A Look Back in Time

 

 

 It was a blazing hot day in mid-May 1999 when we pulled into the fairgrounds where the White River Bowhunters were hosting the First Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown in Bedford, Ind. Everything inside me told me this was going to be my year. I had fallen just shy of winning the Triple Crown the previous year, so I liked my chances going into the first leg.  

 Throughout the year, we had also discussed forming a team. However, we needed a fourth guy to cement the team. Mike Parker, who was coming off some dominant years in the youth class, and Wade Chandler were the others on the team. However, we still needed a fourth guy. 

  With Mike and his father arriving early, it gave him a little while to ask around to find us another teammate. We all knew a lot of people, so we figured it wouldn’t be too difficult to find someone to hop on board. 

  Well, it didn’t take him long to find a guy. As he was getting ready to register for the event, there was another guy who was doing the same. After a brief conversation, the final puzzle piece to our team had been added in the form of a guy from Kentucky named Ryan Jeffries. 

  Wade would be the oldest on the team, while Mike would be the youngest. Ryan and I would fill out the middle. When I found out Ryan Jeffries had been recruited to be on our team, I knew we were stacked and ready to roll. I was familiar with Ryan’s success, as I had seen his name near the top of the results pages in the past. 

  When the dust settled after the First Leg, we ran away with the victory, with all of us placing in the top 10… and this is when there were about 800 people in the class. We had all done our part, and it felt good to walk away as team champions. 

  Going into the Second Leg, I felt like we had a chance to run the table. However, as life throws curveballs at us at times, it wasn’t meant to be. Ryan was unable to make it to the next leg, and we stumbled to the finish line. 

  Almost 25 years have passed since the glory we achieved when we walked away as team champions of the Midwest Classic, but my memory of it is as fresh as yesterday’s cool breeze. Last year at the IBO World Championship, I spoke with Ryan when we were both tallying our cards after finishing. All these years later, we met at the tent while he was coming off the Open Pro range, and I was coming off the Senior Pro range. Who could’ve imagined both of us would still be at it at this point in our lives? Then, there was Wade, who had podiumed in two of the three legs of the National Triple Crown.  Although Michael wasn’t there, his dad was still there and still performing at a high level. 

  It’s amazing how time never stands still, but then again… maybe it does. All of us are still doing what we love, and in the end, that’s all that really matters. This year at the IBO World Championship in West Virginia, Wade, Ryan and I got together to take a picture for old time’s sake. Ryan and I still had our awards from that team championship, so we brought them along for the picture. The people I’ve met in this sport are second to none, and I’m glad I was able to reconnect with Ryan almost 25 years after our victory. It was only fitting that this year he was part of the Open Pro Mathews team that took home the overall Triple Crown win, and I was part of the Senior Pro team that took home the overall Triple Crown win. I encourage your to savor every moment. I never would have thought that the three of us would still be at it 25 years after our victory. The moment we stood together for the picture was almost as gratifying as the win itself. Ryan and I enjoyed the National Triple Crown awards ceremony and dashed back in time for a moment. 

Royalston Team Shoot

 

  The week prior to the shoot, I felt confident about our chances. However, going into the middle of the week, things started to unravel. With my sight bottomed out to the right, I didn't feel confident leaving it there. Instead, I decided to move the scope to get it in the middle of the travel so I would be able to move it left or right if needed. 

  After moving it, I had a hard time getting it dialed in. It seemed that my tape no longer matched, and it almost seemed like the bow started shooting erratically. Of course, I knew it was all operator error, but the confidence in the equipment definitely took a hit. 

  On Thursday evening, I figured I would shoot a few arrows and put the bow in the case. Well, that plan didn't go well. After about five arrows, the ring that holds the fiber in the scope loosened up. In the process, I lost both screws, and half the scope fell off the bow. Things were coming unhinged. 

  That brings us to Friday afternoon. I needed to run out to help my buddy Chris Hall with some of his archery gear. While getting into my truck, I slipped and landed on my back. Pain instantly radiated across the top of my left shoulder, and it was a bear to breathe. It felt like a broken rib, but my ribs were nowhere near the injury. I tried ignoring it, but as the evening wore on, it became bothersome. 

  I called Jacob to tell him what time we would be picking him up. That's when I learned his week wasn't going much better than mine. He couldn't figure out what was going on with his sight tape. Finally, he had learned he was between two sight tapes... neither one worked. The tape was good from 38 yards to 63 yards. The numbers under 38 and the numbers over 63 were somewhat of a guessing game, even though he thought he had it figured out. We never said we didn't like a challenge, even if we were the ones who created it for ourselves. 

                                                                    Game Time

  When I woke up on Saturday morning, the injury to my back could be felt. The only good thing about it was that it felt more like a strained muscle more than  anything else. The ride seemed like it passed quickly. When we arrived, a lot of people were warming up and getting ready to head onto the course. 

  It took us a bit to get ready. Jacob tried figuring out what he was going to have to do with his tape. Finally, he thought he had it roughed in close enough to hit a few rings. I shot about 10-15 shots to ensure I didn't aggravate my back any more than it was already aggravated. Actually, when I drew and held my bow, it didn't feel too bad. I could deal with it. 

  As always, there was a little backup at the first target of the day, but it didn't last long before we were on our way. The bow sat down nicely when I drew it on the stone sheep. My hold was a little long, and I could instantly tell that the less holding weight was going to create a challenge. After all, I was shooting a bow that I hadn't shot any 3D with the entire year. I decided to shoot the Vegas E3D that I used for the National Senior Games, and I used it because I needed to be fresh when shooting so many arrows over the course of two days. With six-arrow ends and all of my shoulder and elbow problems, I have to set things up to make sure I can withstand the rounds I'm shooting. When I do this for target archery, it's easy to get used to because I tend to get in a rhythm while shooting target archery versus 3D. 

  When the shot finally broke, it went straight high, catching a 10 at 12 o'clock. It was somewhat embarrassing to hit the target in the place I hit it, but Jacob erased the embarrassment when he smoked the 14. 

  I had to lead off the next target, a Rinehart wolf, which was made to be set with a deer and give the impression it was attacking the deer. It's a target I've only seen one other place in my life, which was at a local shoot in Danby, Vt. Being unfamiliar with it, I looked long and hard to find a place to put my pin. When my shot broke, I said, "Yup," knowing I had smoked the 11. That's when Jake looked at me and said, "That's an 8 to the right." In disbelief, I began cussing and kicked a few sticks. The arrow had appeared exactly where I was looking. Instantly, I knew this was not a good thing. Looking at the target, I knew we had to have that one because I was almost certain Jacob would've 14d it. It was just one of those targets that he never misses... and of course, he smoked the 11... our first missed opportunity of the day.

   After we all shot, I walked away from the target knowing it was going to be a long day. Getting my release to fire was a bear. I guess the only bonus was that Jake LaFontaine was having the same issue. We cruised through the next few targets, and I felt good about the actual shots when they finally broke. I was holding good, and the arrows were finding their way into the proper landing zones to give us a shot. Within a few minutes, we were sitting at plus 16, and I hadn't found my stride yet.

  After shooting a long brown bear with a redone kill zone, I felt halfway decent. My arrow hit a pinch over the 11 and had a perfect line. Walking up the hill to the next target, I had no idea that the next five targets would turn out to be the reason we did not repeat our past successes this year. 

  We came upon a downhill spike buck when we got to the next stake. It was a relatively easy shot. I believe it was in the 45-yard range or something like that. Well, when my shot went off, the arrow hit at 12 o'clock out of the 10-ring. I missed a giant 10-ring. Once again, like the shot with the stone sheep, the arrow hit high, and I couldn't give anyone a reason why the arrow hit where it did. This was another target with a large, bright 14 that I'm almost sure Jacob would've centered. He had been on point. He picked me up with yet another 11. 

  At the next stake, we looked at a long Delta brown bear, I knew it was going to be tough. Jacob and I have struggled on that target in the past for some reason. When my shot finally fired, I instantly knew it was going to the right. It hit less than an inch to the right of the 10-ring. The pin had drifted too far to the right when it fired. Once again, Jacob had to pick me up. 

  Two targets later, there was a Catalina goat on a hill. Although it was an uphill shot, it wasn't anything to write home about. I believe it was about 38 yards. Once again, I shot an arrow at 12 o'clock outside the 10-ring. I had now fired three arrows that hit in almost the same exact spot. Things were not shaping up as we had planned. 

  Trying to put that miss behind me, we moved to the next target, which was a Delta boar. I believe it was in the 39-yard range if I remember correctly. Jake put a perfect arrow in it and gave me a great aiming spot. Struggling with my shot, I began thinking about everything I needed to do to shoot a good shot... exactly what you don't want to be doing when you're aiming. 

  When the shot broke, I about lost my mind. The arrow hit at 12 o'clock out of the 10-ring... once again.  Once again, on a very gettable target, Jacob had to pick me up. I'm sure he was probably getting a little irritated at that point in time. How the heck could I be missing these targets? We were headed up shit creek without a paddle. It was getting away from us quickly. I was free falling with nothing below to catch me.

  After a brief discussion, he told me to start taking yardage off until I shot low. So, that's what I did. Looking up the hill at a bedded buck, the sun shone on it brightly. I think it was in the 65-plus range if I remember correctly. When I drew the bow, I couldn't see the pin at all. The sun washed it out. I let down and turned the light up as high as it could go. Drawing back again, I still couldn't see the pin. I decided I was in the general area I needed to be and shot the arrow. It struck the target just to the right of the 10. I just couldn't stop digging a hole for us to climb out of. If both teammates don't do their part, it's impossible to succeed. If the receiver drops all of the perfect passes the star quarterback throws him, it's impossible to get first downs... that's where we were at. 

  Then, we finally got back on track. I started taking yards off, and we got off the first half OK. It did seem that we were getting to a lot of targets when it was almost impossible to see the 14s. I'm not sure if it was like that for everyone, but it was extremely difficult to see many of them for us. 

  Going into the second half, we felt pretty good. We were sitting at +29, and my issues hadn't help matters too much. Since we have shot better on the second half every year, we were optimistic the trend would continue. However, when I shot out of the top of the first target, the chamois, I got irritated. Unlike the last three targets of the first half, I didn't take any numbers off my sight, and the arrow hit at 12 o'clock right above the 10-ring once again. 

  I didn't pay much attention to it as we moved along. After that shot, I got things back under control and   got into a groove. My shots seemed to improve, and the arrows were finding their mark. As we were cruising along, I began feeling like I couldn't miss. Then, we got to the mule deer, which was a bomb. When my pin got to the middle of the body, the arrow was on its way. I knew I would get it. When I stepped away from the stake, I saw that, yet again, another arrow had found it's way to the 12 o'clock position out of the 10-ring. Fortunately, that was the end of the disastrous day for me. I cruised through the rest of the day and gave Jacob a small chance at making up some of the ground I had prevented us from gaining along the way. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

                                                My Final Thoughts on the Day

   Realistically, on paper, Jacob and I were not supposed to win. While we have competed against Braden many times in this team event, he has had different partners every time. However, all of his partners have been stout shooters, definitely some of the best New England has to offer. We have only competed against him and Tanja one other time, and that one ended in our favor. Of course, that event did not have pink dots on the targets and benefited me and Jacob due to our familiarity with the Rinehart targets being used and the location of the scoring rings. 

  In this style of team event when you're competing against the all-time greatest international shooter and his wife, who is one of the best professional female archers in the world, you know you have to limit the damage to give yourself a chance. I didn't put my teammate in the most ideal position for us to be successful. 

  Looking back on it, I'm not sure what caused the 12 o'clock issues on all the ones I missed. I did have the smallest peep I've ever used for 3D in my string, and I did that because I was using a higher power lens than I normally use. If I had to go back and take a mulligan, I'd probably use the same bow I shot all summer. I figured the one I used would do the job. However, without any miles on it on a 3D course, my assumptions were grossly miscalculated. While the bow didn't shoot poorly, the things I couldn't explain played on my mind. I went a little over the top to make sure I didn't shoot bad shots. That's a fault I sometimes have that doesn't lead to the best results.

  When all was said and done, I was ticked off at myself until I took a minute to look back on the day. That's when I realized, it really wasn't that bad. I shot a great line all day, with exception of an arrow that fired on a drift, hitting to the right, and another one that hit to the right because I couldn't see the pin when I lost it in the sun... mid 50s eyes aren't what they were when I was 40 -- or 20. Every other arrow I couldn't explain went in pretty much the same exact spot. If I had more time under my belt with the bow, I could figure it out. I just didn't figure it out in time yesterday. That's the way it goes sometimes. 

  I don't think most people realize that a team events consists of two people, and both people must do their job in conjunction with the other person. Although neither one of us performed at our best, we certainly did not perform at our worst. We both had some unexplainable moments that pissed us off. That's the way it goes sometimes. When I was at my worst, Jacob was at his best, and when I was at my best, Jacob was barely missing the 14s. Here's a look at how close they were. We had three of these, and I finally decided to take a picture of one. I'd say this is as close as you can get to being in without it being in. While missing three just like this one, all of the others he missed (with exception of two that I can remember) were within an inch and a half of the painted ring.

  Here's another trivial fact that would seem almost impossible. I couldn't shoot an 11 to save my life on any of the targets Jacob missed the 14. I was all around it, but it was like my arrows had been sprayed with 11 repellent when Jacob's were barely missing 14s. However, when he was in the 14s, I was in the 11s. That's just the kind of day it played out to be. We've never really experienced anything like we experienced this year. 

  Losing sucks, but we still had a great time. Cole and Jake were great to shoot with, and I love those guys like they're my little brothers... even though they're young enough to be my kids. I've never had a dog dislike me, but I should've known when Braden and Tanja's dog didn't take a liking to me, it probably wasn't going to be a good day. I got snubbed by the dog. I've never had that happen, so I must've had bad vibes on me or something. 

  I'd also like to give a shoutout to Tom and Tyler Thygesen. We better hope these guys build more garages next year and don't have any time to shoot. After finishing their duties around home this summer, they came out to play. You guys had a phenomenal ending to your year. Congratulations. Cherish the moments. Dad and I are still making them, just like you two. There's nothing like sharing this great stuff between a father and a son. Great job, guys. 

                                               ( Here Braden is on my left. I still remember the first time I ever saw him. It was on Sunday morning after the Pats beat the Raiders in the Snow Bowl. He was shooting a blue Mathews single cam, and he was on the line next to me at an MFAA 5-spot shoot. I shot 59xs that day, and Braden shot 56. He and his dad discussed his round afterward and left. I was impressed by the youngster's ability, but I never imagined he would go on to have the career he has had. Here's to you Braden. Congratulations on achieving things that others can't even imagine. I hope you find peace on your retirement from the international arena. You did everything you could do and more. It was impressive to watch from afar. You made an entire region proud. Great job. )

  Jacob is the best teammate a person could ever ask for. We've been shooting as teammates for quite a while, and things have always had a way of working out, even when we have both struggled at times. Although I'm sure he has wanted to say, "WTF are you doing?" at times, he has always remained positive and gives the pep talk that people need when things are going South. He never loses faith, and he thinks he can move mountains... which he usually can. I've been blessed to shoot with  the up-and-comer, and it pushes me to stay in this game I've been at for such a long time. I've seen many people come and go, and I just keep coming back, even after being bloodied and beaten. I've had plenty of good moments on the tournament trail, and I've been lucky enough to taste success at every level, including the highest level, but there's nothing like having one of the best in the world to shoot with regularly. Without his presence and motivation, I'm not sure I would continue doing this. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for him. I can truly appreciate what he has gone through up to now and what he will face on the road ahead. Thank you, Jacob, for letting an old timer who refuses to ever give in tag along for the ride. I truly appreciate it. 

  I'll be writing a few things in the coming weeks, including my recap of the year. This year was filled with many things, and I'd like to touch on a few of them. In my travels, I came to a fork in the road, too. I'll share with you what I did when I came to the fork. Life is full of twists and turns... just like archery.  That's why I love the game. 

My Archery Family

         If I flash back in time, I see myself at the beginning of my journey into competitive archery, and I’m brought back to the Anheuser Busch plant in Merrimack, N.H. That’s where I began to learn the best names in the region. Roger Thibault and Al Lane were the ones who were mentioned the most as the ones to beat. If anyone could come close to them, they had a future in the game. 

  A few years later, I found myself in a peer group at the third leg of the Northeast IBO Triple Crown in Rhode Island with the two of them and another guy from the Plattsburgh area named John Breen. At the end of the tournament, I had made up a lot of ground on Al Lane, but Thibault increased his lead. I finished in third overall, and it drove me to get better. Thibault won it, and Al Lane beat me by a few points. I was all in. I had the bug. All of these men where at least 20 years older than me.

  After that year, there were a lot of us that battled back and forth, and we all helped each other improve. Dave Gravlin, Darren Eisenhaur, Bill Romanchick, Wade Chandler, Dave Smeade, Brian LaLeme, Scott Tozier, Ted Butler, Roy Ware, Jeff Alderman, Pete Swanney, Brian Visco, Jon Giguere, Steph Hamner, among many others. Everyone knew these guys, and all these guys had the ability to win at any time. Then, we had the youth who were beginning to lay it down, including Eric Griggs and Dave Cousins, who would be followed by Mike Parker, Ryan Rowe, and Sean Rice a few years later. Many of us respected each other and shared in the victories and defeats of each other. We were putting our region on the map.

                                                             Our Current Archery Family

  Currently, many of us in New York and New England find ourselves rooting for each other at every event. While many of us are in different classes, some of us compete against each other. However, we all cherish the small victories everyone achieves, whether it’s a podium finish or a personal best. I want to take a minute to share a few of my thoughts about the IBO World Championship and my archery family.  Please don’t be offended if I forgot to mention you. I can promise it wasn’t done intentionally. Instead, I’m going to write about the first things that pop into my head and see how much I can recall. Here goes nothing. I hope you enjoy the ride. 

                                                            The Vermonters

  Where do we even start with this one? A lot of big things happened with the boys from Vermont. When I began shooting back in the ‘90s, Stanley Parker was always competitive and shot in the MBR class. He and Bob Rowe had some epic battles. Then, he and Bob Rowe decided they would take over the Northeast Triple Crown when the Nystroms bailed out and went in another direction. I’ll be forever thankful that they carried on the tradition.

  Well, Stanley finally put three days together this year and ended his journey of trying get the biggest prize one can get when they attend the IBO World Championship. Stanley claimed the IBO World Champion title this year in the Master Hunter Class. Congratulations, Stanley on a long-overdue title. 

  It’s not often that a father and son both walk away from a national tournament with bragging rights. However, which Thygesen gets to brag more this off-season? I’ll have to scratch my chin for a bit before I decide, but I think I’m going to have to give it to Old Man Thygesen this year. Tom struggled a little in the beginning of the year, but he put it all together when it mattered the most. Throughout the year, he switched between bows a few times, but he headed to the event with his Darton Veracity 35. That bow just seemed to work better for him. After Day 1, he found himself near the top of the MCBH class, which is for guys shooting moveable equipment who are 60 or older. Tom had quite the field to compete against, including our own Wade Chandler, who found himself on the podium multiple times last year but battled a bad ankle injury this year that prevented him from reaching top form this year. He still put up a respectable showing, though. When all was said in done, Tom made it to the dance and headed into the shoot-off in fifth place and stayed there until the end. Great job, Tom. You made all of us proud, and I’m glad I can say you’re my buddy and a father to a great son. Congratulations on an accomplishment that very few people ever achieve. 

  That brings us to Thygesen 2, Tom’s son Tyler. After making the cut in SPM last year and taking a podium spot, Tyler had big shoes to fill. Although he didn’t have the year he had last year, he also found life getting in the way. He spent most of his summer doing everything other than archery, and we must give him credit for that. However, on Friday evening, he showed us that he still has, game when he plowed his way through the Eagle Eye shootdown to earn a victory. When you’re shooting against the best of the best on and even playing field, it says a lot when you can come out as the winner. This was amazing to watch, and we all enjoyed every minute of it, especially when the photographer captured all of us celebrating Tyler’s achievement. Very few people can ever say they won the Eagle Eye at the World, but Tyler will now be known as the official Eagle Eye of New England. Congratulations Tyler.  

 

                                                              The Maniacs

  Maine has produced phenomenal shooters since I started this crazy game and continues to be home to some of the best shooters in our region. There seems to be a never-ending string of great archers who call Maine home. 

  This year, John “Easy Rider” Freeman moved into the Masters Class. Dad and I figured he would dominate the class this year. Well, John did what John does and went out and stomped everyone. Although I’ve never been lucky enough to shoot with John, I’ve watched him from afar on many occasions. I often wish I had his ability to shoot a bow. He makes every shot look effortless, and he has won everything you can win, including his latest achievement… IBO World Champion. Some shooters excel in every game they play, and John is that guy. If you ever get a chance to watch him shoot, I’d highly recommend it. I’m inspired every time I watch him. His effortless shots inspire me to find more ways to be calm at the center and strong in the process. Congratulations, John, on your win. I feel sorry for the guys in that class. 

  While talking about John, we can’t forget another John from Maine, John Libby. Libby has been a major contender for as long as I can remember. He goes into every big event with a chance to win and has done his fair share of winning. Well, the IBO World this year was no different. When the dust settled, John walked away with yet another podium finish, finishing in 3^rdplace in the MCBH class. Congratulations, John. I can still remember the first time I met you when you and your boy shot the IBO tournament with me and my dad in Merrimack, N.H., on the course along the river. I believe your wife was walking with you, too. It seems like that was just a few years ago, and it was probably about 25 years ago. 

  While we are on the topic of the Maniacs, Payson Reinhart is making a name for himself in the IBO. Last year he won the event in BBO, and this year he decided to jump into the semi-professional class. Once again, he held his own against some of the big dogs who have been playing this game longer than he’s been alive, and he also landed on the podium. As I personally know, that is no easy feat in that class. I have plenty of experience in the class to draw from. Congratulations, Payson, on another unbelievable performance. I wish you all the luck in college and the years to come. It will be the best four years of your life and it will pass before your eyes before you know it… don’t blink. 

                                                            The New Yorkers

  Although New York isn’t part of New England, I have always considered myself a New Englander when it comes to shooting. I spend more time in New England shooting, so I consider most of those shooters as my family. 

  Brian Dibona, from central New York, put a post on Facebook about a month ago looking for someplace to shoot Rinehart targets so he could get practice for the IBO World. Although many of you have come up for the Mead Spring Challenge and the World Warmup Challenge, Brian had never attended. All I can say is that I hope his trip out helped him on his journey to securing a second-place finish at the event. Not only did Brian land on the podium, but he also won the IBO National Triple Crown this year. Congratulations, Brian, on a year that many people only get to dream about. 

  Sticking to central New York, it’s impossible not to mention the Yamins. The Yamins travel the IBO circuit and always seem to be in the hunt at every event. If consistency had a name, it would be Yamin. Zach Yamin put on a shooting clinic in the YMR 12-14 class. However, he got edged out by another fierce competitor from New York, Joey Stevens. I’ve learned that it is incredibly difficult to beat one of Mike Price’s students, especially when it comes down to crunch time. Mike’s resume speaks for itself, having a multitude of champions who have taken is coaching and gone to the next level with it, and Zach came up against one of Mike’s students in Joey. 

                                              Joey won, and Zach finished in second

 They duked it out and both probably deserved to win. I’m sure this event will motivate Zach to continue working. Everyone should watch this young man. The sky is the limit for him. He also found himself as the winner of the Bowhunter Defense Shootoff at one leg of the National Triple Crown. Congratulations, Zach, on a phenomenal year. 

  Zach’s big sister, Haylee, couldn’t let him have all the glory. She shot her butt off to get into the shootdown round the final day. Then, once there, she put up a stellar score to close the gap. When all was said and done, she fell a point short of the big prize. Haylee never quits and is always in the hunt. She’s a shooter that can never be counted out. She will always give herself a chance to win. We can never predict the future, but I’d be willing to bet that we might see Haylee in the professional women’s division at some point in time. She has what it takes. Every year, she takes every challenge head on and seems to surpass all expectations. She’s a true champion. Great job, Haylee. We are all proud of you. You make New York proud. 

  While we are still in New York, I have to say that the kids from my hometown make me proud. The first time Aron Stevenson attended the world championship, which was about 29 years ago, he walked away with a runner-up belt buckle for the youth barebow class. Well, this year, Aron carted his entire youth shooting team to the event for the first time. They got to experience something he experienced in West Virginia three decades ago. Although his son Logan didn’t one-up his dad, he still accomplished something to remember by getting himself a 3^rd-place finish and standing on the podium at the IBO World Championship. Not many youth shooters get to do that, and many youth shooters who have done it have gone on to accomplish great things after doing it. Congratulations, Logan. You still have a way to go to beat your dad, but you have a good start. Work in trying to remain humble. It will only help you in the long run and attract others to you. When you’re good, you don’t have to tell people you’re good. 

  I guess we will move on from the New Yorkers by mentioning Aiden Pfitze, who performed in the Cub class.  Last winter Aiden had a meltdown on his way home from the NFAA Indoor State Championship. He decided to cut up his wrist strap and listen to what everyone had been telling him. That’s when he took on the challenge of learning how to shoot a hinge. It was tough at first, but we worked tirelessly while no one was watching and continue to do so today. We learned how to draw the bow, anchor, and execute shots without worrying about where the arrows landed. Then, came the few different bows. Aiden performed with every bow put in his hand, but he really began to excel when Whitney’s Archery Supply put him on their staff, and he began shooting a PSE Supra RTX. Aiden had a solid first day and backed it up with a great second day. At the end of qualifying, he found himself headed to the shootdown round in the fifth spot. He had beaten some of the titans in the Cub class to gain entry to the final day. I had the pleasure of working on the range he shot on the last day, and I found a lot of enjoyment in watching him go arrow for arrow against his peers. The sky is the limit for Aiden, and I hope he finds a path in life that will resemble the flight of every arrow he shoots. The flight of the arrow is peaceful, quiet, thought-provoking… and majestic. Work in silence and let the results speak for themselves, buddy. 

 The last New Yorker we can't forget is David Poppo. I met Dave many years ago at the IBO World when I was getting back into the game after shoulder surgery. I believe it was in 2014. He was in my group at the IBO World and I was just recovering from aniplasmosis. We were both shooting in the MBR class, and we had two guys from Australia in our group. One of them whined nonstop, and I had all I could take before lecturing him. I'm not sure why, but that moment sticks out. Dave and I have both put a lot of work in since that time, and I was glad to see Dave's hard work come out at the IBO World. Dave made the shootdown round in Semi-pro, and he also won the coveted buckle for the Bowhunter Defense Shootoff Champion for the year. Congratulations, Dave, on a great ending to the year. I hope you carry your success into next year. Great job!

                                                      The Massholes and the Connecticut Lady

  I’ve always enjoyed shooting in Massachusetts, and some of my best friends come from the state. Jake LaFontaine and Cole Bromley are two young guys whose presence I really enjoy. I hope they stay in this sport as long as I’ve been in it. I enjoy being around them and watching them improve every year. Although they have chosen different paths to get to where they want to go, I support both of their choices. 

  Cole had a great year and improved a lot from last year. He was in the hunt this year in the SPM class and made a name for himself as a contender. That is no easy feat. I was impressed when I shot with Cole this year, and I was impressed when I watched him from afar. His constant progress is a reminder that the road traveled is never easy and there will be potholes that must be avoided along the way.

  Jake struggled a little bit this year, but he kept working. He knew he was on the edge of a great performance and never quit. Jake came over for the Mead Spring Challenge and the World Warmup. He was on a different level than everyone else at the warmup shoot a few weeks before the world. We could tell he was on the edge of something special. 

  He was right near the top after Day 1, and he held it together going into Day 2 to find himself in the shootdown round. Although the shootdown round didn’t pan out the way Jake would’ve liked it, he still showed all of us that he has some game when it matters most. I can only hope his trips to my range gave him the confidence he needed to get over the hump. Jake and Cole are class acts. If more people followed their example, we would have a better world. I appreciate your support all the time, and I love supporting you guys and cheering for you to get the job done. Nice work this year!

   It seems that the Lady from Connecticut always finds a way to be on top. Is she the modern-day Wonder Woman or is she the female Robin Hood? Sara Kay amazes me in every way when it comes to competing with a bow and arrow. She takes on every challenge and heads after titles with a killer instinct. She knows she’s the best and says, “Come and take what’s mine if you think you can.” Her fierce competitive fire drives her to succeed, and a lot of people could learn a lot from her. In many ways, I hope I helped birth this two-headed monster that lives inside her when she steps on the range. I can recall having a conversation with Sara about having a mental edge. I’m not sure if she was put off at first when I told her I thought I could beat anyone I shot against, but that is honestly how I feel. Heck, I’ve beaten all of them at one time or another. I’ve never lacked confidence when it comes to my ability. Although I’ve had times that I lacked confidence in a set-up, I’ve never lacked confidence in myself. Sara hasn’t lacked any confidence after that discussion, and I think that is what puts her a step ahead of everyone else. She knows what it takes to win, so she just goes out there and shoots her bow like she knows how to shoot it. That is what impresses me the most about Sara. She can come off the course and be a hot mess and not let it bother her one bit. The next day she gets after it and makes up any ground she might have lost. This year, she continued doing what she does… win. She repeated as the IBO National Triple Crown winner and the IBO World Championship winner. She is dominant and not many people can ever say they dominated anything at a national level. My only hope for Sara is that she throws all her chips in next year and shoots in Female Pro for what is supposed to be her last year on the tour. She shoots a good enough shot, and she has a strong mental game. I’d love to see her on my range competing against the best of the best… because she is surely one of the best to have played the game. Congratulations, Sara. You’ve accomplished everything you can in that class. Come play with your two 4-year-old friends. We would love to have you. 

                                                                         My Gang

  Although all the people I mentioned above had incredible performances, some of us others came up a little short. Dad fell fall short of what he wanted to do on Day 1. However, on Day 2, he laid it down and made an incredible comeback, falling just short of making the big dance. He was the first guy out. That’s still quite a run after being near the bottom after Day 1. Great job, Dad. I’m sure your bad back and problems with your vision don’t help matters much. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful that you are my dad, and I am your son. I wish others could experience what you and I have experienced together. I’m the luckiest son in the world. Some days I pinch myself to make sure I’m living a real life. You’ve made it better than I ever could’ve imagined. I’m not wealthy, but I’ve lived the richest life I ever could’ve lived up to this point, and all of that is because of the incredible parents I have been blessed to have. 

  Wags and Wade always make our trips enjoyable. I’ve shot with Wade for the better part of 30 years, and Wags became a regular after winning everything he could win while shooting with his fingers.  Wags couldn’t shoot much this year, but we had an awesome time in Alabama at the second ASA. Unfortunately, Wags was shooting well until his clarifier decided to launch itself into the woods after one of his shots. He found it incredibly hard to see the target after that, but he held his own and somehow limped to the finish line. Although we aren’t sure what we will do next year, ASA seems to be a better fit for him. Only time will tell what he will do. After all, he banged out a 656 Lancaster round this winter and consistently hung around the 650 mark. He’s got game. He just needs to figure out where he wants to play. 

  Wade had a rough year with his messed-up ankle. We all know it’s difficult to shoot well without a solid base. It’s basically impossible to do the things we need to do with a bow if we only have one foot that is working properly. Wade still managed to rack up a few good finishes. It’s never easy to shoot with pain, and it’s difficult to do anything if you can’t stand evenly. Great job this year, Wade. You fought the battle valiantly. I’m sure once it gets fixed, you’ll be right back on track. 

  Jacob also came up a little short at the World. Just like me and Dad, he barely missed the cut. We all felt like we were looking in the candy shop right as the closed sign hit the window. We were ever so close, yet so far away we wanted to jump off from a building. If you shoot long enough, you’ll experience the highs and lows. You must ride the river and see where the water takes you. Hopefully, we can all redeem ourselves in the coming year. 

                                                           Final Thoughts

  I apologize for leaving many of you out, but these things were the first things that came to mind. Hopefully, we will all share in each other’s highs and lows next year. I’d like to thank every one of you for your support, whether you give me a call or send me text messages. I appreciate all of you, and your support never goes unnoticed or unappreciated… Thank You. You guys are all my archery family, and I could never do what I do without all of you. 

 

 

 

Team Darton: Friends, Teammates & Titles

In July 2022, I stood in the parking lot in front of the horse barn at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Ohio, after we were told the pros would not be going back onto the range to finish the remaining targets due to the dangerous conditions on the range after a severe storm wreaked havoc and caused chaos. 

  While some shooters were over-the-top mad, others walked away and accepted the decision made. After people began clearing out of the lot, I stayed behind and chatted with Bill McCall about the decisions we both had to make going into the 2023 season, as both of our current contracts were coming to and end. We both discussed things we were considering and shared our thoughts with each other. 

  When the conversation ended, we were aware of each other’s intentions of going to Darton Archery. We also knew a few of our friends were considering the same option. However, it’s hard to get on board with any company, let alone one that is finally changing its course and becoming more heavily involved in competitive archery because everyone wants to go there and there’s not enough room for that to happen. That’s when we decided we would do what we had to do in the coming months and see where each of us ended up. 

  After the conversation, I headed to the vendor area to get ready for the shootdown round. I would be shooting in it with Digger Cogar, Tony Tazza, Jeff Hopkins and Tim Gillingham, and all of us would have a chance at winning due to only being separated by a couple of points after 20 targets, which is what the shoot-off had to be based on for this event due to the cancelation of Round 2. Hopkins would run away with it, pounding every 11 and a few 12s. 

  When the dust settled, Digger and I fell just a hair short. It just wasn’t meant to be on that day. Afterward, we discussed the next year, as all those decisions were fast approaching. Digger had the same ideas as me and Bill, so we all decided we would do what we had to for ourselves and see if we ended up in the same place at the end. 

                                                               The New Year Begins  

  After attending a few ASAs, I was ready to make the trip to Pipestem, W.V., to try my hand at the first leg of the IBO Triple Crown. On my way to the tournament, my phone began to ring, and I saw that it was Bill McCall. He was calling to inform me that we were going to have our backs against the wall in the team event. Then, he informed me that our team, Team Darton, which comprised me, Bill, Digger and Jeff Kirland would have to take down some titans of professional archery. TruBall had organized a team that was made up of Tim Gillingham, Jeff Hopkins, Tony Tazza and Loren Lohr… we would have our work cut out for ourselves. 

  We all got out of the gate well and maintained throughout the weekend. When the dust settled, we found ourselves as the winning team in the Professional Senior class for the first tournament. There were whispers that there would be no way we could win again. We had just gotten lucky. My teammates and I heard the whispers…

  After a short break, we headed to the Second Leg of the National Triple Crown in Franklin, Pa., to see if we could add to the lead. Franklin, always being known for being extremely tough, would require all of us to be on point. 

  After the first day of shooting, Digger, Jeff, and I found ourselves in the top peer group, and my team had extended our lead. Although the tournament was only half over, we were sitting in a good position to secure another win. 

  Although nobody on our team lit it up on Day 2, we all treaded water and basically ended up where we started the day. There were three Darton shooters, Digger, Jeff, and me, in the shootdown round after the 40 targets were completed… and we had secured our second win in as many tries. Could we pull off the impossible?

  All of us were new to Darton at the beginning of the year, and everyone was still learning the intricacies of the new equipment. We talked amongst each other and tried helping with the things with which we could help each other.

  As we headed to the third leg, we knew it was going to be a battle. Once again, I was in the top peer group for the overall National Triple Crown, with Jeff and Digger in my group. As friends and teammates, these guys have always made me comfortable, and I’ve always been able to relax while shooting with them. However, two years ago, my team went into the final leg well behind the leading team, yet we came out on top for the tournament and won the overall Triple Crown in PSR. With that in my head, I knew all of us had to do our job to secure the win. 

  Although Digger and I struggled a little on the first day, we still held our own, and Bill made up some ground. We had 20 targets left to get the job done. The course was difficult, but we all gave it our best effort.

  After the scores were tallied, we found out that Team Darton in the Professional Senior class had swept all three legs of the National Triple Crown and secured what I believe to be Darton’s first Manufacturer’s Cup in the IBO. David had defeated Goliath. The no-name hillbilly squad, with members from New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, had done what most thought would be impossible. 

                                                                My Final Thoughts

  Looking back at last August, my contract with PSE was going to expire soon, and I was looking for a new home. I’m thankful that Bill approached me to take a shot at joining him if he went to Darton. Then, I’m thankful Randy Kitts, the owner of Darton, gave me an opportunity to represent Darton Archery. 

  My journey through national 3D archery tournaments started 30 years ago, and I can remember seeing different teams after they won the Manufacturer’s Cup. Almost always, the cup made the journey from the IBO World Championship to Sparta, Wisc., after it was awarded to the best team. Mathews has dominated the team arena in IBO for the better part of the last 25 years.

 Over the years, I always imagined what it was like to hold the cup and be a part of the winning team. I no longer need to wonder what it feels like. Although we are Senior Pros, and it probably holds nowhere near the significance of winning it in Open Pro, it’s still an accomplishment that will live forever in the home of the manufacturer who sponsored the team: Darton Archery. I’m sure it will be the first of many Manufacturer’s Cups that find their way to the offices in Darton Archery.

  It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention my incredible teammates. Good friends and teammates always find a way to bail each other out in time of need. Unfortunately, I struggled a little more this year with the new equipment than my teammates, but I also was able to stay consistent and find myself in the top 3 after 40 in one tournament and in the top 10 regularly. Winning any type of team event is probably more difficult than winning an event on your own. Every teammate needs to contribute and pull their own weight if the ship is taking on water in other areas. We were able to do that this year, and I’ll be forever thankful that Bill, Digger, and Jeff were all on the same boat and rowing in the same direction when we headed into battle with Goliath. None of us have a problem knowing we were underdogs. We welcomed the challenge and stepped forward to take it on. You can move mountains when you have confidence, and avalanches can swallow you up if you approach anything with any bit of negativity lingering around.

                                                 Passing it on is important. We all let Aiden Pfitze hold on to the cup and share in our moment. Aiden made the shootdown round as a cub in his first trip to the IBO World. Way to go, Aiden!!

  Although I’ve seen people sharing their opinions on the Bible verses on the limbs of Darton bows, it’s a free country, and this allows us to have freedom. A business owner can do as he chooses, and you can do as you choose also. Maybe this Manufacturer’s Cup and team win will inspire the verse “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37) to find its way onto a few limbs in the future. I’ve learned that anything is possible in archery if you believe in yourself. If more people did the same, it could be contagious… and winning – and losing – is contagious. 

  I don’t know what the future will bring in my archery career, and I’ve had a lot of great moments, but this moment stands out above many of them. Although I was part of the PSR winning team two years ago, this win had a different feel. Maybe it’s because Digger and I started at the same time and battled through all the years to get to where we are now; maybe it’s because I saw Kirkland performing at a high level when I was finding my way back to competitive archery after recovering from shoulder surgery and knew he was a guy to beat; or maybe it’s because I’ve always respected Bill and felt honored that a guy of his stature would ever ask little ol’ me to be on his team. Like, what could I offer him? He has done everything that can be done in professional archery. Any way I look at it, I’m thankful for these teammates, my friends. I couldn’t have done it without them, and I hope they feel the same about me.