Last Leg of the Northeast IBO Triple Crown & ASA NY State Championship

 

 

     

   I'll preface this by telling you I'm going to try to keep this entry short. I'm exhausted from all of the traveling I did over the last couple of days, but I did it in hopes of smelling the roses at the end of the race. I'll also put this out there to keep all of the whispering voices from speaking before knowing anything. 

  Many people have already asked me why I attended the ASA State Shoot this weekend and not the IBO State Championship since I am an IBO State Director for New York. Well, the answer to that is pretty simple: in the last few years, most of my efforts for the IBO have centered around New England because we have one eastern New York club involved in the IBO Northeast Championship, and the last leg of the Northeast Triple Crown also took place in Vermont this year, and that shoot was about an hour and a half from my house. Tyler Thygesen, Rob LeLacheur, Sean Roberts, and I all worked together to provide shooters with the best practice we could give them for national events, and my presence at the Vermont event was more important than it was in New York, as my fellow directors in New York were looking after that. 

  So why did I drive five hours to Buffalo to shoot in the ASA event and bypass the IBO event? In case anyone out there in living in his own little cave with a bunch of other cave dwellers who like to stir the porridge next to the fire, I am shooting in a pro class and I have been attending ASA events also. Therefore, since I have no place to practice ASA in our region due to conflicting schedules, Jacob, Dad and I drove to Buffalo to get one round of practice in before the ASA Classic in Cullman, Ala., next weekend. It's hard to be competitive when you never see ASA targets, so we tried to get the only practice in that we could get. My priority is shooting and it always will be. I give my time to the IBO because I was born and raised as an IBO shooter, and that's where my heart will always lie. I also try to provide all of my fellow IBO shooters with the most realistic courses you will see as compared to national events, so you will be ready if you choose to attend the nationals or the World Championship. 

  We got up at 3:00 a.m. to make the five hour drive to Buffalo to be ready for the shotgun start. Upon arriving, I fired four practice arrows, but the issues I've been having with the severe pain in my elbow after returning from Nelsonville prevented me from daring to shoot any more arrows than that. The issue is in my bow arm, and the pain is excruciating when drawing my bow and aiming it. Getting into my orthopedic surgeon right now to have it looked at is all but impossible due to it not being an emergency and their unwillingness to give and immediate appointment. 

  When the shotgun blast sounded to begin, we were on our way. I executed a perfect shot on the first target, and thought I had a chance at the upper 12. I called all uppers for the day but informed my group that I would call a lower if I chose to shoot at one. I did that a few times throughout the day. 

  The issues started quickly with my elbow and the pain increased until my arm buckled at full draw about three targets in, sending the arrow well to the right. As we progressed through the course, I felt good about my plan. Over the last few ASA events I've shot,  I've gone in with different plans. At the end of the day, I realized I had a great plan. I basically shot at almost every 12 but played in a manner that I thought would still keep me safe... if that's possible, while shooting unknown. At the end of the day, I realized that I was within the vicinity of almost every 12. Although I missed a few by a good margin, most of them were within an inch of the bonus ring. I could've shot a hammering round if they found their way into the rings. I'd say most of the misses were just from being unfamiliar with the targets and not knowing exactly where to hold. 

  When we headed down the homestretch, I got more confident with where to put my pin, and I ended up getting three of the last 12 and avoided going into the 8-ring on any of them. I walked off the course feeling good about the day. It was one of those days that made me well aware that I could shoot a big score with just a tad better aiming and a little luck. If the pain in my arm lessens, I will feel confident about executing the new plan I worked on at the event. 

  Jacob did Jacob at the event. He tried a few different releases and tried to get a better idea about the looks of a few targets. There were a few that we hit in the same spot and couldn't figure out how both arrows ended up in the same spot. I think that the sun or maybe glare or shadows plays a bigger part than we think on certain targets. That's the only explanation I can come up with as to why some targets steer everyone's arrow to the same place. After we shot about five targets in a windy field, things got much better when we got back into the woods and out of the wind. 

Third Leg of IBO Northeast Triple Crown

  There was a lot of excitement surrounding this shoot, and we knew Tyler Thygesen would give everyone a stellar course. Upon arriving, there were many peer groups gathering and getting ready to head onto the course. Not being in a peer group, we headed onto the course to get in front of everyone. Jacob, Jeff Wagoner and I all shot together. 

  After smoking the first target, a 40-yard fallow deer that was down a hill and out in some ferns in an open area, I felt good. I broke a great shot, and the arrow landed inside-out in the 11-ring. Walking to the next target, an extremely long downhill brown bear, there wasn't a whole lot to guess as far as the number goes. I just knew I had to make a good shot. 

  When I drew the bow, the sharp pain radiated from my elbow and into my forearm before bouncing back and streaking back through my elbow and finding a home in my bicep. In the few seconds it took for that to happen, the pain became too unbearable and my front arm started to collapse. Upon collapsing, the release fired, and the arrow barely caught foam in the belly. After struggling all year with shooting fives with the right number, I experienced it again. However, it was due to something beyond my control, so I let it go and moved to the next target. 

  I focused on bearing down, dealing with the pain the best I could, and trying to execute the best shots I could under the circumstances. I meandered through the course and did alright. While my sight picture was atrocious and my shot suffered, I didn't worry much about what everything looked like through my peep. I was still hitting behind the pin. 

 After shooting the bear, we made our way to the next target, a downhill wolverine. We shot the target and stepped aside to let another group shoot and pass us. It was about 42 yards and sitting next to a big tree. Jacob smoked the 11, and I barely missed it to the right. Jeff hit it just outside the 10 to the right. 

  While waiting for the group, we spotted a dead monkey. We quickly dispersed and took cover. Since we hadn't been to Vermont since monkey pox invaded the country we worried the monkey had lost its battle with the disease. We let it be and kept plugging along. 

      Although my arm was a mess, I picked my way through the course and felt good about the results. When we got to the water cooler after the howling wolf, Tyler was walking the course and caught up to us. I took a quick glance at the spike buck and knew I would smoke it. The number popped out to me. When it was my turn, the same issue I had with my elbow on the bear happened, and the shot broke. I barely caught an 8 high and to the right. I felt thankful to hit the target. I knew I was dealing with the adversity , although I also knew it probably wasn't in my best interest to continue shooting. 

When we got to the 46-yard turkey, a sun spot was pointing directly at the middle of the 10. When my pin hit the middle, my shot fired and I exclaimed, "Oh, shit!" 

  I thought I saw the arrow strike the turkey near the brisket, but my eyes played a trick on me; the arrow was sitting in the middle of the 11. I had made a perfect shot and received a perfect grade on the scorecard. That shot was one of my best shots of the day. 

  As we approached the end of that course, we came upon a black panther, and the number stuck out to me. Jacob had an arrow sitting in the top of the 11, and I figured I would slide mine in under his. Before I drew my bow, we were all having an entertaining conversation about trapping. Tyler seemed more knowledgable than us on trapping terms and began explaining what the thought about different pelts from different areas. I was thinking he had been watching a lot of "The Frontier" on Netflix. The show is about the Hudson Bay Trading Company. 

  While I was at full draw, Tyler began talking about Saskatchewan beavers, and the conversation took a turn that I couldn't help but listen to. When I began listening, I lost my concentration and the shot broke. I hit the panther in the belly and had the right number. In the end, it was probably the best five I've ever shot because it was surely a conversation I'll never forget. I think this is a Greenfield Center beaver, but it could be a Saskatchewan one. I'll have to let Tyler feel it next time to see if he can tell where it came from because this beaver pelt rides on the console in the truck when we travel to all the events. 

  When we finally got to the last target of the first half, my arm was burning. Jeff and Jacob both hit the bedded buck a hair on the high side. I was pretty sure I had a good number, but I also couldn't help myself from listening to Tyler talk about blown-out raviolis. Between the blown-out raviolis and Jacob's theory on gravity, I was finding it a little hard to concentrate. When the shot fired, the arrow struck their arrows and we had a group the size of a dime. We all walked off the course, and I felt smarter from the conversations we shared. I learned that Jacob likes ravioli, Tyler's a trapper,  and Jeff has shown the Amish folks in his area some stretching exercises. It was surely a round that I will never forget, even though I dropped 12 points I probably never would've dropped in a regular event when I was in full-bore concentration mode. 

  As we made our way through the second half, the pain in my arm became increasingly worse, almost to the point that I was going to call it quits after the uphill wolf when we got out of the field. Instead, I decided to grit my teeth and finish. I'm not a quitter, and I have a high tolerance to pain. I knew I could get to the end. Once at the end, I figured I would hang my bow up until next weekend. 

  When we walked out in the field, the wind was hammering, and I had to lead off the leopard. I decided I would aim to the right because the wind was blowing so hard, and I would try to get through the shot as quick as possible. Well, my plan worked flawlessly. However, I didn't take into account that I should be concerned where the arrow was going to hit. I put it way to the right, got it off in a hurry, and the wind had turned and was blowing the opposite direction. The arrow hit right where the pin was sitting... way to the right. I walked away with an 8. 

  I was the last shooter on the gator, and felt good about my number. I dialed the sight to 48. When I got to full draw, my entire body went limp and the shot fired... dead center 11. The turkey became my second best shot of the day. The gator just took its place. I made a perfect shot, and it was flawless. 

  We finished off the last few targets, and I stayed in the 10-ring. I was happy to survive the day at 14 down with two fives and a handful of 8s. While it wasn't the best score I've shot, I had to deal with a lot of things throughout the day, and it was miserable to shoot my bow. I persevered and did the best I could under the circumstances. Although I should have approached this shoot like a big event, I let my concentration slide a little bit and did a few things I should not have done because I never would have done them at a big event. I need to work on that going forward, and I have to take these things a little more seriously at times. 

  Two of my people did a phenomenal job this weekend. Michael LeFever, got the job done at the New York ASA this weekend and won K-45 with a great ground. We are proud of you Michael. You shot a solid round and never gave an inch. That's the way to hang in there, especially after struggling a little bit the day before at the NY State IBO Championship. Thank you for supporting all types of archery and giving it your best. Your hard work is showing up, and it's really nice to watch your progression. Thanks for being one of the good guys and having a great time with your wife while shooting your bow. It's fun to watch. Thank you for all your support too. It doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. The Bordwells are lucky to have you on their staff. Good people find good people, and I'm glad they found you and you found them. Great job. 

   I"d also like to congratulate my good buddy Chuck Weeden, who won the IBO Northeast Triple Crown. Chuck works his ass off and never makes excuses. If he doesn't perform up to his best, he owns it. Chuck was the first to tell me he didn't shoot well today, but he also said it was good enough to take home the overall title. This achievement makes me prouder than anything I've accomplished on my home. I've always tried to give Chuck some insight on archery in hopes that he could use it if he ever needed to. He had a lot of nerves in th beginning of this shoot, but as I told him, the chasers usually have less nerves than the leader. All the pressure is usually on the leader, and leaders tend to shoot defensively instead of just getting after it. If you find yourself in the lead or even in a shootdown round, you need to focus on staying in the moment and just shooting your bow. The pressure is something we put on ourselves. You need to remember that you are in control of yourself, so take care of that and everything else will fall in line. Chuck fought his nerves but ended up realizing he needed to bear down to finish it off. Then, he sprinted to the finish line and got himself a victory. Great job, Chuck. I'm proud of you. 

   I"m headed to the Classic this weekend. I'm hoping my arm will allow me to perform at 100%, but if it doesn't, I'll still give it everything I have and see where I land. It won't be for lack of trying. I apologize for all of the typos in this, but I'm exhausted and I'm not going to read it before posting it. Thank you for following along. I appreciate all of you. 

  Another highlight of my weekend was signing an autograph for New York archer Aiden Pfitze. I met Aiden last winter when he began shooting and decided he wanted to try his hand at some of the other events in our region. I encouraged him and his parents to give it a whirl, and now they're hooked because they can do it as a family. It was nice to see the excitement of him getting his idol's autograph when Jacob signed the belt buckle he had been awarded for winning the shoot in giving it to him. This is a prime example of a true pro and passing it on to the next generation. Congratulations to both Jacob and Aiden.

  Here's a little message for all of you who had a rough time this weekend. We all encounter those times while shooting archery. Nobody can be perfect. Archery is difficult, and sometimes we forget this when we watch others and what they do week in and week out. Take your lumps and learn from them. Archery is my thing. I'll keep doing it, whether I fail or succeed. I've finished first and last, and I'm thankful for both. Keep pushing forward. 

1

Sara Kay's Journey to the IBO National Triple Crown Championship

   

  I'm not sure where to start, but this story begins when winter was giving way to spring. We all began heading onto the 3D courses and preparing for our trek across the country to participate in the IBO National Triple Crown. Some people from our region were newbies who had never shot in all three legs, and other of us are seasoned veterans who have been doing it for more years than the youngsters have been alive. My friends Sara and Ted kay have been on this journey as long as me and my tribe have been on it. I believe our time traveling to IBO nationals goes back to the early 1990s when we all headed to Flatwoods, W.V., to participate in the IBO World. While none of us had much experience, we did get the bug... and as they say, the rest is history. 

  Sara and Ted began traveling to the events, and before long, she began sipping from the celebratory cup of champions. She became a force in the New England region and found her passion to be her favorite pastime. She could escape the daily stress of life by shooting her bow. As her daughter, Kathryn, began heading toward adulthood, they shared many times on 3D archery courses all over New England... and a star was born. The star was Sara, and most women who participated in 3D in our region dreamed of sipping from the success cup that runneth over at the Kays' house. The passion continued burning and the desire to stay at the top became stronger. 

  Then Sara, like myself, turned 50. At first Kathryn was upset because her mother decided to shoot in the female senior class rather than FBO. Sara stuck to her guns and decided to do what she originally chose to do. Kathryn told her she was better than all of those old ladies and she would be better off to stay in her class and compete with her against all of the other women. However, age has a way of affecting people in archery, and the others can't recognize the changes from the outside. The changes are small, but they are difference makers. We can no longer hold as steady or as long as we once could. We lose muscle mass and become weaker. We can't see the definition on targets that we used to be able to see, and we become tired after a long day on the course. 

  Although it was three years ago when Sara decided to move to the senior class, she did it with confidence. After all, Jeff Wagoner, Sara, and me are all 3-year-olds right now. We were all born in 1969, so we call ourselves the 3-year-olds. We are 50 with three years of experience. 

  Back to early spring when Sara came to my dad's to shoot. She was struggling mightily with losing her peep. She had stayed awake at night trying to figure out the cause of the problems. She went to see Mike Price, one of the most recognized coaches in the country, to get some advice and spend the day with him. As Mike does with most people, he built Sara's confidence and told her she was making great shots. Mike always has a way of making students feel better after seeing him, even if he sends them off with a few things to improve. It's always good to have Mike on your side. He's the best archery therapist out there in my opinion. One sentence from him could turn your outlook on a tournament around. 

  Sara felt like she had lost her longtime go-to guy, Sean Roberts, because life got in the way of archery for Sean, and his attention needed to be on his kids instead of archery. She felt bad by asking him for help with a few things, but that all changed when she called me one morning and we talked for a while. Sean was more than happy to help her, and he did help her. Within a few weeks, she was back on track and ready to take on the world. Well, at least she was in my mind, as Sara always struggles with understanding the reality of her accomplishments with a bow and arrow. She's a winner, and she has won almost everything you can win in our region and on a national level in the IBO. After she found out how to win, she continued her winning ways and never stopped. She might not throttle her competitors, but she's always in the hunt. Sometimes she's like a "snake in the grass," as she slithers around silently while her competitors do their thing, and she comes out of nowhere to find herself on the podium. Others do not fear her because of her small stature, but they do know they're fighting a gladiator when she steps into the arena. She will hit them with a thousand blows, and she will withstand everything they throw at her. She did just that for the first two legs of the IBO National Triple Crown this year. She took the punches and smiled while silently gritting her teeth and putting the work in at home. She drove her husband, Ted, to pull his hair out, because all he wanted was for her to shoot well and succeed. Archery is her escape. Archery is her life. She knew she had more in the tank, but couldn't find a way to tap into it. 

  A few weeks before heading to Nelsonville, she attended the second leg of the Northeast IBO Triple Crown and had a good performance, which helped her build confidence and get ready to tackle the steep task ahead of her: she needed to make up 17 points in one shoot to win the National Triple Crown. While it's not impossible, it's highly unlikely when you're competing against the best shooters in the country. 

  Sara has always respected the talent of other archers, especially the women she competes against. While she might not show it on the outside, she sometimes lets the aura of accomplished archers get in her way and fails to realize her strengths are the weaknesses of others: Sara can judge yardage with the best of them, and she can shoot under pressure when she needs too. History does not lie. However, she has a tendency to look past many of her accomplishments and often forgets these things, as she's always seeking the next win. 

  Once in Nelsonville for the third leg, she found herself ready to take on "The Challenge" as they used to call the third leg. Many archers have succumbed to "The Challenge" and folded under the pressure of the third leg. Not only do the courses test every technical ability of a 3D shooter, they test the mental capacity of all shooters who find themselves in peer groups. 

  So when I texted Sara the week prior to the event, I made it short and sweet. This is the message. 

  After sending her the message, I went forward with my preparations. I was in a much different place mentally than I had been all year. I was looking forward to getting to the tournament to test my newfound confidence.

  With the way things were set up at the tournament, I didn't see many people I knew were attending. That's how it works with these things sometimes. However, I did see Sara after she completed her first 30 targets and she informed me that that she had cut into the deficit and would shoot to the best of her ability over the last 10 targets. Although there wasn't much hope for winning the Triple Crown, she still felt good about where she stood. 

Going into the tournament, Sara recalled the death -- and life -- of her mother, who passed away 18 years ago. She would've turned 75 on July 13, a few days prior to the event. In honor of her mother, Sara decided to choose an arrow with a 7 or a 13 on it in hopes her mother would walk amongst her group and watch over her. Although she didn't have an unlucky #13, she did have a 7, so she hopped on the 7-train and decided to ride it to the finish line. 

  Over the course of the 40 targets, the arrow seemed to have a life of its own. Dip-bangs found their way into the 10-ring, and wobbly, weak shots never found their way into the 8-ring. Instead, the arrow seemed to have a life of its own. Ol' No. 7 was there for a reason, a reason unbeknownst to anyone other than the arrow itself. Sara stayed consciously alert and allowed her subconscious mind to help her through the last 10 targets, after all, she is a winner. She learned how to win as a young woman and never stopped winning. She learned from the failures and used the knowledge to sharpen the skills that led to defeat in other instances. She was now the queen of the kingdom, and the pawns stepped aside while she climbed the stairs to sit on the throne. Some pawns stared at the queen in awe, while others hid behind trees and watched her walk past. A few even peered through the holes in the rock walls surrounding the estate. They all wanted to get a look, yet some old farmers never turned their heads. Instead, they looked straight ahead and watched the horses pull the plows. There was still work to done before the sun set, and there was no time to stare at nobility. 

  After firing her last arrow of the tournament, she learned that she was in a tie for the overall National Triple Crown title, which would be decided by a one-arrow shootoff, and the arrow landing closest to center would determine the winner..... pressure at its finest. Ol' No. 7 was going to fly again.

  Although I was involved in my own shootoff in the Senior Pro division, I spotted Sara sitting near target 1, so I made note of it and figured I would go visit her when I finished. My first two shots were a little shaky, but I pulled it together and shot three of the best shots I've ever shot to finish the shootdown round. When I shot the Corsican ram, I made one of my best shots in recent memory and figured I smoked it when the string cut loose from the release. Glancing at it with my binoculars, it looked like it caught the line at 6 o'clock. However, I had missed the yardage by a few yards, and the arrow was scored an 8. 

  Well, after finishing, I walked over to Sara and Ted to chat for a few minutes, and she told me what she was up against. Trying to keep her in the moment, I told her to just go make a good shot. If you make a good shot, you can never complain about the result. Your good shot will not always be better than someone else's, but you will never have to look back on it and wonder what could've been had you not given it away and let someone beat you because you weren't at your best. When I lose, I want to be at my best. 

  With that, I said goodbye to Sara and Ted and headed back to New York. I would have to wait to hear what happened. I found out that, although Sara lost the coin flip, her competitor chose to let Sara shoot first. That's something I would never do. I would want to go first to put all of the pressure on my opponent. A 10-ring suddenly becomes smaller than an 11 when you have to hit it to win. 

  Amazingly, the target they had to shoot was the same Corsican ram on which I executed a perfect shot a short time earlier. When Sara came to full draw, she was nervous, but told herself to keep pulling and make a perfect shot. When the arrow struck the ram at 6 o'clock below the 10-ring, she still felt good about it because she gave it everything she had and made the best shot she could make under the circumstances. That was a victory in itself. 

  The thunder had quit banging off the southern Ohio hills, and everything seemed relatively calm after she shot her arrow. She quietly sat back and accepted the journey and everything it took to get to that shootoff for the title. She was good with it and proud about how much ground she had made up. Now, she would watch her opponent. 

  When the other girl's string cut loose from her anchor point, time stood still. The arrow started it's arc toward the sky before cresting and beginning it's flight back down toward the target. As the arrow appeared in slow-motion, Sara's mom watched with her, standing by her side. She was unheard, unfelt, and she was watching her child. Knowing every kid can't win, she knew her daughter would accept the outcome and be satisfied with it. She had taught her those things before she left her, but being by her side on this occasion was more than she could ever ask for. Although she wasn't in the form of Mom, she was Ol' No. 7, and she waited to be returned to her daughter's quiver. 

  Then, the silence of southern Ohio was broken as the arrow struck the target. It had hit high and out of the 10 ring. It was farther from the center than Sara's arrow. Sara held Ol' No. 7 tightly and was grateful her mom had traveled with her for the entire weekend. Ol No. 7 smiled her daughter's snarky smile, winked and said, "I'm proud of you. Congratulations. You are the National Triple Crown Champion." 

A few days later, my phone beeped and this is what showed up:

  I'm always happier to see my friends win than I am to win myself. During my rough stretches, I try to remember that my friends are a direct reflection of myself. That's why I try to help anyone I can help. We all have our ups and downs, but I'm the kind who doesn't like others to be able to tell how I shot according to how I act. The picture below demonstrates that. Sara and I had both made the cut at the IBO World in 2019, and I went into the shootoff in 2nd place. I shot strong all weekend and did alright in the shootoff. However I ricocheted off an arrow in the 11, resulting in an 8, and a target had tipped over and was unshootable, so I ran back to the tent to have someone come fix it so my group could shoot it. Unfortunately, it mentally took its toll with the distance I had to cover and everything that happened in between. I had to lead the target and ended up with a five. I never reached the podium. It was partly my own fault, but Sara's success that year allowed me to be satisfied. 

  Sara always makes time for others and always wishes people luck along the way. She constantly roots for people to succeed and she enjoys their success as much as her own. There are not many people who are cut from the same cloth. She is also thankful for all of her sponsors, including Hoyt Archery, Shrewd, Easton, Stanislawski, and her fellow Connecticut native, Nunzio of AEP products. 

  So from one Snake in the Grass to another Snake in the Grass, congratulations on putting the crown on your head. You definitely earned this one, and we, as a region, are proud of you. I'll wear my crown alongside you in recognition of the incredible feat you pulled off. 

         

  

  

3rd Leg of IBO National Triple Crown

                Practice Day

  When we arrived in Ohio, we got to sleep in before heading to the practice range to ready ourselves for the next day. Although the weather forecast didn't look good for the following two days, we woke up to a gorgeous day. 

  When we signed up for a weekend pass to shoot the defense range, I decided to shoot through the chronograph to make sure my bow speed was the same as it was at home. When I released the arrow and the graph showed 308 on the screen, I could feel my blood begin to boil. I had spent a lot of time to make sure my arrow was good since I had changed arrows again. My two chronographs both read 300 at home. 

  Instead of taking any chances, I clipped a brass nock on my center serving under my loop and tried again. I shot every arrow in my chair, and they all topped out at 304. The brass nock had taken 4 fps, and I felt confident in the result. 

  As we made our way through the 15-target practice range, I recovered from a bad start and got through it with one 8 and over half 11s. I felt confident after shooting the last target and decided to take a break the rest of the day. 

  When Jacob arrived in the late afternoon, I shot the other half of the practice range with him and Rob. I felt stiff and didn't make very good shots. The results weren't too terribly bad, and I felt like good night's rest would work well. 

        Day 1

  As I do with every tournament, I mentally prepared myself for the start of the day. When start time arrived, we found out we wouldn't be starting until a little later in the morning. When the new start time arrived, we found out we were being pushed back to 2:00 p.m. 

  Well, when I finally headed to the stake to start my day, my mental preparation seemed distant at best. I guess my routine is so engrained that the delays affected my approach. At go-time, I really didn't feel like being there. It was dark, rainy and steamy. The humidity caused the lower part of the course to become engulfed in fog early in the round. 

  Upon arriving at the stake and finding an arrow to shoot, I realized I never retrieved my arrows from the bale on my last warm-up round. I called Wade and asked if he could get the arrows for me and bring them to the course. He gladly obliged. 

  I would be spending my day with Loren Lohr, Jeff Kirkland and Digger Cogar, so I knew I would have a pretty relaxing day on the range. After the horn sounded, I got off to a good start, shooting an 11 on my first target of the day, a fallow deer. After following it up with a 10 on the caribou, I walked down the hill and got quite a surprise when I saw what looked like a newborn javelina across a swamp. I could see a few white dots on it, but that was about it. Digger had to lead it off, and I knew I wouldn't see it any better with an arrow in it. He made quick work of the shot and centered the 11. Although that's a hard shot to follow up, I took his lead and made good on it, giving us two 11s in a row. We both felt thankful to get off that target with 11s. It would surely get a lot of shooters. It was just too tough of a target to not pile up a few victims along the way. 

  Making our way to the next target, I saw a big 10 quite a ways up the hill. It would be a tough shot, and I had to lead it. As soon as I hit full draw, the bow settled and the shot quickly went into my back. I began to pull and the shot fired. It landed directly under the 11. I felt good to get off that stake without losing any points. 

  As we made our way through the next few targets, we quickly learned that most shots would be straight uphill, both long and short shots. When I got to target 7, I felt confident. I had just smoked a long, uphill grazing doe and made a perfect shot in the process. Upon walking to the stake, I saw an alligator across a wide open ravine. It looked like a mini-gator you might win at the fair as a prize. There was no doubt about the yardage. It was clearly all of it, and I've shot the gator enough to have no fear whatsoever. I always make good on the tough gator shots. 

  When I drew my bow, nerves suddenly jumped through my veins and found their way into the gray matter between my ears. The demons began howling, and in an instant there was unruly chaos dancing in the rafters.

  My shot has been good all year due to my shot timing. The pin instantly got to the middle and sat down quickly. Instead of being patient, I got a little anxious, which resulted in a less-than-stellar shot. My 3 up quickly turned into 2 down. 

  I quickly got back on track and made six great shots in a row, barely missing a few 11s along the way. As we came down the homestretch, I began running out of gas and my hold began deteriorating a little bit. I stayed with it the best I could and kept pushing through, just trying to hold on. Near the end, I hit a short ram barely over the 10-ring. It laid right on the line at 12 o'clock but was a fingernail width out. How could I give points away on such a close shot? I wasn't happy, but I knew I had to buckle down. I wasn't hitting 11s, but I also wasn't giving any points back throughout the day. 

  When I finally arrived at my 20th target of the day, I felt relieved, especially when I saw it was a large black bear. Unfortunately, it didn't have a good aiming spot, and I had to lead it off. The demons jumped out of the bushes again and suffocated me within seconds. When the arrow went on its way, I thought I had finished the day with an atrocious 8, but the archery gods saved me on that one and I scored a liner 10. I guess it was payback for the one I had missed a few targets earlier on the ram. I knew I would be in good shape when we finished. The shots were tough. The footing was horrible, and anyone who was shooting with a hair too long of a draw length probably would've gotten eaten up due to all of the uphill shots we faced. I felt good to be at 2 down, although I knew the gator prevented me from sitting at 3 up and in the lead. After scores were tallied, I learned I was sitting in fifth place, three points out of the lead. 

     Day 2

  When Day 2 arrived, we headed onto the range, but our time didn't last more than a few hours. Although we were halfway through the round, the officials blew the horn and that was the end of the tournament. A lot of commotion happened before it was finally decided the shoot would be finalized with the previous day's scores standing as the tournament's final scores, with exception of the shooters in the top 5. They would be headed to the shootdown round, so I would be in the shootoff. 

  Amazingly, Jacob and I finally made our first shootoff together. He would be shooting in Open Pro and I would be shooting in Senior Pro. We've been trying to get that to happen for a while, and I was glad to learn that we made it together. When both you and your shooting partner succeed at the highest level in the same tournament, there isn't anything much sweeter because making it into the shootoff is incredibly difficult. To top it off, our buddy Rob LeLacheur also made the shootoff in just his third event win the the Pro Pins class. This made my weekend. From booze to bows and from addiction to archery, this guy has found a new passion and worked hard to achieve things many only dream about. He's one of the 3% who ever get beyond addiction, and now he is addicted to archery. X-Spot archery and Bowtech have no idea how far his influence goes when he's at every event, local, regional or national. 

The Shootoff

  Nerves are a strange thing with me. Although I'm always nervous while shooting, I never know when the nerves will wreak havoc. As I sat waiting for the shootoff to begin, I could feel some anxiety building in my chest. Although it wasn't anything drastic, I knew I was going to have to battle it when on the field. I made myself aware of it, accepted it, and prepared myself for it to the best of my ability. I knew I would be starting on the black panther, so I watched the pro hunters and women pros shoot it. Most shooters hit it to the left or low. I figured there was some wind coming through that part of the field, which was causing some of the arrows to go left. 

  When I drew the bow, the nerves hit. The pin danced a little more wildly than I expected, so I knew I had to give it a little extra on the back end to get it to fire cleanly. When the shot fired, the pin was drifting left, and that's right where the arrow hit. Since I gave it too much on the backend, my follow through sent the arrow left. I started with an 8, while my competitors stayed in the 10, with a few 11s and 12s included. I knew I was probably done at that point, unless I 12d all of the remaining targets. 

  With those thoughts in my head as I made my way to target 1, the antelope, the nerves seemed to jump on my back and walk with me when we all rotated. When I drew the bow, the string jumped forward as I begin settling into my aim, breaking any concentration I had. I quickly pulled it back into the wall and tried beginning my shot again. After starting and stopping, the devil on my shoulder told me it was OK. I knew I was doing something I would never do in practice, but I continued doing it. Then, I lost back tension and the string began creeping forward again. Thinking it was going to suck me up and send the arrow into the sky, the whole shot went out the window, and my mind tried finding a way to save the arrow from going astray. Seconds later, the arrow landed at 2 o'clock in the 10-ring. Disgusted, I made a motion with my right hand like I would make at home after doing something idiotic and moved forward. 

  I froze at that moment in time and looked deep within myself. Standing outside my body and looking into my soul, I said, "What the hell are you doing? This is not you. Stop being and idiot."

  After the discussion with myself, I moved to the next target and decided to make the best shot I could make to put the first two shots out of my mind. I drew on the feeding doe, the pin settled nicely, and I pulled as hard as I could while driving my front arm through the center of the 11-ring. When the shot broke, I felt like Superman as I watched the arrow strike the 11-ring... a perfect shot ended with a perfect result. Instantly, I stepped outside of my being for a second and said, "That's like you, Todd. You shoot perfect shots in shootdowns."

  Moving to target 3, I finally had my confidence back. As I drew on the Corsican ram, I felt good. My pin sat well, and I executed another perfect shot. I was somewhat shocked when the arrow hit and I glassed it with binoculars. It appeared to be at 6 o'clock in the 10-ring, barely in. I was surprised that I got yarded but accepted it because I had made another perfect shot. When she scores were called out, I was as surprised as a few people in the crowd when the scorers held up the 8 card. I thought it had caught the bottom of the 10-ring, but at that distance it was too hard to see. 

  When I got to the last target of the round, I wanted to end with the best shot I could make. The pin settled quickly on the fallow deer, as I had a perfect white dot to aim at. As I began to pull, the shot broke cleanly, and I walked off the field with an inside-out 11, which scores as a 12 in IBO shootoffs. My tournament was over. I finished in the same position that I was in when the shootdown started. Making the shootoff was great, but I'll be the first to tell you that I wasn't satisfied with the end result. I need to work harder to make more out of the next opportunity. 

    My Thoughts on the Weekend

  Before I left for this tournament, I told most of my friends that I would be in the shootoff unless something drastic happened. After returning from Illinois, I decided to go back to a more proven platform for me with bows. I broke out two of my shorter bows with reflexed risers. They seem to aim better for me, and I just shoot them better. When I left for the tournament, I decided to let my EVO/EVL 34 bring me to wherever it could carry me. I knew the bow would do its job as long as I backed it up and did mine. 

  Unlike most of the 3D season, I was now shooting a bow that I could aim well. I went back to shooting 75% letoff instead of 70%, and this change made a big difference. Throughout my practice sessions the week prior to the event, I barely missed a 10-ring, and when I did, I missed because of bad numbers. I was no longer bleeding points out due to bad shots or the inability to hold the bow well. The only issue I encountered while preparing was that my shot didn't fire as quickly as it had fired all year. It didn't cause any issues in my practice sessions, but I was definitely aware of it. Without as much resistance on the back end, this bow would require me to me more patient and pull a little harder while aiming. 

  When I shot the first target of the tournament, I realized the bow was not going to react the same under a little pressure as it did at home. I had a hard time getting my shot to fire on the first target, even though the arrow landed in the 11-ring. As I progressed through the round, I made some incredible shots, but the shot that probably kept me off the podium and out of the lead after Day 1 was due to the fact that I wasn't patient enough to wait for the shot to fire as it should have. Instead of working through my shot, I let a little anxiety creep in that affected the rest of the shot process. Although I quickly corrected the problem on the next few shots and pulled off one of my best shots ever on a long, brutal, uphill turkey, I knew the rest of the round would be a battle... and it was. 

  Somehow, I made it through the day, but I wasn't happy with the "results." I was sitting near the top of the leaderboard, but the only thing that got me to that position was having confidence in my ability and my setup. I had experienced similar rounds and knew I had to stay focused and let the demons dance and frolic in my head. The fire they were congregated around would simmer to hot coals and eventually burn out, but I would have to sit back from the fire and let them entertain themselves in front of me while I tried to walk across the hot coal bed that they had lined up for me to tip-toe down at each and every step to the stake along the course. 

  I navigated their obstacles and flipped them the bird as I walked off the course and met my friends. I quickly explained the situation to Jacob and told him we needed to march to the practice bags. I spent a few minutes at the bags after the round and felt confident going into the next day. The demons never surfaced in the 11 targets I shot the next day. 

  It's been a learning curve this year, and it took a day and a half to figure out where the problems I encountered originated. When I figured out it was the higher letoff and the steadier sight picture, I realized I just wasn't being patient enough. Now, I know what to address and those issues will not return. I cut the little red-faced men loose and watched them sulk down my driveway and off my range. I wished them luck in their journey to find another soul who might be willing to let them play long enough to have them join their cult. However, I will not be the one to succumb. 

  These demons are controlled by our own minds. When I realized I'm in total control of what my mind does and how my body reacts to it, I quickly made it right the second day. When you're headed down a dark path in your shooting, try to remember that you are in total control, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. 

  Knowing I addressed the problem, figured out its origin, and have made plans on how to navigate around it, I feel confident going into the last two big shoots of the year.  Although that is my take on my own weekend, I now want to spend time talking about the people of my region and give credit where credit is due. If you feel like checking out at this point, feel free to do so. However, I'd like to spend a few minutes talking about the people who make me feel like my place in archery has a positive impact far and wide, because that is my primary goal at this point in time of my archery career. 

             Shooters from My Region

  This tournament probably put more shooters from my region in the top 10 than any other tournament I've attended in recent memory, and I'd like to take a minute or two to say a few words about them. I'm not sure whose run surprised me the most, but I remember pulling into a local shoot, Green Island, last year in the early spring. It was cold, and when I pulled in there was a guy  standing next to his vehicle. He was a young fella, and the vehicle had Vermont plates on it. I kind of laughed to myself because it looked like this guy was playing the part. He had all the bells and whistles that tournament 3D archers have, but I didn't have a clue who he might be. Usually, I know most of the people in my area, so this guy peaked my interest. 

  When my buddies pulled in and one of them started speaking to him, I quickly learned the cat's name was Shane Blackmer. I also learned he was getting into it and wanted some guidance. As we meandered through the course, I heard a group of guys giving him advice, and we all know how good some advice can be from people who don't have a clue what they're talking about. Finally, I had all I could handle, and I told my buddy George to tell him that if he needed anything, I would gladly help him... a few weeks later, he was shooting at my dad's house behind me, Jacob, Sean Roberts and John Vozzy.

  That brings us to this year. He spent all of his time shooting the regional ASA stuff last year but wanted to dip his toes into unknown 3D this year. He finished in 9th place at this event with a 407. That's some outstanding shooting. He was followed by Jake LaFontaine with a 406 and Chris  Hartley with a 405. Having all of these guys in the same class in our area should give others something to shoot for, and it will surely make each one of them better, as the competition between them will drive them to hone their craft. I look forward to watching all of them in the future. Congratulations on a great weekend to all of you. Maybe the Mead Challenge course is what you need before the IBO World to get you ready. The springtime challenge seemed to work well. 

  Sara Kay came from way behind to win the Triple Crown and finish second in the tournament. While I'd like to spend some time talking about Sara's tenacity, you will all get to read something on that in a few days, as I will write something about her journey to the top. Hopefully, you'll all take the time to read it. 

  Jim Gagnon finished in 2nd place in MHC. Jim's been at it as long as me, and he's seen all the peaks and valleys the sport has to offer. He never gives himself much credit for all he has accomplished at the national level in the IBO events, but his list of good finishes is long. I was glad to see him finish off the triple crown with a second place finish. Jim came up to shoot at the Mead Spring Challenge earlier this year, and he brought Kendal Gibbons with him, who, according to a FB post I saw, ended up winning the National Triple Crown in the Hunter Class. Congratulations to both of you. 

  Rob LeLacheur continues to amaze me. From booze to bows and from addiction to archery, he has surpassed all expectations of himself. Now, he finds himself in the pro pins class, and he laid it down last weekend. He went into the shootoff in first place, but couldn't hold off the wolves, who were all seasoned veterans, on his tail. I'll be the first to tell you that for me it has always been tougher to defend a lead instead of trying to pass the leader. Sometimes when we try to defend a lead, we shoot defensively instead of shooting like we own it. Rob experienced some nerves that many people wish they could experience when he found himself on target 1 in the shootoff. He will learn from the experience and be more prepared the next time, and the next time could come soon. 

  Jacob... what more can be said about Jacob? We both had a practice session last week that left us scratching our heads a few times. Fortunately, that practice session prepared both of us for this tournament, as we encountered every shot possible. We made good work of the day and analyzed what might trip us up. These practice sessions seem to have helped both of us over the last year. I'm glad we spent the day together with Barry Gates. Jacob brought his A-game to the show and shot 14 out of 20 11s on one of the toughest national courses we have seen in the last two years. Although a lone 5 was the only blemish on his card, he still cleared the field by five points, shooting against the best in the world. He expanded the lead on Day 2 before the final round was canceled. The last few weeks have been inspiring to say the least. It's nice to watch the train continue down the tracks in the right direction. 

  My longtime buddy Wade Chandler took a podium spot for the second shoot in a row, securing a 3rd place finish in MCBH after losing a tie-breaker for second. Unfortunately, someone convinced Wade to shoot on a team in the MSR class at the beginning of the year, even though Wade was old enough to be in MCBH. Doing the right thing for his friends, he decided to shoot on the team and not back out at the last minute. In doing so, he shot the same course as MCBH shooters in the first leg, but was in the MSR class, which shoots the same stake. After that shoot, the team disbanded and Wade was left on an island. That's when he went into the class he should've been in. He would've finished in second overall for the National Triple Crown had he been inMCBH the entire year. I've shot with Wade for the better part of 30 years. When I started after getting out of college , I always strived to be as good as him. I tried qualifying for the IBO World many times and just couldn't do it. I could never make the top 20, as there were hundreds or thousands in my class in every tournament. Wade always qualified, and I just couldn't crack into the top echelon. Then life happened, and Wade had to take an absence to raise his kids. He came back a few years ago and hadn't missed a step. These two podium finishes made me feel better than anything I've done on my own. It was like watching a ship sail back into the port after being lost at sea for many years. Congratulations, Wade. You undoubtedly made me better without knowing it along this journey we're still on. 

  I'm sure I left a few people out, but these are the ones who came to my mind because I spent a lot of time with most of them over the weekend, and the few others were at the house shooting earlier this spring. 

  I'll be heading to the ASA Classic next week to try my hand at the ASA game again. I'm determined to figure it out and get back to the level I competed at in the early 2000s when I landed on the podium a few times. A 20-plus year absence from the game leaves a lot of ground to make up, but I'm trying to figure it out in the tournaments so I can be better prepared if I decide to shoot the ASA circuit next year. 

  I'd like to thank all of my sponsors, friends, supporters and followers. Without all of you, none of this would be possible. You all have a special place in my archery world. I can't go without mentioning GAS Bowstrings. Last week before the tournament, in my own negligence, I blew up the cables on my bow. After making the call to Eric Griggs, the president of GAS Bowstrings, he expedited the process and got the new cables to me almost instantly. After putting them on, I decided I needed to move my peep sight and slid the peep up the string without putting it in a press. The edge of the peep caught a few strands and I was suddenly in a dilemma. I got a hold of Eric again, and once again, he got a new string to me immediately. This is the bow I went into the shootoff with. I trust GAS Bowstrings because I never have to worry about them in any manner, from them arriving the way they should be to never moving once they're on my bow. If you're looking for a great set of new strings for you hunting bow this fall or a new set for your tournament bow this winter, I'd highly recommend GAS Bowstrings. 

  PSE brought me to yet another shootdown. Now, in a matter of one year, I've made the shootdown with three different PSE bows in my hand, so in all reality you can't go wrong with any of them. They all shoot better than me.