to break a good shot and hit a liner 10 at 5 o'clock. I was extremely happy to get off from that target without dropping any points. That one was a difference maker in my mind. 

  Going to the next target, I saw that we would be shooting at a coyote. It immediately stuck out as one of those targets that shooters needed to capitalize on. Going last, I had good aiming marks, and I held a hair too long, causing the arrow to hit an inch to the right of the 11-ring. Fortunately, I was able to come back from that target and make great shots on the antelope and standing bear that followed, centering the bear. 

  I gained momentum after those two targets and felt confident with my numbers and my shot. However, the confidence wasn't coming from my hold. My hold was becoming concerning, as the pin was bouncing all around the 10-rings and out into the 8-rings. I can't remember being that unsteady in a long time, if ever. Mentally, I accepted the float (like a rowboat floating in the ocean float) and tried to ignore all of the movement. It made it extremely difficult to commit to the shots and stay strong, but I did my best to do just that. 

  When we hit murderer's row, beginning with the spike buck down the grass road at the top of the field, I made one of my best shots of the day. I was rewarded with an inside-out 11. Looking at the next target, the black bear, I wasn't pleased to know that I would be leading it off. I could barely see the target with my eyes, so I knew it would be even worse when I drew the bow back. We were shooting from a field into the woods, and the bear was uphill and in some heavy timber. 

  I drew a few times and couldn't see the target. Finally, I decided to come up the leg, move to the right once I got to the body and go up about seven inches and pull. So that's what I did, and the guys erupted when the arrow found its way into the center of the 11-ring. I probably couldn't have done it again, so I took the luck and turned around and sat on my stool. 

  Moving along to the next target, I saw that it was a bomb of an uphill brown bear. In my mind there was no doubt it was 50 yards... maybe more. Being the last shooter, I watched Barry, TJ Mitchell, and Jacob all hit it low. Having shot with Jacob enough to know we tend to see yardage the same, I gave my sight a few clicks to make sure I wouldn't go low too. A few seconds later, I walked away with an 11, thankful that I was the last shooter, which allowed me to listen to two bows. 

  I barely missed the last two targets of the first half, hitting the Big 10 just right of the 11 and fallow deer less than 1/2 inch below it. I was very close to rattling off one heck of an impressive score. Considering the unsteadiness of my sight picture, I felt fortunate enough to clean the first half and pick up quite a few 11s. I looked forward to the second half. 

   Second Half

  As we were strolling down the road to begin the second half, we met a few groups and decided to chat with all of them for a few minutes. Finally, we made it to the first target of our second half. Looking at the grazing doe down a slight hill and across a small stream, the number stuck out. Instantly I knew it was about 40-41 yards. I set my sight and drew my bow. I knew I would smoke it. 

  When the pin made its way to the middle of the 10-ring, the problems I had been encountering all day jumped on my back with a vengeance. The inability to hold the bow steady made itself known on that target and wouldn't let up. I fought through it like I had for the previous 15 targets, but I let the shot get a little long, and it fired when the pin was bouncing up and down. Instantly, I knew it wasn't going to be good... and it wasn't. 

  Anyone who knows me knows I'm the king of letting down. I won't shoot a shot if the shot isn't setting up the way I like it. However, this shot fired right around the time when I had to make a choice. I accepted the low arrow and moved to the next target. I had made 15 good shots in a row, so I just laughed it off and moved forward. There was no sense in getting riled up over something that happens to every 3D shooter on the planet. 

  When I got to the next target, it was an awesome set. A standing grizzly was behind a blowdown, and nothing could be seen below its waist. As we waited to shoot it, we chatted with Ted and Sara Kay before they headed to the next target. 

  After the rest of the guys in my group peppered the bear with arrows, I couldn't wait for my turn. I decided to change releases to see if my issues with holding the bow still would improve. When I anchored with the new release, it felt foreign. The shot fired and the arrow went high and right. I put the release back in my chair and took out the horse that I rode in on. I would finish the day with the release with which I started. 

  Although the day had gone well on the score card, my hold was unnerving me. I simply couldn't hold the bow still, but I stuck with my shot from start to finish and made the best shot I could make at every station. The results told me I was making good shots and motion was correction, just as Tim Strickland told me many years ago when I saw him for some coaching. He told me if I couldn't hold the bow well to just continue through the shot and the sight would always correct itself back to the middle. That's what trusting your shot is all about. 

  I didn't encounter any anxiety until the target after the standing grizzly. Some demons began crawling through my melon and poking the tender skin near my temples. I refused to acknowledge them and let them pass through just as they appeared. Many people give the demons attention, and they feed themselves with it. They grow and increase in numbers. Suddenly, they have strength in numbers, and you're doing everything you can to get rid of them. I've always learned that if you're friendly with the demons and let them know you will not succumb to their beckoning, you will get to where you want to go. 

  The next few shots were tough mentally, but I held on and found one of the reasons why I was having a difficult time holding well. My bow arm had become a little soft, and I was not increasing any pressure on the front end. My muscles were becoming too involved, and my bone structure was not being given the ability to hold the bow on its own. I quickly made the adjustment and got back on track. 

  We cruised through the rest of the course, and I missed many 11s by less than an inch to the left or the right. I could've ran a huge 11 count, but I wasn't complaining about the 10 I did get. I figured 1/3 of them on that course was pretty good. 

     My Take on the Day

  I had an enjoyable day and had great company. Once again, Jacob went on a tear in the second half and shot 11s on almost every target for the last 10 targets. It's always impressive to watch him shoot. He makes it look effortless. I have a feeling he's on the edge of going on one of those streaks at the right time. Nobody works harder than him, and his work has shown up almost every time we've shot together this year. I'm excited for how the rest of the summer will play out. It will be fun to watch. Jacob makes all of us better, and we are all privileged that he is just a regular guy without an attitude, yet he can compete with the best of the best in the world. His excellence brings our entire region to a different level, and I'm thankful for that. He has made me better.

  I got to shoot with TJ Mitchell for the first time. TJ was attentive and was pleasant to shoot with. I also believe he said he shot his highest score or one of his highest. That always makes me feel good if someone can improve while shooting with me. I tried to give TJ a few tips on judging along the way, and he seems like he is willing to learn. He has also made plans to work on his shooting with a coach in August when he has the time to put into it. It will be fun to watch him progress. 

  I also shot with Barry Gates. No shooter works harder than Barry, and he shoots a great shot when things are going well. Every once in a while the train comes off the tracks but not too often. Barry had a rough day and got frustrated. We can all learn from Barry's frustrations. We have to remember that none of us can ever be perfect, and we all shoot because we enjoy shooting. That's the most important thing to remember while competing, and it can be tough to separate at times. We all have some brutally bad days, and we have to learn to smile and keep plugging. I've always tried to approach people with the same attitude at shoots. I don't want people to be able to tell if I shot my best -- or worst -- score ever. I want the same look on my face, and I don't want my mood to be affected by a result on the score card. After all, nobody but yourself remembers how you shot a week later. 

  I feel prepared for the Second Leg of the National IBO Triple Crown. I've seen a fair number of targets, and I think my shot is a little better than it was about a month ago. I'll go to the tournament and see what happens. I'll be shooting with a great group of guys, as I believe we will be grouped according to the scores from the first leg. Three of us in the group used to shoot together in peer groups in MBO and SPM about 25 years ago. It's amazing that all three of us are still at it and are able to do as well as we did back then. 

  If anyone is headed to the event, I wish you luck, and I'll see you on the range.

ASA Pro-Am London, Ky.

 

  Well, I took the annual pilgrimage to London, Ky., last weekend to shoot in the ASA Pro-Am. Unlike last year, I went to this tournament with things in mind to work on and figure out. Although I can't predict the future, it is my intention to go to Metropolis and to the Classic, so I wanted to use this tournament to get my feet wet and figure out the best approach for me to use as a shooter. I believe every shooter must approach ASAs differently and set the rounds up according to his or her own personality. I think every person must reach within to figure out what part of his personality will help him excel during an ASA round. I'm not an overly aggressive person, so I know I need to find a strategy that will help me stay steady and strong from start to finish. I also don't plan ahead, and I try to adjust from target to target. 

                                                 Practice Day

  We made good time getting to the tournament, which allowed us to have ample time on the practice range. After tossing about 15 arrows downrange at the target butts, we made our way to the practice range. With the team round going on, the practice range was easy to navigate and not get backed up after the first target. 

  Dad decided to shoot with Jacob and I on the 50-yard range, and he would move closer for his shots. He didn't last long on the range, as he drew on the first target, couldn't see it due to his cataract issues, and launched an arrow into the thick forest. We didn't bother looking for it, and he packed up and headed back to the car to get some rest. The eye issues have been beating him down. Hopefully things will get better for him after he has the surgery in the next couple of weeks. 

  As Jacob and I made our way through the range, I remained slow and steady. I decided to area aim at some, shoot directly at some, and shoot for safe 10s on others. My tactics worked well, as I got off the practice range with no 8s and a few 12s. I felt confident about the practice and looked forward to getting after it the next day. 

  Last year at the event, the chronograph that was set up next to the practice butts revealed an ugly surprise to me when it recorded all my arrows at 298 and 299 fps, but my chronograph at home was nowhere near the same. I had to take a turn out of my limb bolts to get the speed down, and it resulted in an all-out disaster. However, this year, I knew I would not have the same problem because I bought a new chronograph and spent a lot of time getting my bow ready for ASA. When I finally decided on a setup, I chronographed it at 293 on three different chronographs, including two of mine and George Connors' graph. Every one of them gave me the same results. 

  On our way back to the car to call it a day, I figured I might just as well shoot it through the chronograph to make sure it matched all the ones at home. With a few people standing next to the machine, I drew back and shot the arrow through it. My jaw dropped when the graph read 300. I was beside myself and didn't know what to do, so I shot three more arrows, with two of them saying 300 and one saying 297. 

  In a panic, I walked to the Lancaster trailer and bought a back of brass knocks. I clipped one below my loop and one above it and marched back over to the chronograph to shoot the bow. Well, it did the trick. All of the arrows went through at 292 and one at 293. After making sure the arrows were now within acceptable speeds, I decided to shoot my bow at 40 and 45 yards to ensure the sight marks stayed the same.

  Unfortunately, after three arrows at 45 yards, I knew I was in trouble, as all three arrows hit considerably lower than my 45-yard mark. I had to move it to 47.5 to get it to hit okay again, and I gang adjusted the sight. Although all of the marks seemed to hit alright afterward, my confidence was balancing on the edge of a cliff, and I was watching small pebbles tumbling to their disintegration at the bottom of the canyon. Teetering back and forth, holding on for all I was worth, I walked back to the car to call it a day. Time was running out, and game day was the next morning at 9. I was hanging in midair as night fell. 

             

Day 1

  After shooting my warm-up arrows, Jacob and I got our cards and began walking toward our target assignments. I left all thoughts of anything at the target butt and focused on getting the job done. When we got to our ranges, we talked a few minutes before heading to our starting positions. When I got near the stake, I saw that I would be starting on a blesbok. I felt good about it because the target was big. Although it was dark in the woods, I didn't think I'd have any issues seeing the target. 

  After a few minutes, the other guys began arriving at the stake, and I saw that I would be shooting with Scott Price again. I shot with him a few weeks ago on the second day at the IBO shoot. Then Jeff Borg arrived and Chad Tate. I sat back in my chair and remained quiet until it was time to go. As arrows began being launched, I was confident with the number I had chosen. Finally, I drew my bow and got ready to launch the first arrow of my round. 

  Seconds later, I was disgusted. The arrow had barely caught foam, hitting the leg. I was thankful that the blesbok 10-ring lines up with the leg. If it had been most other targets, I probably would've missed it. I quickly learned that 43 yards doesn't work too well on a 47-48 yard target. Once again, like last year, I began the tournament at 5 down. It''s never easy climbing out of a hole, and I started digging the hole early. Although all thoughts about the changes I had to make on my bow had disappeared, the quickly came roaring back into my head. 

  When I got to the next target and almost shot out the top of the 10, I knew I was most likely in for a long day. I realized, I wasn't seeing numbers well, and there was no consistency with my estimations. I needed to do something, and I needed to do it quickly. After we scored arrows on the third target, I was not happy. I was three targets in and already down seven points. What the heck was I going to do?

  I knew things would come around, and I knew I had to make the adjustments for the McKenzie targets that I don't normally see. I would have to pick away the rest of the day and attempt to chip away at the seven points to see if I could make them disappear. If anything was going well, it was my shot. I was executing good, strong shots, and I was holding a great line. I was happy about that and decided I would try to focus on that area and begin putting blocks down to build a structure. 

  When I got target 12, I had made up all the points and stood at +1. Feeling good about my shooting and the comeback, I knew I could quickly gain ground. However, I found myself veering from my plan and I lined up and shot for the next one. I called the upper 12 and missed it by and inch or two out the top. When I got to the next target, I knew I was still in good shape, as I only fell to -1 and the leaderboard was staying still at +1. That's when I decided to go after the next one and missed it out the bottom. Quickly, the points I had gotten back disappeared. After shooting two 8s in a row, I got rattled and began to think a little bit about the unwinding. This is something I can't remember doing in a very long time. 

  Going into the next shot, I overarmed and my focus was too strong. I got lost in the moment and felt the bow creep forward while aiming. I tired to save it and pull it back. When I did that, the shot fired, and the arrow sailed out the top of the 10-ring. Walking back from the target, I had a talk with myself and realized I needed to reel things in and finish strong. I got out of the day at 7 down. I wasn't happy about it, especially after making the comeback I made, but I accepted it and realized what had happened. I figured I could make a run the next day if things fell into place. 

Day 2

  When I glanced at the scoreboard after Day 1, I wasn't happy to see that I was directly in the middle of the field. I knew I would have my work cut out for me to advance, but I set a goal of cutting number of my current position in half. When you're competing against the best the sport has to offer, it's pretty hard to cut into a deficit. 

  When I got to the stake the second day, I realized I would be shooting with Joe Pitt, Brian Luallen and Chad Dellinger. I would have my work cut out for me because all these guys have been proven performers in ASA. I would just go about my business and do my thing. Unlike the first day, I had an incredible time seeing anything. Although the first day was dark, I could see all of the targets. On this day, there were multiple targets I could not see. 

  I stayed slow and steady and remained around even for quite some time. When we got near the turn-around spot on the range, we saw a deer target that was a sure-bet chance at a 12. We were all happy to see it until we pulled our bows back. The target was less than 30 yards and we got a combined score of 26 on it out of the four shooters. We shot two five and two 8s. None of us could see the target when we drew our bows. It was merely impossible to tell where I was holding on the target when I executed the shot. I guess you can't help it when you don't know where you're aiming. I was lucky to escape with an 8. 

  I made some fantastic shots the rest of the way and missed a bunch of 12s by a hair. When the day was done, I ended up at 4 down for the day, which was in the top five scores in the class for Day 2. Considering I didn't shoot many 12s and I shot two 8s because I couldn't tell where I was aiming, I considered that a success. 

  When all was said and done, I ended the weekend at 11 down and seven of this points came in the first three shots. I learned I had cut the gap in half from where I stood the first day and finished in 13th. Although it's not great, most of the guys in the class shoot ASAs all the time. Without any practice on McKenzies or shooting ASAs, I think I did well. I'll never be satisfied with the finish, and I know I can do better, so I will try to work on a few little things to help me at the next one. I hope to continue making progress as the ASA game. 

My Take on the Weekend

 Overall, I'm satisfied with the performance but not happy about it. It's hard to get excited about something when you know you could've done better. The conditions were not conducive to good shooting, and many guys found a way to make it work. I did alright in that area, too. I picked the course apart and tried to take advantage of it in the areas that were open to do so. 

  I executed some of the best shots I've made all year this weekend. I'm finally getting used to the letoff change that I made after going to Pennsylvania to shoot the IBO state shoot. The lower letoff has allowed me to shot a crisper shot. My aiming isn't quite as good, but I think it's been improving as time has moved forward. I'm feeling really good about my shots on 3D targets. I'll keep working on this. 

  I need to get back to judging the ground a little more. I've relied on target size too much, and I paid the price this weekend because I don't have the targets we shot. This caused a few issues, so I used depth-perception to get my numbers. While it worked nicely, it was different. I think I will get better at national ASAs if I actually spend any time preparing for them. They are a little easier to shoot and not so mentally draining. I look at IBO events as events that truly test an actual 3D shooter's ability. IBO events test every skill involved with 3D shooting. I look at ASA events as more of a target archery type of event. Each one of the organizations is fun to participate in, and I think one helps the other. I encourage everyone out there to try both. It will only make you better in the long run, and you might find that you are better at one or the other. 

  I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the chronograph dilemma. I forgot to mention that I went back to the chronograph the next day before we began our round, and my bow said 286. I had lost 6 fps from the day before, and the chronograph was in the same place out in the middle of a wide-open field. All of these chronographs should be in a controlled environment with a light kit. That is the only true way to get true speeds. I'm still not sure how so many people get the same speeds at both places. For some unknown reason, I'm one of the handful of people with whom I've spoken who have the same results.This caused all sorts of confidence issues for me, and the situation could've been easily avoided if the chronograph was inside with a light kit. 

  After I finished the second day, I walked down the ranges where my dad was shooting. It was great to see all the kids and women. I found it incredible concerning that there were NO pros on those ranges. Aren't pros supposed to promote archery and mingle amongst the competitors of the future? Wouldn't it be something to see one of your favorite pros watching your shoot an arrow or two? I think there is so much more to being a pro than shooting well. You have to be a people's person when there are no eyes on you and you mix in with everyone else. You need to show others that you are one of them. You are not elite just because you can shoot a bow well. Who really cares if you can shoot a bow well? There are plenty of backyard heroes out there who shoot bows better than some world-class archers. It's a pro's job to be a people's pro... a Joe's pro.  Well, enough of that rant. I did actually see one pro on the range of hundreds of other shooters, and that was Digger Cogar, one of my favorite competitors. We both support our fathers, and we have been doing this a long time.

  When I was down on those ranges, I saw Chuck Nease, the former owner of CSS Bows. I met Chuck in the mid '90s, and I knew his status in 3D archery. He was a legend, and it was my goal to be as good as him. I read about him in 3D Times magazine, and I wanted to shoot as good as he did. He set the bar high, and that is where I wanted to get. Well, in 1998, I got to shoot with him at White River Bowhunters at the First Leg of the National Triple Crown in Bedford, Ind. When we were done, he put his arm around me and said something that has stuck with me since that day. I pounded that day and came off the course with a stellar score. Later, I found out I had finished in 3rd place out of about 1,000 shooters in MBO. As the previous year's national triple crown winner, he said to me, "Let me tell you something. You don't learn anything on your good days. You will learn the most on your bad days, so pay attention on those days and learn what you can when you can." Those words have helped me become what I've become in archery, and I'l be forever thankful for it. Here's a picture I got with Chuck this weekend. 

  I also must apologize to anyone who went to Catamount Bowhunters for the IBO shoot. The unfortunate incident that you ran into with the target sets are my fault. I went down there to help the group understand some things about the IBO. I made the mistake of telling them to hide the yardage to make it difficult to judge. Since I took it for granted that "hide the yardage" was easy to understand, they did not understand what I was taking about and tried to "hide the targets." I sincerely apologize to them and to all of you who attended for not making sure they understood me. 

 Although I haven't had the best of luck so far this year, the last three events I've attended have been a learning experience. If we quit learning, we quit getting better. I'm waiting for the next opportunity. Shoot straight.