NE Championship Series ASA Shoot

  At the beginning of the week, I planned on heading to Townsend, Mass., on Saturday to shoot  the ASA event. I figured it would give me good practice for next weekend in Metropolis for the final stop of the ASA Pro-Ams before the ASA Classic. However, after eating lunch of Friday, those plans washed away when I got violently ill. The illness ran through my family, starting with my father, then going to my mother and finally catching up to me. It is believed that we all ate something bad and had.a bout of food poisoning. After the sickness started, I ended up in bed for the rest of Friday and the entire day Saturday, never getting out of bed on Saturday. 

  When my dad said that he and Wade were headed over to Massachusetts in the next morning, I told him I would go if I felt better. Well, when I woke up, I still felt extremely weak, but I decided I would attempt to shoot just so I could see targets and at least judge them. I also figured it would allow me to shoot my bow while dealing with less than ideal conditions. Who knows, maybe the hold would replicate a hold I would see in the future while on the course at a national. I always think I can learn something, and nobody has ever accused me of being smart. 

  I slept for the better part of the ride to the shoot. My body was feeling it, and I had no energy. When I got there, I picked up a little spunkiness when I saw many member of my archery family, especially the ones I don't get to see very often. I got to see Jon Brown, who was in town from the Midwest. It was good to catch up for a few minutes before heading out to shoot. I also got to see Sean Royster, whom I haven't seen since his trip to the Mid-Atlantic Sectionals in Hudson Falls a few years ago. Then I got to see two of my favorites, Scott Norton and Travis Williams, who always give me a good laugh when we catch up. There were a host of others it felt great to see since I've been on the road so much this year and haven't shot much in our region. Joe Santos continued his stellar year today, with a killer score for us older guys. 

  This entry will be short, as I'm still not feeling up to par, and I am exhausted. I was lucky enough to shoot with all unknown guys today on the black stake. I shared the stake with Tyler Thygesen and Cole Bromley. I love both of these guys, and I thoroughly enjoy their company. I always root for them to succeed. During the first half, I decided to play the game like I normally play it and call both uppers and lowers depending on how I felt about the situation.

  As we progressed through the first half, I felt good about my shooting. Being so week, it was all but impossible to hold the bow well, but I battled through it and did the best I could. Getting off the first half about even, I considered it a success. Without stopping for a break, we headed right onto the second half. The humidity was picking up and the sun was blazing hot at times. Going into he second half, I decided to call all uppers just to see how it would play out. After the first half, I realized it I had called all uppers that even score would have been significantly better, as I was hitting just over the 11 on the connector rather than just under it. I figured I would play the odds and see how it played up. Before long, I was feeling really good about things, as I  hit four in a 7-target stretch. 

  Then when we came upon the howling wolf, I told Cole and Tyler that my body had tapped out. My energy was gone, and I was toast. The two days nonstop in bed had taken their toll. I had no energy, and I hadn't eaten anything in almost two days. On top of that, the water cooler was empty when I walked up the road from the wolf to quench my thirst. My focus was gone, and I checked out for the rest of the day. I didn't purposely do it, but that's what happens when there's no gas in the tank. Your body will react just like a car's engine. When nothing is inside of the to keep them going, they just quit working. That was the case today. 

  Looking back at it, I'm not happy about the way things ended, but I never missed the rings by very much. I just wasn't holding well enough to capitalize on the weaker shots near the end of the day. Up until the end of the day, I was on par to have a pretty good scoring round. That should show you how quickly things can go sideways. I was certain I would finish up, but my certainty washed away with the sweat running down my back. 

Here are a few pictures of my luck on the first half, followed by my luck on the second half. This is basically how the day went. It was so close from being a phenomenal day, but it just didn't fall into place. I can feel it coming. The day is coming, and I'll be ready when it arrives. I'll capture the moment, sit in the saddle and guide the horse along the rail down the homestretch. I'm finally ready. Near the end, I shot a lot of 8s, and none of them missed my much. Only one of them made me a little angry, and that was the last shot of the day. The shot broke, and I said, "Yup, got that one." Cole looked at me, and shook his head and said, "Nope. it's out the left side." 

                                                                                     My perfect shot that hit exactly where I thought the 12 was located

                                                                                       Orange arrow is mine. The story of my first half

                                                             After calling all uppers, I got many of them and all the rest hit where this one did

  When we got to the target, I couldn't believe how far I was from it, yet the arrow hit exactly where I wanted it to hit. I guess that goes to show you what a long day on the range does. When you think you're dead center in the upper 12 and you're way right and low and your arrow is sitting well into the 8-ring, you know you just didn't see the aiming spot as you thought you saw it. Lesson of the day: Don't judge your day based on score. I've shot some of my best scoring rounds ever and felt like I never made a good shot, and I've had some low-scoring rounds but shot my bow incredibly well. Know how to make adjustments and figure out what you need take away from every shoot you attend. That will be crucial to your success. 

                                                                                  My Thoughts on the Day

  Although I know my body told me not to attend, I'm glad I went to the shoot. I got to see a lot of people who root for me, and I appreciate all of their support. All of your success is my success, and my success is your success. Having a great support group back home always makes it easier while on the road, and I appreciate and thank all of the people who spoke kindly to me today. 

  After I finished shooting today, I got to spend a while chatting with my friend Pete Swanney, one of the best shooters I've ever had the privilege of sharing a range with. I've always envied his ability to make shooting a bow look so easy. I often wondered over the years how he made it look so easy, and I wished I could do the same. I always though when I shot a bow, I looked like a car trying to stay on the road after hitting black ice unexpectedly. Somehow, I found a way to keep the car on the pavement, even if it wasn't pretty, and that is how I learned the most about myself. I learned that we all have our own way of doing things that gets us to where we want to go -- as long as we can repeat it time and time again. 

  I enjoyed my conversation with Pete today because I felt like I could talk with him about things that most others would not understand about equipment. I also trust his knowledge to understand what I was trying to explain, and he understood it perfectly. It felt great to talk about these things with someone I've valued for many years. Thanks, Pete, for the year and offering some of your thoughts. I truly appreciate it. 

  Pete also said he saw Dave Gravlin on the way to the shoot this morning. Dave was one of the best shooters New England had to offer back in the day, and I always knew if I could keep up with Dave, I was doing really well. He's just one of the many great ones from our region who doesn't shoot anymore, but he, like so many others, is a large part of the success I've been able to find along the way. I'm thankful for all of those people from that era as well as all of the newbies in it now. 

  This was the best set-up ASA course I've shot in New England. It was basically all flat ground for the most part, and the yardages were similar to a national event. With the attendance numbers up, the targets are getting pretty beat up, but it still presents an opportunity to see Delta/McKenzie targets. Using flat roads to set the courses along, it gives a better presentation to how the ASA is run. 

  I have three extremely busy weeks coming, and I'm looking forward to all of the challenges that will be presented in that time. I'm making a few changes to my approach, and I'll see what happens with that. The only things that stinks about shooting a bunch of events is that it leaves limited time to practice, and I've always been a person who is more passionate about the practice than the prize. 

National 3D Tournaments

  Recently, I was told there was some good listening to be found online that would probably give me a better idea why unknown 3D is supposedly being taken over by known 3D at a national level. I was definitely entertained when I listened to the piece that was forwarded to me by one of my fellow archers. 

  In case anyone isn't familiar with the piece I'm referring to, it was Paige Pearce giving her commentary on a Bowjunky podcast about things going on in ASA, including the creation of a couple of new classes this year, one of which she has dominated to this point. She explained to the listeners that approximately 75% of all shooters in the ASA are shooting known yardage. I'm sure that was probably an eye-popping statistic for many of the listeners. 

  As the podcast neared an end, she came up with some great ideas for the people who still participate in the unknown yardage classes. One of the things she suggested was for the pros to promote their game and try to draw more people into the classes. She said it is their job to build the classes and encourage people to follow in their footsteps. 

 With the pile of numbers given to the listeners over the course of an hour, it could have been overwhelming for many people. However, having had to sit through all sorts of mathematics and statistics classes in college, which was over 30 years ago, I learned one very important fact about numbers: any person can make any set of numbers make them say what they want them to say. 

  With that being said, although this isn't a podcast, I have my own set of numbers that should easily dispel the myth that unknown yardage is a thing of the past. Diving into the depths of the current climate, I must give a few history lessons and discuss a few other things along the way. The first thing I'd like to discuss is that there are two major 3D organizations in the country for people to compete in. 

                                                                               The IBO and the ASA

  The Archery Shooters Association (ASA) and the International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) both offer national tournaments to 3D archers. The IBO events are notorious for having Northern shooters at them, while the ASA is known as a Southern organization. The ASA is the organization that was being discussed on the podcast, as the vast majority of the classes are known, and supposedly it's because people simply don't want to shoot unknown yardage. 

  Let's go back in time to when 3D shooting became prevalent in the United States and the IBO was born in 1984. A dedicated group of bowhunters shared the desire to ensure that bowhunting and the ideals of wildlife conservation would survive, expand and flourish to be shared, enjoyed and passed on to future generations. 

  Soon after the IBO formed, it launched the Triple Crown of Bowhunting, which consisted of three national tournaments hosted in separate states. Then, in 1989, the IBO established a series of sanctioned tournaments worldwide in which participants could qualify to compete in the annual finale, the IBO World Championship. 

  As part of the Triple Crown and World Championship events, competitors regularly participate in the IBO Bowhunter Defense Fund Range, and the fees collected from those who shoot these recreational ranges are earmarked for the IBO Bowhunter Defense Fund. To date, this fund is approaching $1 million to help ensure a strong and lasting future for bowhunting, and more than $250,000 of that money has gone directly to the Sportsmen's Alliance (https://sportsmensalliance.org)

    The IBO hit the ground running, as there was no other competition that could compare. The max yardage was approximately 60 yards, and 120 grain screw-in points were required in your arrows. The events expanded and the attendance grew for this new game that so closely resembled hunting. Before long, there were as many as 4,500 shooters registering for the IBO World Championship, and the boom was on. Where could this sport go? The 3D targets were new to consumers, and almost anyone shooting a bow had a chance to win one of these events because everyone was new to the game. 

  Although the IBO is a nonprofit organization, it was quickly noted that money could be made by hosting these national events. Then, the ASA was born. This organization's home base was in the South and it began catering to Southern shooters. Before long, this risk/reward type of shooting attracted a lot of attention, and a non-endemic sponsor offered big money for the Open Pro Shooter of the Year title. The lower 12 was introduced, and people took a liking to the game. It was different than the IBO, and the max distance was closer, with pros shooting a max distance of 45 yards. This new series gained traction and kept building to where it is today. 

  Eventually, the ASA offered known yardage classes, and the shoots seemed to draw more shooters. In the meantime, it seemed, according to many, that the IBO began losing numbers at their events. However, perception and reality are often looked at through clouded lenses. 

                                                                        Two Organizations, Two Choices

  Having two organizations headed in seemingly different directions is what causes many misconceptions when it comes to known and unknown yardage and what people truly want. If I hadn't been a member of both organizations for more than 20 years, I think I probably could have been easily swayed into believing some of the things that were said during the podcast. However, being a member of both and being a member of one of them for longer than the guest on the podcast has been alive, I have seen changes that have positively and negatively affected both organizations. 

  Along the way, ASA took a chance at introducing known-yardage classes to see if it could help with their attendance. After all, more shooters create more money. Any business that doesn't try to capitalize on a chance to make more money probably won't stay in business for the long haul. If a person creates a logo and puts it on hats and the hats sell out, they would realize they could make more money by putting the logo on shirts and hats and have two products to produce income. Although the ASA saw an opportunity like that and decided to offer known and unknown, nothing could be further from the truth that the numbers don't lie and the "archers" want known yardage. Since the ASA offered known classes for their series of shoots before any other major 3D organization, it took on a life of its own and attracted many known shooters due to a variety of reasons, some of which are entertaining (an unspoken) at best. After these classes showed up on the entry forms, the ASA's attendance increased. 

  Although I don't recall the exact numbers, I believe it was said that the number of known shooters at the first ASA this year was in the neighborhood of 1,200 - 1,400 and the number of unknown was somewhere around 475. As the conversation progressed, we were told that numbers don't lie. Whether you like it or not, the numbers are there for everyone to look at. The organization was giving back to its customers and listening when the customers called for action. 

  After the podcast, the normal threads started online on different forums about how much the ASA cares about its customers and the IBO has no interest in listening to what their shooters want because the shooters want known distance. Is this good for archery? Do podcasts like this actually promote archery? That is a question only you can answer for yourself. Personally, I think it divides archers.   Shooter numbers at IBO national events (all unknown yardage) have been on the rise this year, and are up 17% from last year. With the number of shooters increasing at that rate, it has made me wonder what is behind the reason for the increase. Is it that we are beyond the COVID scare? Has social media brought out more people to these events? Have more people taken up hunting and want to try their hand at the closest thing they can get to the real thing? Could it be something totally different? With the increase in attendance, I'm certain it's not because "all" of the "customers" want to shoot known yardage. Heck, I've even seen a whole heck of a lot of ASA belt buckles showing up at IBO shoots, and those buckles were always a rarity in the North. Are people coming back because they simply like a game that isn't based on pure accuracy? Do they like the game because two wrongs can make a right an you and your buddy can both get 10s when you're 4 yards different on your guesses? Then, you can argue all the way home about who was right? What is the reason people are slowly streaming back to the unknown game in one of the major organizations? The numbers are there... the attendance has increased by 17% in the last year, although you might've been led to believe there are very few archers out there who want to shoot unknown yardage. 

  

  The larger question to ask might be that of identifying if members are "customers," or are they simply buying membership because they know the organization is fighting for their rights as bowhunters? We all know that bowhunting makes the archery world go round. The vast majority of sales revolve around bowhunters, not target or 3D archers. Although it cannot be proven, I'm fairly certain companies would still sell a whole lot of bows if there were no professional archers. Of all the shops I've been involved in, very few of the customers even know a professional's name. 

  This brings me back to the mission statement of the IBO. The IBO partners with likeminded organizations to meet their mission for bowhunting rights and create a pathway for kids and families to become part of the outdoor lifestyle. Most people who are involved in the arguments that often put the ASA and IBO against each other don't realize that the archers who attend national IBO tournaments are an extremely small part of the total membership. Membership currently extends to Chile, Italy, Australia, Canada, South Africa, among a few others, and the rule book for tournaments is currently written in four languages. The tournaments are run to give archers another series of national events to test their skills, and it has often been said by many of the best 3D shooters of all time that winning or podiuming at a national level IBO is one of the greatest accomplishments a 3D archer can ever achieve. These tournaments test every skill a 3D shooter has in their toolbox. 

                                                                                 The Future

  Oftentimes the bigger picture is missed when people begin believing they have to defend themselves. Animosity can be born out of this and many opinions can be brought forward that are nothing more than opinions. Sometimes people believe so firmly that they are correct in their thoughts, they tend to miss the bigger picture. I've always been a hunter first and foremost, although many others who shoot competitive archery don't hunt. However, with that being said, I would think all archers would take a second look at becoming a member of the organization that supports and fights for our rights as bowhunters. If I had a huge following in the archery world, I would probably encourage all of my followers to become members.

  Throughout the podcast, I also heard a few things mentioned about the fact there are very few shooters in the feeder classes that eventually bring shooters into the pro classes. I'd like to examine that from an entirely different viewpoint that was most likely never considered. The past two years show that our kids are our future, and the NASP event held in Louisville, Ky., this year had 1,300 of the total number of kids at the 

NASP Nationals register for the Indoor Genesis World Championship, which is all unknown yardage. When the dust settled, 175 of those kids qualified for the IBO World Championship, and the other 1,125 had the desire to compete in an event in which no yardages were known. The kids -- nor parents -- complained that there weren't any known classes. 

  This coming year will the the 40th anniversary of the IBO, and the main concern the IBO has always faced is whether or not it is meeting its mission. If it's not meeting its mission, things need to change. It takes a lot for a nonprofit organization to last for 40 years. Unfortunately, many of the people reading this don't know how many things go on behind the scenes. I feel fortunate to have these events to attend. In all reality, the events don't need to take place at all. Has it every come to anyone's attention how privileged we are as tournament archers to have such a small group of individuals volunteering their time and efforts for us to go have fun at these events and promote the organization? In the last five years, I know I have personally been responsible for approximately 40 new memberships. Although that doesn't seem like much, imagine what could happen if we all made an effort to sign up one person. Furthermore, imagine if the people who claim they are doing everything to grow archery slipped a check in the mail to become members of the organization that fights for our rights as bowhunters. 

 In all honesty, I'm not sure why I wrote this. I guess my love for archery brought it out in me. What organizations choose to do is based on many different things, but when people who have huge followings in the sport of archery begin talking, many people listen and do not know much about the history or current climate among other areas in the sport. When someone who has made piles of money from an organization that  does not have any known yardage classes spews disdain about that part of the sport, it doesn't do much good for any of us. We need to stick together and try not to validate our arguments to benefit ourselves. If people say things we don't like, we need to take a deep breath and move forward. If some people feel they take more crap from others than other professional archers take on a regular basis,  there is probably a reason for that. I'm sure there are people out there who don't like Dan McCarthy, but I've never seen on-line where people feel the need to argue with him. Why does this happen? It's because Dan carries himself in a way that doesn't draw that negativity. He's an incredibly humble person, and most people will follow humble people who see themselves the same as their lessers when they speak. Sometimes we are blind to how we look or sound to people. Something my father taught me when I was much younger, and he made it so I could clearly understand it with one saying. He said, "No matter where you go or what you achieve, always remember that nobody is better than anyone else. Make sure you avoid the people who portray themselves in a way that says 'it's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way.'" That will always bring contempt for many people. Remaining humble is one of the most important things one can do when they become successful.

  I'm sure most people probably didn't get this far, as reading things these days doesn't usually keep people's attention that long. However, if you did make it this far, I encourage all of you to support known and unknown yardage and respect each organization for what they choose to do going forward. They both give us great games to play, and I have a choice as to what game I want to spend my time on. If all unknown classes disappear in ASA, I will still have the IBO to participate in, and there's nothing saying I won't compete in known in ASA. I'm fairly certain I'd finish in the same place in both classes.  There's a simple fact that some people at the lower levels and some on the upper tiers might not recognize: You will never win or podium in a national level unknown 3D event if you can't shoot your bow really well. Go out there and have fun, and choose whichever class brings you the most happiness. Promote what you like and take criticism and compliments in the same manner. 

  

2nd Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown

After shooting in Vermont last week, I came home and wondered if I would have to cancel my trip to this event. The following day, Sunday, after going to a local shoot with Jacob, I knew the likelihood of showing up at this event and being able to shoot without a lot of pain and discomfort would be all but impossible. The pain in my right shoulder and left elbow were unbearable at times, which limited the amount of sleep I could get throughout the week leading up to the event. After shooting with Jacob on Sunday, I never touched the bow until I took it out of the case at the tournament on Friday. 

  After arriving, I decided I would attempt to shoot a few arrows  on the practice course and see how my body would react. Twenty arrows later, I felt good about things. I got through the practice course with a few 11s and only two 8s. The course had longer shots on it than most courses, so that built my confidence. I packed up the bow after the 20 shots and decided to see what the next day would bring. 

                                                                                             Day 1

   Since the pro classes are always peer grouped according to the First Leg of the National Triple Crown, I knew ahead of time who would be in my group. However, when I looked at the paper on the table, I saw that I was with other people due to some people not showing up. I was more than happy to see that I would be shooting with Tony Tazza, Jeff Kirkland and Matt Bressler, all good guys. The target assignment said we would start on Target 10, the farthest target from the check-in station. On my walk to the target, I began glancing at the targets along the way and realized we were in for a doozy. Just glancing at them, I figured the scores would be low. 

  Arriving at the stake, I glanced down the hill and spotted a nasty-looking gator. It definitely wasn't a target I would've chosen to start on if the choice was left up to me. When the cards were drawn, mine was selected first, meaning I would be the first shooter on one of the nastiest targets on the course. Before the horn sounded to begin the round, I dialed my sight and waited. 

  I didn't waste any time when "go time" came. Drawing my bow, I felt good. The pin hit the center of the gator and floated for a few seconds before my shot broke and the arrow was in flight. Tazza said, "Nice shot. It has a chance at the right side of the 11."

  Wshewwww. I survived the initial punch in the face from my opponent. After taking the punch, my confidence came to the forefront, and I was ready for the rest of the fight. 

  Moving to the next target, a bedded doe, I felt good about my number and couldn't wait for my turn to shoot. My fellow competitors had a good group of arrows in and around the 11 when my turn came around. I honed in on their arrows and got an 11 for myself. With confidence building, I moved to the next target. My hold was good, and my shots were breaking effortlessly. I didn't know what to expect, especially since it was the debut for my Darton Veracity 35 at a national event. With a 6 inch brace height and 35' axle to axle length, you never know what might happen under a bit of pressure, but with the nervous energy that comes along with these tournaments, everything was rolling along nicely. Moving to the fourth target, I was already at +2 and felt good about the direction I was headed. 

  When I got to the long uphill wolverine, I was confident with my number because I had been shooting my own wolverine at home regularly, and it looked identical in size to where I had been shooting it. When I anchored and started to get into my shot, the pin drifted to the left and the bow fired. Luckily, I caught a left-side 10 on it and felt lucky to escape with 10 points. The bow helped me on a shot that was less than average. 

  Moving through the course, I came upon a brown bear that looked similar to a bear cub. There wasn't much guessing of the yardage when I got to the stake. It was. bomb... and uphill. It might've been intimidating to some people, but I practice shots like that all the time on my own targets. It was just another typical shot I make on a daily basis. The pin settled quickly in the middle, and I smoked the 11-ring. Things were clicking. 

  Then I came upon the Big 10, muley, or whatever you want to call it, and I was unsure of my number. The uneasiness probably came from messing it up a bunch of times on my own range this year. With that shadow of doubt in the back of my mind, I executed a less-than-stellar shot, and the arrow hit high and to the right. I had misjudged the yardage and made a bad shot. I shook it off and ignored it, after all, I had just ran a streak of three 11s and was sitting at 5 up. 

  The next target was the hogzilla, and I'm not familiar with the target. I have a difficult time judging it and never have any type of consistency with it. I figured I had plenty of yardage on it when I dialed my sight. When the shot broke, my brain instantly told me the arrow had been in the air longer than I  thought it should've been. I knew it was going to hit low... and it did. The arrow landed just under the 10-ring for an 8. 

  Unlike the previous target, this one shook my confidence, and I felt my first real nervousness when I turned the corner and started down the other side of the road for my final 10 targets of the round. Tony Tazza centered the 11 on the bedded stone sheep, and it was a long shot into a dark area of heavy canopy. Luckily, when I drew the bow, I could see his nock. The pin danced like a drunken bear at a Grateful Dead concert, and my heart jumped through my chest when the shot fired. However, the arrow landed right next to Tony's, and my confidence was restored. Looking down the road, I saw that I would be leading off the lynx. 

  When I got to it, it was my lead once again. I got all the bad ones at this tournament. I could see a couple of black dots at the top of the 10-ring when I drew the bow. I let the pin settle below them and pulled. The shot fired quickly, and the arrow landed inside out in the 11-ring. Wshewww, escaped another potential disaster. 

  After getting that target, I battled my way to the end of the round. My shot was a little choppier than it was during the first half of the round, but I ended the day at +2 and in third place. I shot a solid round, and the bow performed better than I anticipated. I was happy with the way it reacted while I was shooting it. 

  

                                                                    Long Distance Novelty and Bowhunter Defense Shootdown

   On Friday afternoon, Jacob participated in the long-distance novelty and put on a show. Wags (Jeff Wagoner) bought him five shots for $20, and Jacob had to judge the distance to the new Rinehart ram target and put an arrow inside out in the 11-ring to win a ticket for a 50/50  drawing. If he won the drawing, he would have to give half of the money to Wags. 

  After estimating the target to be in the vicinity of 75 yards, he began shooting at it. A few minutes later he has five arrows in the 10-ring and 3 of them were inside out in the 11-ring... mind boggling. Watching a world-class archer at his craft can be inspiring and demoralizing at the same time. We all feel fortunate to root Jacob on in everything he does and many of us live vicariously through this triumphs and defeats. He gives all of us hope. We feel for him when he comes up short, and we cheer with everything we have when he's in big moments. That's what makes the people of our region so special. 

  When names were called for the Bowhunter Defense Shootoff, Tom Thygesen was one of the names, along with Zach Yamin. With a youngster and an  old-time from my region in it, it was ready to root for both. Although Tom made a great shot, his arrow was a hair farther from center than that of his competitor's. However, Zach Yamin went to the finish line and took home the big check. Congratulations, Zach. You did a great job. I could've used your composure for my appearance in the shootdown the next day. 

  I know Tom was hesitant about shooting in the event, but I'm glad he did it because it gave us all a chance to cheer for him. 

                                                                                       Day 2

  Going into Day 2, I found myself in the top peer group. I would be shooting with Digger Cogar, Jeff Kirkland and Tim Gillingham. Once again, my starting point was the farthest from the check-in tent of any target on the range. As I wandered through the woods looking for my station, my mind was empty. There were no thoughts of the round about to be shot, and there were no thoughts about the one that was shot the day before. Instead, my mind  was calm. 

  When I finally arrived at the stake, I saw a caribou in the middle of an old logging road. I couldn't believe how close it was to me. As we waited for the horn to sound to begin the round, my eyes played tricks on me. I couldn't convince myself that a caribou target would be set so close. Finally, when it was my turn to shoot, I settled in and executed a good shot. The arrow struck just above the 11. It felt could to start on an "easy" target... as that would be the last one we would see for the day. 

  Approaching the next stake, I spotted a snarling wolf at the end of a long downhill tunnel. The early-morning lighting made it difficult to see, but there were a couple of bright nocks in it by the time my turn came around. I held slightly over one of them and broke a great shot. The arrow caught the bottom of the 10, and I felt good about the start of the day. 

   As we progressed through the first 10 targets, I picked and clawed my way though them, never getting too high or too low. My hold wasn't nearly as good as it was the first day, but it was good enough to keep my arrows hitting close to where I was aiming. I picked up a few 8s with two misjudged targets, one being a medium alert deer and the other a leopard. I hit both of them just under the 10 ring. However, I finished the first 10 with a perfect shot on an antelope that was set in a field, and we shot it from he woods. I made a perfect shot and the arrow centered the 11. 

  With 10 targets left, I was well aware that the course was set up in a way that the first 30 targets could be ripped out from under me with one lapse in concentration. This course required every tool in a 3D shooter's tool box, and I knew I had to stay focused. Heading down the homestretch, I continued making good shots and knew I was in a pretty good spot. I knew I just had to do my job. 

  That's when I came upon the 35th target of my round and glanced up the hill to see a strutting turkey that I was going to have to lead. I got all the good leads that his tournament, starting with the alligator, then getting the wolverine, lynx and now this turkey. Without any arrows in it, I would have to do my best to make it good. I knew an 8 would be par on it due to the difficulty level, but nobody wants an 8. 

  A young girl taking photographs for the shoot was nestled into an depression in the ground in front of the stake and a little to the right. I saw her when I was setting my sight but never paid attention to her again. When I hit full draw, I settled into my anchor and the shot broke quickly. It was one of the crispest shots I shot all weekend. I couldn't have asked for a better shot. The arrow struck just below the 10-ring. Now, I had 4 targets left in the round. 

  I tried my hardest to avoid any catastrophes, but I lost my pin on a long uphill grazing doe and didn't let down when I should have. Unable to see the pin clearly, I thought it was still in a could spot. When the arrow struck the target, I realized I had made a complacent error that might cost me a place in the shootdown round. 

  I was able to pick up a few 11s over the last couple of targets and escaped the day at 7 down, finishing third overall in my class. I would go into the shootdown round in 3rd place. 

                                                                                 Shootdown Round

  As I stood around talking with friends and waiting for the round to begin, I felt calm. I didn't sense any type of nervousness like I get sometimes. I chose to have my dad hold my umbrella. I cherish the time I get to spend with him, and I'll be forever thankful for all of the undying support he has given to me. This journey through competitive archery never would have been possible without him. I wanted him there with me. I was feeling like I was going to give him some happiness at the end of the round. 

  In shootoffs, I never know how I will feel until I hit full draw. While drawing my bow, I felt confident and ready for the moment... no nerves. Then, I anchored and the sight picture quickly turned ugly, and I felt foreign behind the bow. 

After all, I had only shot this bow on the 3D range one time previous to this weekend, and that was the weekend before. 

  Instead of trying to get the pin to slow down, I focused more on getting the shot off. That was a mistake, as I paid no attention to the pin. The arrow struck the turkey to the left of the 10-ring and high... 8. Instantly, I was in a bad place in my mind. 

  Moving to the next stake, I looked at the longest target of the five in the shootdown round, an impala. When I drew the bow, the pin began moving wildly. Once again, I didn't try to slow it down. Instead, I battle the release and tried my hardest to make a good shot. I got long in the hold and kept yarning on the release and pushing the bow. It was like a boxer taking a beating in the corner and hoping the bell will save him before he falls to the canvas. The bell didn't save me. I muscled through it and paid the price... a 5 high and to the left, just out of the 8. It required a few looks from the scorers to decide on the 5. 

  I continued through the next three targets and shot all 10s, with the alligator being my best shot. Every arrow I shot went to the left, except the alligator, and landed out of the 10 or just inside it. The bow reacted a little differently when I was nervous than it had all weekend. I wasn't ready for what I ran into and nobody beat me or passed me in the shootdown round --- I beat myself. I can own that. That's the only way a person can improve. I had worked hard on my mental game before this event and knew I would break my "almost" streak and get into the shootdown round. It was well rehearsed and everything went according to plan. However, I had not prepared for the shootdown round, and it was blatantly obvious when I got there and drew my bow on the first target. I will not let that happen again. I have performed well in previous shootdown rounds and have the ability to finish the job. 

  It's hard to explain to people what it feels like because many people congratulate you, and you have to say ,"thank you," but you also feel like exploding. The easiest way for me to explain the performance in the shootdown is comparing it to a kid who is 90% potty trained. The kid is hanging out in the living room with all of his parents' friends there and dumps a load in his pants. He looks around and hopes nobody noticed as he slowly walks over to his mom and hopes she will rescue him. Then, he disappears into the bathroom while the conversations continue around him. That was me in the shootdown round. I could not hide from the mess I made out there, so I did the best I could after getting out of the gate poorly. I tried to hang on and get out of with a few positives to look back on. I guess I recovered well after a bad start, but that bad start cost me a lot of money. 

                                                                                 My Take on the Weekend

  For not knowing if I would be able to draw my bow and shoot, I think I withstood many things and made the best of it. The trial run of the Veracity 35 was a success. I feel the bow did everything I needed it to do. It gave me a bit of confidence that I might've lost over the last few months. It made me realize I still have what it takes when another gear needs to be found. I shot well on a very tough course, and I'm proud about that. I made a few mistakes along the way, but I also had enough cushion at the times I made them to survive them. My focus was intense the entire weekend, and my mental approach was on point.

  I"m not sure what is worse: missing the podium by one spot or missing the shootdown round by one spot. I've now experienced both of these things in two of the last three events, and neither one of them felt that good. In all reality, missing the podium is probably worse because I put myself in position to get it done. 

  I had a great time shooting this weekend. I enjoyed both groups I found myself in, and we all had a good time. There didn't seem to be the tension that can sometimes be found at the highest level in the top groups. It was actually relaxing and felt like I was shooting on my own range with all of my friends. I guess that's the way it should be too. 

  Over the last three years, Jacob and I have made the shootdown in the same events a couple of times. Unfortunately, I haven't lived up to my end of the bargain and allowed us to both come out with podium finishes. Hopefully, things continue in the same direction and we get a chance to do it again. 

  In the grand scheme of things, I'm satisfied. I finished Day 1 in third place and stayed there through the second round. Then, once in the shootdown, I backed up one place and found myself in fourth. When fourth isn't good enough, you know you have to work harder to fix the problem. I'll put my head down and see what I can come up with over the next month and a half. It's a race to the finish line now. 

Here are some photos of my friends from the weekend. I enjoy being around all of these people. They bring out the best in me, and I'm thankful for all of them and what they do. 

Jake, a typical Masshole, got the best parking spot. Right in the middle of the entrance. Only if you're from Massachusetts.....

               
  

2nd Leg of IBO Northeast Triple Crown

  This week, I struggled badly with the pain in my shoulders. It just doesn't seem to want to let up. Although I've tried resting my shoulders, it hasn't appeared to do much, as the pain is constantly there. It's impossible to sleep comfortably, and shooting my bow doesn't seem to make it any worse or better. It's just painful. 

  My groups weren't the best this week, and I spent some time getting marks for the National Senior Games, which will take place in July. I'm sure I won't be able to shoot much to prepare that event, and I won't put too terribly much into it because it's not a priority to me this year. Overall, I didn't feel good about my practice on the bags, but I shot a few rounds on my course at home. I continued shooting my average of about even on 20 target rounds on some tough sets. I always know the sets on my course will be more difficult than anything I'll ever see at a national event. That always gives me confidence when I go to the big events.

  I traveled to the shoot with Dad, Wade and Jacob. When we left the house, the sun was out, and I figured we would have a great day to shoot. Then, when we got to Whistling Arrow in Montpelier, Vt., the rain started coming down, and before I knew it, the rain became steadier. However, I did get about 10 arrows in at 40 yards. The first group was a little sloppy, but the second one had every arrow in the small green dot on the bag. My shots broke great, and I felt prepared. The funny thing is that 12 hours earlier, I hadn't even considered shooting the bow I had in my hand. Then, on Friday evening, I screwed my 24' front bar and 10' back bar on it, and it held really well. It held so well, I shot five arrows from 40 and five arrows from 50 and they all stayed in the dot on my Morrell bag. It was the steadiest I've held a bow in a long time. That, combined with the fact the arrows grouped so well, made my decision to take the bow and try it much easier. It's never easy going to a shoot when your unfamiliar with your equipment, but it felt so good I wanted to see if I could shoot it well enough to consider bringing it with me to Franklin, Pa., next weekend. I knew I would be able to give it a true test. 

  As many of us waited for the rain to pass, we all shared stories and chit-chatted back and forth. I realized one thing while standing under the pavilion: I was with some of my favorite people. They are all people I like to spend time with, and every one of them gives me something that nobody else can give me. They all do it in their own way. 

  When we finally started, the first target was just a few feet from the pavilion, and when we drew cards to shoot, I was the lucky one who got drawn to shoot first. When I glanced at the target, the number stuck out. I've never had any issues with fallow deer, and although this was across a small dip and up on a hill in some tall grass, I knew I would smoke it. The pin sat down nicely, and I executed a great shot... 11. After one shot, I was satisfied with the bow. It felt just like it felt on my bag at home the night before. 

  Moving to the second target, I spotted a Corsican ram down the hill and across a small opening. Although the target appeared a long way away, I felt confident when I finally set my sight. When my shot broke, I knew I made a shot that I shouldn't have made. The arrow landed to the right of the 10-ring. I''m not sure why, but the shot irritated me more than most things irritate me on a 3D range. There's nothing worse than getting the number on a 3d target, especially when it's a trick number, and not shooting a 10. That frosts me. 

  Moving through the next few targets, I felt good about my numbers and my shots. It seemed that I was shooting everything a tad to the right, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I made great shots on the downhill elk and coyote, and my shot on the standing bear was smooth and powerful. Although I wasn't getting many 11s, I was scaring them to death. 

  As we picked our way through the 20-target loop, I felt confident with the bow and my yardage estimations. Along the way, I made a couple of weak shots, and I realized that this bow is not overly forgiving to weak shots. The arrows will hit to the right. At least I can easily identify why the arrows hit where they do with this bow, and it didn't take me any time at all to figure it out. 

  Along the way, I misjudged the bedded buck, hitting it high for an 8. It irritated me a little bit because I have that target and thought I had a great number. I was about four yards off, and that was the only target I misjudged throughout the day. When we got off the 20-target loop, I felt good about my performance, especially shooting a bow with which I have minimal experience. 

  This year, I've almost trained my mind to have intense focus for 20 targets because we always shoot 20 targets a day at national events. When we started the last 10, I was ready to check out for the day. My interest was waning, and I was ready to hop in the truck and head home. In a four target stretch, I shot four arrows to the right. I believe I was getting tired and not staying strong throughout the shot. I need to pay more attention to that part of my shot in the future if I'm going to continue using this bow. 

  As we neared the end, I made a few great shots, getting 11s on a steep downhill stone sheep and a tricky medium deer across a small field. When we got to the last target, an elk, I knew I was about event and figured a 10 would leave me at even. When the shot broke, I knew it was going to hit a hair to the left, and that's right where it his... just left of the 11. I ended the day at 2 down and wasn't sure how to feel about it. 

                                                                             My Take on the Day

  This was probably the best set course I've ever shot in New England or New York. Tyler Thygesen and crew. Tyler took the criticism from last year's event and made good on it. He produced a top-level course that will be very hard for anyone to rival. This course was what Jacob and I would call a "technical course." If you are a ground judger, this course ate you alive. You needed to know how to use depth perception for this course. I'm sure this one humbled a few people, and if you are one of them, you should now know what you need to work on. I feel badly for anyone who doesn't shoot IBO events in the region. You surely missed an unbelievable event. 

  I shot with Jacob, Rob LeLacheur, Chris Hartley and Barry Gates. This was the most fun I've had on a 3D course in as long as I've shot. I'm not sure I've experienced anything that can compare. It's always good to be able to shoot with great shooters to see what you can learn from different people. Everyone's contributions to the day helped me in one way or another. There were three pros in the group who all represented different pro classes. That was kinda cool, and I'm glad I got to experience that. 

   I was unsure about using the bow I used for this event, but I also could't ignore how well it held and shot the night before. It was almost too good to be true. As I made my way through the course, I realized that I can aim the bow really well, but I have to work a little harder to make a good shot with it than I do with the bow I've been using. In case anyone is wondering, I switched from the Tempest E 3D to the Veracity 35. Change can be difficult, but you'll never figure out if things can be better if you don't change it up now and then. I'll probably use the Veracity 35 next weekend in Franklin and see how it does under a little pressure. You never know for certain until you get in the game. That's when you hope you can make solid contact and rip a few line drives up the middle or get lucky and hit one out of the park. You never know until game time. 

  This course tested my ability to shoot targets that were set with hidden yardage, and it tested all of my skills. I felt good at the end of the day, but I feel like I left a lot of points on the course that weren't due to my yardage judging. I will continue working on that part of my game to get it where it needs to be. Overall, I shot really well, and when I missed double digits, I didn't miss by much. 

  Throughout the day, we talked about many different pros on the national tours and discussed the ones who are best to follow and the ones who could disappear and not be missed. Sometimes it gets difficult to know who is who in conversation due to people having similar names or bow sponsors, so we found a way to give code names to make sure we were all on the same page and didn't get people confused. We all agreed that some people are impossible to take seriously, some are overbearing, some just do their thing and help everyone, and others seek nonstop attention. During the course of our conversations, we came up with easy-to-remember names. Mike and Ike seem to be the easiest names to remember. Mike is from Monsters Inc.  and Ike just kind of fit into the conversation. These two fictional pros know everything.

  Today when Jacob and I went to shoot, Jacob demonstrated what real pros should do when he held court with a bunch of up-an-coming archers from the Exit Archery team that is run by Aron Stevenson. He took a lot of time out of his day to give these kids some advice on many different things. I appreciated the time he spent doing it because many others would never offer their time or help. He's falling into his role as one of the best pros on tour, and it is always a pleasure to watch him perfect his craft. There's nothing better than watching someone who is one of the best at his craft. Although you can become numb to it because you see it all the time, I realize how difficult it is to remain there. His dedication to archery is what draws me to him. I have always had the same dedication, and that's what makes it so easy to appreciate. These people are rare, and I've met very few people who share the same passion and desire. I've always tried to give back, even if I don't have much to give. I feel that it is my responsibility to share the things I've learned over the years. I'll never be considered a world-class professional, but I feel fortunate to have been able to compete at the highest level while gaining the respect of all of my peers and finding a little bit of success on the trail. I will never fail due to lack to effort or dedication. 

 

London, Ky. ASA

The only reason I chose to start this entry with this picture is to remind myself that I have the ability to shoot my bow mistake-free throughout high-pressure rounds. I've been struggling with that this tournament season, and I realize I need to get back on track. My focus will go toward improving that area of my game to allow me to shoot rounds like the ones I shot that allowed me to win the patches in the picture above.

 

    After getting home from the First Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown, the cuts were still bleeding, and the burn could be felt from the inside out. The phantom lows ate at my craw through the midnight hour, and my mind raced to find an answer. 

  Over the course of the week, I found a few answers, but I wasn’t sure if the things found would lead to an A on the next report card. My timing was still good, as nothing had changed. Jacob and I took my cams off and checked the bearings… everything was good. The creep tune on the bow was good, with arrows hitting with each other under all circumstances. 

  Then, as we were sitting around BSing about different things, Jacob took a nock and slid it up and down on my serving under the loop. The nock barely budged without help. Although I had noticed the same thing throughout the year, I never paid much attention to it. A few years back, Jacob said he had the same issue with nocks on his arrows. Although he was shooting acceptable groups, the groups weren’t what he thought they should be… the same feeling I’ve had. 

  After changing nocks, his groups tightened. Well, mine did the same. I changed from an Easton G pin nock to a Beiter hunter, and the results could be seen instantly. Over the course of the last two weeks, I decided to shoot a 70-pound bow and overdid it. I basically blew my shoulder out and was unable to draw my normal bow for five days. I got a knot in my upper back/shoulder, which runs into my neck. I also have a lot of pain across my collar bone. It is not pleasant, and it’s making drawing, aiming and shooting the bow extremely difficult. 

  While around many people with different rangefinders, I also learned that my rangefinder reads an average of 2 to 2.5 yards more than everyone else’s. Instantly, I knew I had to rectify that problem and go back to my dinosaur rangefinder. Jacob and I have always had the same numbers, and I’ve noticed that his numbers have been consistently two yards short of my numbers the entire year. So, some of the lows could’ve been from the target being at 50 yards on someone’s rangefinder, which would’ve been 52 on mine, then if I set my sight at 48 to hang a 10, I could’ve shot it for 46 when it was 50. The result of that is a low 5 on every shot under those circumstances. 

  We got a late start due to Dad losing his phone. Shortly after getting on the road, we were in the middle lane of I-87 when a tremendous bang shook the truck. My heart went into my throat, as it sounded like a gun bast. However, we quickly realized a tire had exploded on a tractor-trailer in the lane next to us. I always know that traveling creates risks, and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. That’s why I try to make the most out of every day. 

                                                                   Practice Day

  I’ve never enjoyed shooting in London, Ky., and it’s probably not for the reasons why so many others don’t like it. It has never given me the feeling that is associated with a big tournament. It always feels as if it’s something that someone sets up in their backyard to invite their friends over to see which one of them they can piss off the most. Although everyone must shoot the same targets, the timing is crucial on these ranges as to when you shoot each one. In a 20-minute stretch, one group could have no problem seeing a target, while another group may find it merely impossible. 

  Anyhow, practice wasn’t the best. My shoulder was still in a tremendous amount of pain and aiming the bow with any type of steadiness was all but impossible. I focused on getting good numbers and making the best shots possible. 

  By the time we finished, I probably ended up shooting a total of 40 arrows for the day, so in the previous week and a half I launched no more than 60 arrows. 

                                                                      Day 1

  With the shoulder issues lingering, I shot eight arrows to warm up before my round and called it good. Last week all the pros got an email that stated things were going to change with range assignments due to complaints about integrity. I laughed and predicted the future. They were going to give our ranges different letter numbers than normal so nobody could share numbers between each other from day to day… comical. Yet, in the meeting before we started, they said that unknown shooters would not be shooting any known ranges. Well, Einstein, there is only one other unknown pro range we could possibly shoot… the one we always shoot… the one that Open Pro shoots on the first day. How about just moving 7-10 stakes between days. The stakes only have to vary about 3-4 yards. It doesn’t take any time, and that would eliminate any advantage people would get if they actually shared numbers. Nope, why do that? C’mon, how about having integrity as the business setting the courses. Employees in businesses are paid to work. Changing a handful… or all … of the stakes would take minimal effort and time. Although I could go on, but that’s my rant about that.

  I started my day on a deer and made shot a good shot, just missing over the 12. Amazingly, the bow sat down nicely, and my shot felt powerful. In the next four targets, I made smooth, effortless shots and got three 12s. After five targets, I was sitting at +6 and feeling confident. In the next 10, my shots continued breaking effortlessly and the pin continued holding steady. I barely missed a few and had a glance-out on one before taking my first 8 of the round to find myself sitting at +4 after 10. However, I realized that I stopped playing the game the same way I started it. Now, I found myself playing to not lose points rather than playing to gain more points. I began getting a little defensive instead of playing offense and controlling play. Then, on target 14, a wolverine, I heard an arrow and knew the target was in that 48-50 range. It was a no-doubter. Although I didn’t make the best of shots on it, it wasn’t too terribly bad. When the arrow hit, I didn’t like the sound. Looking at it through my binoculars, I could see it sitting below the 8-line. It was my first marginally bad shot of the day, and it made me pay the price. I earned it. Even with the 5, it only put me at -1. I felt I could make a comeback over the next six targets and finish my day on the plus side. With a few targets left, I missed one to the right, with another marginal shot, but I finished the day barely missing two 12s. The group thought both were 12s from the stake. 

  At the end of the day, I sat at 3 down, but my shooting played out better than the scorecard showed. Heading off the range, I was disappointed, but I was also satisfied that I gave myself a chance going into Day 2. I shot with Joe Pitt on Day 1, and we usually shoot well when we shoot together. The same played out this weekend. We both stayed afloat and found ourselves within reach of the leaderboard. Joe always keeps the group loose, and I find it easy to shoot with him. I enjoy his company in my group, and I always feel at ease when I learn we will be sharing the same stake. While it’s easy to shoot with some people, others can make for a long day. 

                                                                                  Day 2

  Heading into day 2, I figured if I could get back to even, I would have a great chance at making it into the shootdown round, and I knew my shooting was on par with achieving that. Once again, I only fired eight shots at the target butt before the round.

  When I got to the target, a black panther, I felt good about my starting position. After the cards were drawn, I learned I would be shooting last. The panther was close, and I knew I would go after the 12. However, with it being a little dark out, I must’ve aimed a little too low while also seeing the yardage a little short. I started off with an 8. It’s never a good thing to go backward when you’re on one of the closest targets you’ll see during the round. 

  When I got to the next stake, the target at the end of the lane was a leopard. After hearing a few arrows, I knew it was a bomb. I set my sight and aimed for center 10. Before drawing the bow, I turned my light on, and the pin was huge. At full draw, I had a hard time seeing beyond it, but I lazily ignored it and figured it was OK. After all, I knew I could shoot the arrow in the 10-ring without any problem. 

  When the shot fired, I felt good about it until Digger Cogar told me it hit to the left. I guessed that it probably hit right where the pin was sitting. I knew better than to shoot the arrow with the light on the brightest level, so I deserved the 8. I was simply complacent and ignored something that was obviously going to hinder me from putting my best effort forth. 

  After pulling the arrow from the target, I knew I had to buckle down to stand any chance of saving face. From that point forward, I went on a roll, but I couldn’t catch a 12 to save my life. Nearing the end of the round, I came upon another bomb of a wolverine. This time I made sure to aim above the color change on the target. That’s when I realized I had probably been aiming in the wrong place on it. It felt like I was extremely high on it, and it gave me an uncomfortable feeling. That feeling overtook me at full draw, and the shot got squirrely in a hurry. Before I could save it, the pin started dashing and the bow fired. It resulted in a less than desirable score, but I finished the round strong. I went into day 2 in 14^th place and that’s basically where I finished. Although the final tally says 16^th, it’s because two guys who had the same score shot more 12s than me. 

                                                               My Final Take on the Weekend

  In all reality, I didn’t expect much from this weekend. After injuring my shoulder, I was nowhere near where I needed to be with my shooting. It’s difficult to aim at 12s when you can’t hold the bow steady enough to hit them without paying the consequences along the way. The injury makes me wonder if my shoulder will recover enough to be able to hold well this summer. I haven’t shot without pain since having reconstructive shoulder surgery, but this pain is up a few notches from normal. Time will tell. 

  In all the ASAs this year, I’ve gotten off to a good start. However, I’m getting behind the 8-ball with a bad shot here or there that I’m paying the price for. The bad shots aren’t remotely close to scoring double digits, with most of them resulting in ugly 5s – even uglier than they appear on the scorecard. 

  I’m shooting well enough to be at or near the top at the end, but I need to find a way to avoid making two to three bad shots per tournament. In the last two tournaments, they’ve occurred on max-distance wolverines, so I walked by the target trailer and made an impulse buy. I bought the wolverine to ensure I don’t shoot a 5 on it again. When I got home this morning, I took four shots at it from 50 yards without any practice. This is the group. I’m pretty sure I’ve been aiming way too low. When you add that to a bad shot, the result is disastrous. I’ll make sure that does not happen in Metropolis. 

  Even though I faced physical limitations this time, I still expected to do better. I could have almost no use in one arm, and I would still think I should do better. I don’t believe there is any reasonable excuse for not doing well. Then again, I do feel blessed to be able to compete at the level I compete at and do well at times. I know there are many people who would kill to be able to do the same. I guess in some ways that must makes me a lucky person. I’ve put the work in over the years, and many times it just doesn’t feel like it adds anything to my game. While I’ve gained the respect of my peers, I need to do more for myself. I’m not satisfied with the way things have played out over the last year. My shoulders have gotten progressively worse, and I’m not sure how much archery they have left in them, especially at the highest level of competitive archery. I’ll keep trying, though. 

  Coming home, I stared out the window and felt like punching a hole through the glass. Then I felt like ripping my new wolverine out of the back of the truck and punting it like a football. All I can tell you is that everyone goes through ups and downs and faces challenges, even the best. 

  Sometimes you talk with your peers during and after events, and you discuss different things. After this one, I was talking to Tony Tazza, and he was telling me he feels like he’s shooting the worst he’s ever shot, and he’s having issues hanging up on his release and just watching the pin sit there without executing. People think that pros never have any issues because they somehow find a way to never dip too terribly low. We all face the same things everyone else faces. Experience just teaches people how to navigate the bumps in the road. I encourage all of you to remember this when you’re feeling down. I must remind myself of this right now. 

  This year has been a learning curve, and the curve seems to be getting wider and wider, and I can’t see around the bend in the road. I’m hoping there’s a straightaway once I clear the wide sweeping curve. I’d like to mash the pedal to the floor to race to the checkered flag. I just need to keep the wheel tight and lean into the corner until I get through it. 

  I’d like to congratulate my dad, Wade Chandler, and Mike LeFevre. They all shot well in Kentucky, and it was good to see them gain some confidence and be rewarded for their efforts. Mike called me earlier in the week and asked for some advice. I gave him a little direction that I thought might help him, and it worked out well. I was glad to see that he stuck to the plan and accomplished his goal. Way to go, Mike!! 

My final thought of the week as the national 3D tournament season hits the halfway point: