Looking Back on 2024

  Although I considered not writing this entry, I finally decided I owed it to myself and to my followers to put it out there. As many of you know, this past year is what I would call a train wreck. Train wrecks cannot be predicted, and when I began the indoor season in mid-December last year, I felt confident. I got out of the gate with a 598 on a 600 Vegas round at the winter warm-up in Hudson Falls and felt good about it because I set the bow up the same week as the shoot. I also decided I would go back to shooting a handheld release. When that day was over, I considered it a victory on many levels and couldn't wait to see where it would go. 

  My only goal throughout the indoor season was to get used to shooting a handheld release again. Going into February, I felt good about the results with it, as I shot in two Lancaster warm-up tournaments and shot 40-45 Xs in both of them. However, the things I experienced in my hand and wrist while shooting a handheld release created some concern for me going into the ASA in Foley. That's when I chose to go back to a wrist-strap release to see if things felt any better. 

  I went to Hall's Arrow in Connecticut to give it a whirl. I wasn't surprised with the results when I shot 45 out of 60 inner 10s. My shot was good, and I felt good on both ends while executing every shot. It strengthened my confidence, and I headed to Foley with a release attached to my wrist. 

  The first day didn't go as planned, and I found myself at the bottom of the pack. I fought my way out of the bottom and shot one of the higher scores on Day 2, but it wasn't nearly enough to make a difference. I headed home with my tail tucked between my legs, but I was satisfied with the results on Day 2. I could build off from that. 

  That first shoot was the last one of the year in which I would shoot with a quiet mind, and I've always found a quiet mind has led to my best performances. My world was turned upside down in March, and I took a mental beating in every aspect of my life. I guess I had gotten into a routine and never realized how much I value routine in my daily life. Since March, things have been different, and I'm still fumbling around trying to figure things out. While doing these things, I lost focus on archery. 

  I probably put more into practicing this year than I ever have put into it, but I wasn't practicing with a purpose. It was more like I was just shooting piles of arrows for therapy, and no matter how much I did it, I couldn't find what I needed to clear my mind and allow it to be rested, calm, and at peace when I laid my head on the pillow every night. The outside noise took hold and never let go. This directly affected my performances, as I would have one great day and one horrendous day, never putting two good days together. Unfortunately, I ended the year without a shoot-down appearance, the first time since 2020. I gave it my best shot, finding myself in 6th place a few times, the first guy out of the shoot-down round. I'm not ashamed to admit I didn't realize the things that were necessary to help me succeed, as I found myself in a few places I would never wish upon anyone.

 With a closer look at the year, I did have some high moments that made me realize I still have what it takes when all cylinders are clicking at the same time. In all my years of shooting, even in local shoots, I've never cleaned an unmarked course by shooting all 10s, with exception of some national and regional IBOs in which there were 10-target courses. I was finally able to do that at the IBO NH State Championship and topped it off with 18 elevens. It was a day I will store away and come back to when I need some confidence that I have what it takes to be perfect when I need to be. Although it didn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things, it still felt good and made my 4 1/2 hour drive to the event worth it. 

  It took until the annual team shoot in Massachusetts for me to realize something that might have happened this year to prevent me from having some of those great days I've had in the past at national events. Going into the team shoot, I made a conscious effort to not shoot any bad shots. In doing so, I let down a number of times, just like I always did when I shot the best 3D scores of my life. I believe this year I may have focused on making a good shot and nothing else. I don't believe I actually aimed all that well. At the team shoot, almost every arrow hit behind the pin, even at 70 yards. Although I shot a few 8s, the arrows hit directly behind the pin. My 55-year-old eyes just didn't have the pin in the exact place it needed to be. I made pretty good shots throughout the year, but I didn't focus hard enough on picking the exact place I wanted to hit and doing everything possible to make sure I would hit it. 

  I could never stop writing this without offering my genuine thanks to Kevin Koch. I met Kevin a few years ago when he was in my group at the ASA Classic. I was battling an extremely low blood sugar level when we started that day, and I paid the price by blanking the first target of the day. This year, I was lucky enough to shoot with Kevin a few times and share conversations at the events. Well, at the London ASA, the round was stressful for everyone in our group the second day when we were all battling to get into the shoot-down round. Somewhere along the lines, the cards got a little mixed up and the bonus ring column didn't match on both cards. At the end of the round, I was disappointed because I made a few mistakes and found myself on the outside looking in. I quickly looked at the score and signed the card without looking at the bonus rings column. That column would break a tie for 8th place, the last place to get paid. Well, when I looked at the scores online, I saw I was at the bottom of the 8th place ties due to the number of bonus rings, but the number didn't match what I had actually shot. After writing my article that week and telling people to learn from my mistakes and make sure to look at the card before signing it, Kevin stepped up and paid my entry fees for the last two ASA events because it was his mistake. We both made a mistake, and I could own my neglect in not doing what I should've done. Kevin never had to do what he did. He went on to win that event, and he won two of the ASAs for the year. He's definitely one of the good guys on the tour. You don't meet many people like him. Thanks, Kevin, for being a genuine, wonderful human being. There needs to be more people like you. I'm thankful for your friendship.

  We spent a lot of time with Tom Thygesen this year too. Tyler had a lot of things going on in his life this year, and Tom spent more time than normal with us. Tom makes me laugh. He offers people help through experience, and he always tries to pick you up when you're feeling down. One thing that makes me laugh when I think about Tom is that you never have to wonder what he's thinking. He's kinda like me in that regard. That's probably why I value that quality. He doesn't have a filter, and sometimes people can take his comments to be harsh or out of line. Thanks, Tom, for making me laugh and always lending your support. I truly appreciate it. This one's for you:

  I don't have much else to offer on the year, other than I'm going to do my best to remember the great times with friends and family and hope this isn't my last year traveling to national events. I've landed a few part-time gigs to get by right now, but once I land my next full-time job, I'm not sure if I will have the time to do the things I love to do, and that's all a part of life. Everyone encounters change, and sometimes the changes affect our lives in both positive and negative ways that are beyond our control. If that becomes the case, I can walk away from it and tell all of you that I'm satisfied with my archery career. I've been lucky enough to accomplish many things that a lot of people dream about, and I've succeeded at the national level at the highest level as a professional archer. I could never ask for more than that. While I didn't reach all of my goals, I gave it my best shot, and I can and will walk away with a clear conscience if my new path in life requires that to be done. I'll go back to walking into remote streams and ponds and take up trout fishing again, and I'll find other things to do with my free time around home. Archery has given me things I never would've gotten in my life otherwise, but they say everything happens for a reason, and I'll go forward with that in my mind. I'm sure I'll end up where I'm supposed to be when everything is all said and done. 

   

 

The Annual Royalston Team Shoot

 

    Every year, I look forward to the annual team shoot that Shawn Couture and his wife, Wendy, put on with the help of their friends and club members. It's a way for everyone to unwind from the competitive season, hang out, laugh, and have fun. The seriousness that accompanies the usual tournaments is all but gone, and we all know that this will be the last time we see each other until early winter or possibly next spring. However, this year, I really didn't have much interest in attending. As most of you know, this year was basically a train wreck for me, and after the IBO World Championship, all I wanted to do was hang my bows up and not look at them until next winter. 

  After getting home from the IBO World a few weeks ago, I quickly set a bow up to shoot at the Maine Senior Games. Although I put no effort into preparing for the tournament, I wanted to see how my PSE Supra X felt during a target archery setting instead of a 3D setting, as I've always shot the Supra platform well for target archery. 

  So I went and shot the senior games to see how things felt. I also decided to shoot my new HBC Flex (small). A few years ago I let Aiden Pfiitze borrow my medium one, but I never felt that one fit well. When I began shooting the small version of the release, it felt good in my hands. I ended up holding my own with the hinge and shot what I would consider a decent score for all things considered. While it was nowhere near my high, it was a score most people would kill to shoot. I had to realize I was shooting a bow I had no experience behind, and I was also shooting a release style that I hadn't shot in a number of years in a tournament. After getting done in Maine, I headed home and put that bow away. I learned the bow will probably perform well next indoor season, and I look forward to seeing what I can do with it. 

  On Monday, I went outside, unpacked my bow from the IBO World the previous week, and decided to shoot a few arrows at 60 and 70 yards just to make sure the marks were good. Since my shoulders were beat up from shooting 90 arrows at the senior games, I decided not to shoot during the week, but I also needed to make sure the marks were good since I hadn't shot the bow beyond 50 yards all summer. 

  Having avoided anything to do with 3D for a week and not caring where the arrows hit, I went to the top of the hill and shot an end from 60 and 70 without expecting anything good. I shot this group from 70 yards and sent it to Barry via text. I said, "I think we are good to go, but I think Jacob might have more confidence in me than I have in myself." I didn't bother shooting any more groups because I didn't want to diminish any confidence I had, and my Dominator Duo 35 gives me a fair amount of confidence. 

                              

                                                                      Game Day

  

  I rolled out of bed around 4:25 on Saturday morning and had no idea what to expect. With the pain in my shoulder near the same level of discomfort as the time period in which I was rehabbing it after surgery, I was tentative about going. However, I told Jacob I would pick him up about 5:45, so I gathered my stuff and headed out. 

It would just be the two of us on the journey to north central Massachusetts, and as I drove to pick him up, I confronted the realization of this "fun" shoot. While we are usually expected to win, I also go with the realization that every person out there thinks they would win if they partnered with Jacob. However, most of those people don't realize that that fact alone brings a lot of pressure with it. If we lose, it's because I didn't go my job, and my job is to give Jacob as many opportunities as possible to shoot at 14s. We always approach this shoot with a plan, and we adjust to the plan as we progress through the course. Sometimes we veer off the path and other times we stay on the straight and narrow. We never do anything that isn't discussed before it's done. We truly work as a team, and I think that sometimes gets lost in this event when other people look at it from afar. How many of you come up with a plan and stick to it throughout the round?

      When we arrived, we got there when everyone else was warming up and loading out of their vehicles. It felt good to see everyone, knowing this would be our last hurrah for the summer. My shoulder was extremely stiff and had all sorts of pain in it. I knew it was going to be tortuous to shoot my bow. The pain was more than I wanted to deal with, but I figured I could withstand it for 30 shots... never knowing I would probably draw my bow about 100 times before the day had finished. 

  I stayed at the 20-yard bale the entire time and shot a lot of arrows to loosen up the shoulder and arm. Although the pain didn't get any better, my shoulder loosened up and lost some of the stiffness. I knew it wasn't going to be a great day for holding. The hold wasn't bad enough to make me worry, but it also was going to present a lot of movement while executing my shots. It was definitely going to give me more movement than normal, and the longer shots would most likely make it show up even more than my eyes were accustomed to seeing. It would surely be a challenge. 

  Heading to our first target of the day, an antelope at 41 yards, I was glad Jake Lafontaine and Cole Bromley would be shooting with us. In all our years of shooting team shoots, we have only shot with the same two people in a group one time, and they are Jake and Cole. 

  I settled in after drawing and the shot fired effortlessly. The arrow struck directly below the 11. Jacob made a good shot but barely missed the 14. We've never started off well, so we had no concerns whatsoever. 

  Moving to target 2, a 52-yard brown bear up the hill and on a slight angle, we both knew it might take a bit to get going. After shooting an arrow that hit just low right of the 11, Jacob smoked the 14... we were off and running. It was a difficult shot, and we were both rolling. Jacob missed the first one by less than an inch and smoked this one, and we got off to a start that would allow him to get into a groove shooting at the pink 14s. It's always easier if you get to shoot at them regularly rather than randomly throughout the day. 

  When we got to target 3, the Rinehart wolf that is biting the deer's leg, it was a 44-yard uphill shot. When Jake shot before me, he hit it low and there was no defined aiming spot on the target. Being unfamiliar with the target, no defined aiming spot, and the history in my head of shooting the same target two weeks earlier on a practice range and not killing it, my shot went off and the arrow landed about two inches to the right of where I was aiming. We couldn't tell whether it was in or out of the 10-ring. After discussing things, we decided to have Jacob shoot at the 14. When the arrow hit the target, it barely missed the 14. We walked away with the only 8 we would shoot for the day, and we decided we would not give anymore points away the rest of the day. 

  After walking away from a relatively close target with an 8, neither one of us felt good when we looked up the hill at the next target, a 62-yard mountain lion. It was intimidating to look at, and the uphill shot would add a degree of difficulty that would make it a difficult target to gain points. 

  When I drew the bow, the pin was bobbing and weaving pretty good, and I had to let down a few times. On the third draw, I said to myself, "Just make the best shot you can."

  I held for a long time, but it felt decent. When the shot fired, I heard Cole say, "You smoked it." 

The arrow was inside-out in the 11-ring. Those bombs can make it difficult to stay above water, but after Jacob barely missed it by less than an inch, we walked away with a plus 1 gain. We both felt good about the result. We also both knew that we were on the edge of beginning a run that might last all day. Through four targets, Jacob hadn't missed a 14 by more than an inch, and I was all around the 11s on everything but the wolf that I could not find a good place to put my pin. 

  That 62-yard mountain lion would be the last time any questions would remain as to whether we were going to have a good day. We would not shoot anything other than 11s and 14s from target 6 to the end of the first half. However, it doesn't mean that we didn't tackle all the same challenges as all the other shooters, and the two that really told the tale were the last two targets of the first half. 

  When we arrived at the second-to-last target of the first half, a 67-yard bedded buck, the shadows were wreaking havoc. After letting down a few times, I realized the shadow had moved and given me a perfect aiming spot. I put the pin on a shadow in the 11 and shot a perfect shot. The arrow smoked the 11. Although I made a few good shots throughout the first half, that one rivaled the shot on the mountain lion. We were once again in a perfect predicament. We were in the plus no matter what happened. Then, Jacob erased my 11 and pierced the 14-ring... 67 yards... something the size of a quarter... the arrow lying squarely inside-out in the pink dot. When that kind of thing happens repeatedly, there's no mistaking that you're shooting with one of the world's best archers. There is no argument, no debate, and no questions, and it's amazing to watch. 

  Laughing and giggling as we all moved to the next target. We guessed what it might be. Something in my head told me it would be the elk that was in that area a few years ago. I figured Shawn Couture's friend, Chuck Reed, who has since passed and the shoot was in memoriam of him, probably loved that shot. When we got to the station, it was the elk. It made me smile, and I realized I wanted to make a good shot in memory of Shawn's friend. Something in my gut told me that target was there solely because of him. It resembled a scene you would actually see in the west while elk hunting, and I have plenty of those experiences to look back on. It brought me back to Colorado. Here's a picture of the elk.

  There was a good crosswind when I hit anchor, and I knew the 69-yard shot would test our skills as well as our equipment. I tried battling with it before succumbing and letting down. Shooting a 290-grain arrow, I knew the arrow wasn't built to withstand any crosswind. When I drew my bow the second time, I got the pin in the middle and tried to get the shot off as fast as possible. When it fired, I felt relieved when Jake said it was in the 10-ring. I felt like I had just smoked a real elk. Then, Jacob stepped up, drew his bow, settled in and donutted the 14 once again. We walked off our first half at 37 up, and Jacob hit eight of the last 10 14s on that half... mind-boggling. After he got the last two, a 67-yarder and a 69-yarder, I wondered in my head what Jake and Cole were thinking. What were their true thoughts? They both finally got to witness both of us clicking at the same time. Although we encountered a few bumps early in the round, we both bailed each other out when needed, and it made things relaxing. I'd still like to know what they were thinking then and as the day progressed. Having never experienced shooting with two people like that in a team event, I'm wondering what goes through one's head because I know what goes through my mind. 

                                                              

Second Half

  As we made our way to the first target of the second half, I shared where we stood. We have always wanted to break the 80-up mark, and we both knew if we showed up and both did our job we could get there. However, it would take both of us being at or near or best to achieve the almost impossible task. Knowing we usually shoot better on the bottom half, we wanted to give it a run. 

  We got off to a quick start, as we both did our job. When we got to a 53-yard snarling wolf, I was having a hard time determining where to hold my pin. When I finally thought I could see it well enough to hold in a spot, I felt confident. When the shot finally broke, I said, "Yup," in my head. However, the arrow landed less than an inch out the left of the 10-ring at 3 o'clock. I really couldn't complain. The arrow directly behind the pin. I guess that's all a part of aging. You just don't see like you did when you were younger, and that's a part of it. Jacob only took seconds before picking me up and covering for me with an inside out 11. Although I messed up, we still gained points. How could I ever ask for a better teammate?

  After getting back on track, we got to the last target on the range before turning back and heading down the other side of the road. It was a large HD deer at 44 yards. Being an older target and with faded lines, I couldn't see where the 10-ring was located and had to guess where to shoot it. Once again, it was one of those targets that is difficult to shoot if you're an older person due to vision and definition. I hit about an inch to the right of where my pin was located and the arrow landed less than a half inch outside the 10-ring. We were unsure whether it was in or out, but we decided to take no chances. Jacob lined up and smoked yet another 11. He bailed me out again... my arrow was, indeed, in the 8-ring. I still couldn't find anything to complain about. I had shot a couple of 8s in a five target stretch, but I had hit both of them within an inch of where I was aiming. 

  As we began making our way down the homestretch, we both began to feel like we could never miss. It was similar to having someone else move your legs to walk. I moved my right leg and Jacob followed it up by moving his left leg. We walked together in stride and never missed a beat. If it were field-day in grade school, we would surely win the potato-sack race, because that's the race we ran the entire day. We never wobbled, and we never tumbled onto the grass, where we would have to pick up and start over. We were headed to a mountain top that seemed untouchable. This was not Kilamanjaro, and it was not Everest, this was just two teammates doing everything they could to survive the climb and plant a flag where no-one had ever imagined going and may never go again. We were on our way to the moon, and we were carrying our own flag. 

  When we got to the last target in the woods, a 59-yard rising boar, I felt extremely confident. When my pin finally settled down after a few letdowns, I got it to the middle and executed the best shot I could make. The arrow struck the 11 dead center. Then, Jacob continued being Jacob, and he shot what I considered the most memorable shot of the day. As soon as the shot broke, he said, "Did that barely miss to the left?"

  Sure enough, the arrow was sitting less than a half inch to the left of a quarter-sized pink dot 59 yards away, and he knew exactly where he missed it when the shot fired before the arrow had hit the target. If that's not beyond amazing, I don't know what is. It has nothing to do with the fact that he missed. It has to do with the fact that he knew exactly where the arrow hit when the shot fired, and it was because his shot wasn't perfect. This is what is so hard to explain. At the level he's at, he can explain all of these things in ways that the vast majority of archers could never comprehend. Yes, others might be able to do that at 20-yards, but  to tell you that at 59-yards on a quarter-sized bullseye is something that only the best of the very best can do.

  When we got to the ball field for the last three shots, I was undecided if I should tell him, but I told him where we stood. We needed to get two of the last three 14s to get to 80 up. We were sitting at 73 up.  I know he loves the challenge, so I shared with him where we were standing, and I felt confident he would get us to where we needed to be. However, in telling him, I also knew I just put and undue amount of pressure on myself because I knew I had to 10 or 11 every one of the last three targets in front of the crowd and our friends, who are always waiting for all the shooters to finish in front of the pavilion. 

  The wind was blowing across the ball field when I drew on the 45-yard antelope, but I still felt confident. When my shot broke, I barely missed the 11 to the right. I gave Jacob a chance to get our first of the two 14s we would need. He decided to play the wind and aimed according to what he predicted would happen. Well, the plan didn't work and the wind didn't help us. We walked away with a 10. 

  When I looked at the next target, I knew any chance of breaking 80 up was going to be on my shot. If I didn't come through and give Jacob a chance, we would have no chance at all. When I looked at the 59-yard blesbok, I had a few recurring thoughts about the target. I've struggled mightily with that target over the years because I can never find a good aiming spot, and I knew I had to come through on it this one time. People think there is no pressure, but pressure even shows up in fun shoots. 

  Jacob, looked at me and said, "You got this." Although I briefly thought about needing to shoot a 10, it never crossed my mind after drawing my bow. My pin went up the leg and a hair to the right. As soon as it hit the "spot," the shot fired, and I knew I had it. The arrow landed right in the middle of the 11... we still had a chance. Seconds later, everyone in the area let out some exclamations when Jacob smoked the 14. Could we get the last one and go from 77 up to the rarified air of 80-plus up?

  When I looked at the 43-yard stone sheep before drawing my bow, I could clearly see a glare under the 11, so it gave me a perfect place to put my pin. Looking to my right, I saw Brandon Ashford with the spotting scope, and I knew he was there to watch people shoot the last shot of the day, so I made sure to shoot a good shot and give Jacob the chance we both wanted. I let down on the first draw, but the second one felt good right from the start. When the shot fired, I knew we had a chance, and everything in my gut told me Jacob would finish the job. He's the best finisher in the world of 3D archery... and he's my teammate. He had great timing the entire day, and I know when his timing is good, he is unbeatable. When he drew his bow on the stone sheep, the shot went a little longer than normal, but I recalled his win in Metropolis this year, so I waited patiently. Then, seconds later, the shot broke, and the arrow appeared in the 14... we had broken the magical, unheard of score of 80 up, finishing at +81. 

                                                              My Final Thoughts

 

  Honestly, I'm not sure what to say after witnessing what I witnessed on Saturday. My entire archery career I've been surrounded by phenomenal shooters and have had the pleasure of shooting with some of the best who have ever shot a bow and arrow. However, I can say with 100% conviction that I have never shot with anyone who is more skilled than Jacob Slusarz when it comes to the majority of archery games you can play. Overall, he is a step above all others in my opinion. He can hold his own in any indoor venue, and he has beaten legendary shooters in the professional ranks, shooters who will go down as the greatest ever. On his best days, in my opinion, there is nobody who can beat him. 

 

  I asked Jacob to be my teammate at this event when he was still in the youth class, and we have shown up every year and gave it our best. We have seen a few years where we couldn't seem to get things going, but we both figured out a way to survive and help each other when we could. Last year, we simply didn't have it. I struggled mightily on the first half, but never missed on the second half. Jacob had issues with his sight and had to add yardage after 55 yards and subtract yardage before 35. It made for a brutal day, as we were never able to bale each other out. I believe we still shot 53 up, but we were far from our best. 

  In our first year at the event, we struggled in the beginning and things got off to a shaky start before we began gelling and knocked off Sean Roberts and Josh Binger, who had been running the table for a few years and seemed unbeatable. A few years after that, we hit our stride and came in around 72 up, but we haven't returned there in a few years. We screwed with our equipment after the IBO World, and I usually ended up bringing a bow I hadn't shot much all year and only used for target archery. Well, this year, we both decided to not do anything to get ready for the event and just shoot a couple arrows the day or two before the shoot to make sure our marks were good. It was the first year I showed up with my actual 3d bow in quite a few years. Instead of shooting a higher power lens, I also left my 4x lens in for the shoot. Maybe that is what got us over the hump. I'll never know for sure. It might also be because we are both professionals, young and old alike, who have succeeded at a national level. 

  I also came into this shoot after experiencing one of my worst years ever in national tournaments. That would make one think I probably wouldn't pull my weight in this event. However, things kind of fell into place, and the only times I left the 10-ring were when I couldn't actually see the places clearly where I needed to hold the pin. I never missed due to a poorly executed shot. That was the biggest plus of the day for me, and those issues are to be expected by a 55-year-old man.

  Although I won't say it's the best I've ever shot, I do know that I shot marked yardage two times this year, and both times the results were pretty damn good, especially this time with the max yardage of 70 yards. The other time I shot marked yardage was with Rob, Tyler, Tom and Matt on the day off at the IBO World, and I performed flawlessly that day too. If I can see where I want to hit and make a good shot, I will hit it. When shooting marked yardage, seeing a defined aiming spot is essential to my success. 

  I let down a zillion times on Saturday due to an injured shoulder and the inability to rotate properly and without pain. I was in a substantial amount of pain and actually considered quitting halfway through. However, I've never quit, even due to injury, so I decided to stick it out. As I type this right now, I can barely lift my surgically repaired shoulder, so I probably didn't make the best choice, but this will be a memory I will never forget... so that makes my stupidity worth it. 

  In my archery career, I've never considered myself any better than anyone else. However, I do know I've beaten everyone at the highest level while shooting head-to-head against them at national tournaments, and I also know that all of them and the vast majority of amateurs have beaten me too. When I was a young man, many people accused me of cheating and people used to accuse Jacob of cheating. We both went to nationals and made those people eat their words. When you're competing against the best of the best, there's not much room for error. We both proved early on at national events that we could compete against the best shooters in the country when going head to head. There's no better practice than going head to head with the best people of your region or the best people in the country. I encourage everyone to do that. It will only make you better. I did this with Roger Thibault when I was a kid. Funny, but I kind of feel like Roger must've felt back then. Cole and Jake are the same age I was at back then, and I'm the same age Roger was back then. I hope they gain things from me like I gained from Roger back then, and I hope they remember the times with me and they things they learned when I am gone. 

  When I shoot in events like these, I think I sometimes fail to realize that I'm also a professional like Jacob. While I haven't had the success he has had and will continue having, I've had my share of time in the top 10, and I've made the dance a number of times to shoot for titles while also securing podium finishes and cashing Happy Gilmore checks. Therefore, I think sometimes people look at us at team shoots and don't realize the experience the two of us bring to the table. We remain slow and steady, and we encourage each other along the way when encouragement is needed. We have both succeeded on the highest level and competing against that can be a daunting task. However, we shot with Jake and Cole and we cheered them on. We gave them high fives when they smoked 14s and 11s, and we felt the disappointment when they couldn't bail each other out. We've all been there, and it doesn't matter whether you're a pro or a Joe. Many of us are very close, and many of us have succeeded at a national level, so we all know what it takes. I guess that makes us all appreciate each other's journeys in a more intimate way. We are all a team, and I couldn't ask for better teammates. I actually write these things for all of us. We all fail and succeed together because all of us want each other to succeed. 

  When I took a step back and looked at the scores, it humbled me. When I see Tom and Tyler at 322, Jake and Cole at 325 and George and Shane at 335, I know and understand how difficult it is to shoot those scores. I also know that all of those guys have at least one top 10 national finish and four of them have top 3 finishes or wins, and four of them have finished in the top 6 at the IBO World. They have succeeded at national shoots and to compete against these guys and call all of them my closest archery friends in my region is an honor. They all drive me to succeed and keep at it in hopes of giving others things to shoot for. I've also shot with every one of these guys multiple times, and they have always complimented me  and supported me with all of my decisions along the way. They have helped me with equipment and have given me their thoughts on shot execution and other important things. They have all helped me reach success on my journey, and I'm thankful for all of them. I also realize all of these guys could flip flop next week with scores if we held the same shoot next week. They are all great shooters, and that is what makes shooting in our region so challenging. I encourage all shooters in our region to shoot with the guys who have succeeded nationally. It will definitely bring your game to a different level, and it will give you different perspectives from people who have been there and done that. I also know that all of the guys I mentioned sought me and Jacob out and wanted to shoot with us at different times. When Tyler did this a number of years ago, I instantly saw a difference in his performances. He went to a national event shortly after and won. He hasn't slowed down since that year he got out of his comfort zone and answered all the critics. In the process, Tyler has become one of my best friends, and I try to offer advice that I could've used when I was in my early 30s. All I can do is hope that any mentorship has helped him, as well as Jake and Cole and the rest of the crew. I do what I do, so you guys can succeed. Jacob and I love shooting with you guys because we are all one and the same. We just love shooting our bows, and that's all that really matters. 

  I could go on and on, but I want to thank Shawn and crew for all of their work every year. You give us something to look forward to, and we all appreciate your time and efforts. It never goes unnoticed and we truly appreciate you and all of your help. I can only hope you truly know how grateful we are for everything you do for us every year. It goes a lot deeper than you will ever see from the surface. Thanks for everything. Here's the picture of the last arrow shot when we shot 72 up a few years back. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures this year, but this one is for inspiration that you can always do better. 

   

Changing of the Guard

 

 About 10 years ago, I was looking for a place to shoot indoors to get away from the normalcy at my home club. I decided to head 35 minutes south and revisit one of my old haunts that I hadn't been to in around 13 years. 

  When I opened the door and walked in, I saw some familiar faces, but there were many people there whom I had never seen. It was a perfect opportunity to prepare myself for an upcoming indoor tournament. Although I was well aware of Jacob Slusarz and his abilities behind a bow, he had no idea who I was, where I came from, or why I was there. He was pleasant, and he shot is bow on the far right of the range with Brian Purdy. They joked back and forth as Jacob shot the center of the target out. The baby X was basically gone, and the rest of the yellow untouched halfway through the round. I was on the opposite line as those two, so I could hear them talking in the background. They were talking about IBO stuff, and Brian set him up to say some stuff so he could troll him. Brian's plans worked perfectly. Then, Brian pointed at me and said, "Well, you can take it up with him. He's one of your state directors." 

  I laughed a little and we discussed a few things before I headed north. I already knew he was an up and comer, but you never know what kids will do as they mature. Well, after a few years passed, I knew this kid was all in. He had what it takes to compete at the highest level, and his shot was unmatched. 

   We became friends and the years passed quickly, 10 years in a the blink of an eye. In 2017, we were both lucky enough to win our respective classes at the IBO World Championship, a feat that is hard to accomplish in any class. Jacob eventually moved out of the youth class and headed into Semi-pro to gain experience for the pro class. He figured he would learn from shooters like Brad Theys, Dale Jones, Digger Cogar, Jeff Kirkland, Sean Roberts, Rob D'Alfonso and many more. He respected what those people had accomplished and applauded them for their accomplishments in archery. It didn't take long for him to make a statement and start rolling everyone in his path. However, he wasn't able to take home another IBO World Championship in the process due to a few unfortunate reasons beyond his control.

  During his last year as a semi-pro, he had some more unfortunate luck at Snowshoe and wasn't able to get it done. However, in the ice cream shop on top of the mountain in the village, there were two legendary pros talking quietly to each other. There weren't many people around, but there was a pair of ears that heard them say what most others already knew, "There's not anyone in that class that we really have to worry about, except Slusarz. He's going to be a handful."

That brings us to today, and there appears to be a new sheriff in town and his name is Jacob Slusarz. Unlike the heavy hitters, he shoots for a smaller company, Darton Archery, and he puts his faith in B3 products to get him where he wants to go. He doesn't promote himself, and he lets his feats behind the bow speak for themselves. 

                                                              2024

  Coming off from winning the IBO National Triple Crown in Open Pro in 2023, Jacob got off to a slow start. He did some calculating and figured it would work better if he shot at all upper 12s instead of lowers. As the season progressed, he knew something had to change. He didn't like aiming at uppers and was having a difficult time deciding what to do under certain circumstances. That's when he made the change and went back to shooting at lowers. The change was instantly recognizable, as he began putting up monster scores and made it look easy. 

  Then, as the end of the season rolled in, he found his mark. Turkey season concluded at the end of May, and it was full force ahead to the finish line this past weekend. Although the ASA qualifying round in Metropolis was impressive, his stone-cold killer approach in the shootdown should've made it apparent to all the non-believers that the kid is here to stay. He went toe to toe with Levi Morgan, withstood his flurry of punches and landed the knockout blow when necessary. The stabilizer never moved, the hold was long, and the shot was perfect. It was the same shot I've seen him shoot a thousand times. It doesn't matter whether Clint is running his trap behind him at the club or the dogs are running between his feet as he's practicing, nothing looked any different than normal. Immense focus, determination and concentration. When the arrow struck the 12, it didn't surprise me at all. I didn't expect anything different... and neither did Levi, as he mentioned it a few weeks later in the Shot of the Week segment with PJ Reilly when he said Jacob has the best pure shot in Open Pro. All of us back home have known that a long time, but now that the best of the best can see it too, nothing more really needs to be said. 

  After settling for a shootdown position at the Third Leg of the National Triple Crown, he headed to the ASA Classic but not before shooting the ASA NY State Championship and the Third Leg of the IBO Northeast Triple Crown in New Hampshire. Sometimes people look at professionals and think they never have any struggles. They think this natural gift from God came down and planted itself inside of these professionals. Well, I'll tell you that not many people work harder and are more disciplined than Jacob, and I believe we get along so well due to similar characteristics when it comes to playing this game. So what am I talking about? Well, during our round in New Hampshire, the wheels fell off the bus and things derailed for a few minutes. In the process, John, his dad, told him to quit being a dumbass. We can all laugh about it right now, but at the moment it wasn't funny. It's never fun to watch friends in your circle struggle, especially when they don't know what is going on. 

 The struggle was figured out quickly and let go. At the Classic, Jacob picked up where he left off in Metropolis and laid it down yet again. However, he didn't have the lead he had a month earlier. He knew he would have to bring it to find a way to win, and he did it in style. He came out of the gate with a 14 a few 12s and another 14. He sealed the deal with a stress-free shot at the end and was named ASA Classic Champion in Open Pro, a title that is one of the most prestigious in archery. However nice the title might be, that's not the one he always dreamed of achieving. He has always dreamt of being the IBO World Champion in PMR, and he would have his chance to see what he could do one week later. 

  I've always told people my belief about winning the IBO World Championship: If you're one of the better shooters, you have to have one of your average days, a really good day for yourself, and a stick around day. That'll usually do the trick. 

  On Day 1, Jacob had one of his average days, and it put him right near the top of the leaderboard. It's pretty impressive when your average day lands you near the top. On Day 2, he knew what had to be done and laid it down, shooting 11 up. That put him in the lead going into the final round. 

  When the dust settled, Jacob accomplished his dream of becoming the IBO World Champion in Open Pro. In back-to-back weeks, he won the two events that are considered the Holy Grail of 3D archery, so now he as three of the four most prestigious things you can win. The only thing lacking on the resume is the ASA Shooter of the Year title, and he has only competed in all the ASA events the last two years, and he finished on the podium for shooter of the year this year after getting off to a slow start. 

  The journey I've watched up to this point has been amazing. Jacob never ceases to amaze me. A lot of us saw these days coming long before they arrived, and the few bumps in the road along the way were nothing more than temporary speed bumps. However, I will never forget the day in Nelsonville, Ohio, a few years ago when he stood in the pouring rain waiting for me to finish my round. After smoking the 10-ring on a boar, turning around and seeing him give me a thumbs up, I knew I was in the shootdown round. Although I was elated, I could see the defeat on his face, and it didn't feel good looking at it. I had experienced the same feeling a few times throughout my career, and I could easily see the devastation behind the face. On our way off the range, we talked about people we compete against, and I told him how I approach the game. It was something along the lines of this. 

  We walked down the road in the pouring rain, neither one of us with an umbrella to protect ourselves or our gear. I was on top of the world, and he was searching his soul for answers. I listened to everything he said and tried to give well thought-out answers to his questions. After all, friends try to pick each other up when they need it and tell them the things they might not want to hear when they need that too. Your true friends will always have your back. 

  When we arrived at the parking lot, he threw his stuff in his mom's car, and they headed home. I threw my stuff in Dad's truck and prepared for the shootdown round. Although I was hopeful the ride home would give him time to sort through his thoughts, I was truly unsure what would happen. I've seen much lesser people call it quits without ever tapping their true potential. Well, within a week, things were back on track, and he realized a few things in his training needed to change. He was ready to make the change... and went full force ahead to make the changes that would bring him to the pinnacle of the sport. 

  Although many people don't know Jacob like his tight-knit circle of friends know him, I'll be the first to tell you that he is smart as a whip, willing to help anyone, observant, extremely knowledgeable, funny, ultra-competitive, serious, disciplined, hard-working, and goal-oriented. All of these things have helped him on his journey to this point. He's now living in a moment he probably never dreamed about 10 years ago. He's one of the titans in professional 3D archery, and many of the kids want to be just like him. They have a new hero to root for. When he shows up in shootdown rounds, he has made it known that he's there to win, and its safe to lay your money on the table and bet on him. 

  I started this game when it was relatively new and only one 3D target company existed. I can remember when everyone wanted to be like Randy Ulmer, the Chappels, Burley Hall, Johnny Heath, the  Caudles, Allen Connor, and Jack Wallace. Then Jeff Hopkins showed up and became legendary in the process, going on a streak that will never be forgotten in the history of 3D archery. He was a step above all other professionals and remained there for an extended stay. 

  As with anything, legends bring out the best in others and about a decade or so after Hopkins' peak started, a young kid from North Carolina stomped onto the scene and made a statement that he was going to challenge Hopkins in the arena where legends are made. After another decade and a half, Levi Morgan was known as the best to have ever played the game, dominating everything in 3D archery while winning a few big dot tournaments in the process. Then Dan McCarthy came into his own and showed he could hold his own against the new legend. McCarthy and Morgan began rolling everyone in the field and  became invincible... until a young kid from Voorheesville, N.Y., stomped onto the scene in Metropolis a few years ago and made a statement at the Mathews Pro-Am, beating both of them, then repeating it at the next IBO event in Nelsonville, Ohio. Splashing into the pool and showing the rest of the class that, yes, they can be beaten. 

  Although those victories a few years ago, along with the IBO Triple Crown National Championship last year, didn't seem to have the same feel as the three wins this year, they set the tone for what's to come. Times are changing, the new guard is coming, and Jacob Slusarz is leading the charge while Brady Myers and Mason Dowell are following close behind. While none of us can predict the future, one thing is for sure: he is inspiring young and old archers alike, as they all begin rooting for a new hero, someone whose performances behind his bow are telling us the Future is here, and it is named Slusarz. Congratulations, my friend, on all of your dedication and hard work finally coming to the surface for so many others to see and enjoy. Thanks for letting me ride along beside you while you create a new legacy in archery. 

IBO World Championship

 

  Smiles like this one were fleeting last weekend. What started with a lot of confidence and good internal feelings, quickly dissipated due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances. If you stick with me, I'll share my weekend's experience with you. 

  We had minimal time to get ready for the event after getting home from the Classic on Sunday and heading to West Virginia on Tuesday morning. However, I did have enough time to change arrows and go with some that were going 307 fps, considerably faster than the ones I shot all year that were going 291. I figured that would help with any misjudged targets... and it did. 

                                                                    Practice Day

  Instead of spending the day fighting the crowds at the venue, we headed to GT Archery in Virginia for practice. Although I couldn't hold the bow well, the arrows found their way into the middle. By the time we had finished shooting our practice round on a foreign course, I felt good about my chances. I only left the 10-ring two times, and it was on a double target set that had two targets that aren't official IBO targets. Being a target judger, I realized it was probably because I didn't recognize the size of them. I finished the day of practice by going back to the venue and judging one course without shooting my bow. I judged every target to within two yards and had most of them right on the money. After taking some time away from judging the last three weeks, my judging seemed to correct itself. 

                                                                     Day 1

  With heavy rain predicted for the day, I headed out with my rain gear and figured I would leave it on all day. I could never have asked for a better group to be with for this event. Some of my absolute favorites in my class were in my group. I knew we would have a good time. The group comprised Tony Tazza, Darrin Christenberry and Scott Price. 

  After a short walk, we approached the first stake of the tournament and the heavens let loose. The rain pummeled the canopy and began roaring with a vengeance all its own. I've never minded shooting in poor weather, so I knew I would be fine. I've never let weather affect my attitude or performance. I actually like shooting in less-than-favorable weather conditions. 

  Darrin led off the first target and gave us a good marker. The arrow shone brightly on the left side of the 10-ring, and I was confident with my number. When I drew the bow and settled in, the pin sat down nicely, and I executed one of my best shots of the year. I saw the arrow land right next to Darrin's, and I was satisfied because I held on his arrow. However, when we got to the target, I realized Darrin's arrow was actually sitting on the edge of the 10-ring instead of on the edge of the 11. I missed my aiming spot by less than an inch and a half, and my arrow was sitting just outside the 10-ring. I felt good about it because I made a great shot. 

  Moving to the second target, the rain continued pounding. Looking at the grazing doe behind a giant tree, I thought it could wreak havoc on a lot of people and realized that particular target would be one of the difference makers. 

  Once again, I made a perfect shot when it was my turn. However, the arrow landed just outside the 10-ring to the left. I'm not sure why it hit where it did, but I accepted it and moved on. The weather conditions or lighting might've contributed, but I'm sure it was probably something I was doing that I never noticed. 

  As we moved to the next target, I knew I was in a place where I had to turn things around and get back into double digits. I made a good shot on a slightly uphill antelope, and the arrow struck between the 11 and bottom of the 10. I had now made three good shots in a row, and things were going to start turning in my direction. I've always learned to accept the good with the bad and give neither one of them any meaning. Nothing can be done about any arrows after they go out of your bow, so there's no sense getting down on yourself about one that doesn't score like you want it to score. 

 Then, in the next hour my world got turned upside down, and my memories of that time period are somewhat of a blur. I do remember shooting three fives that all hit the same place on each of the targets, which is where the neck connected to the shoulder. All of the arrows were straight left a very long way from their intended mark. I also shot two 8s in that stretch. About halfway through our round, Darrin asked me if I could hear the beeping noise. With all of the rain gear I was wearing, I couldn't hear it. It was my insulin pump going ballistic in my pocket. Tony said it had been making noise for a little bit, but I never heard it. When I dug it out of my pants pockets under my rain pants, I saw that my blood was in the 60s and headed down. Since I was already 23 points down, I decided to try to make the corrections I could and keep moving down the line. I had some fruit snacks and Powerade to bring the levels back up as fast as possible, but I also knew I couldn't overdo it.

  As the day wore on, I became a little more alert as to what was going on, and the fogginess around my brain drifted away. However, I was never able to get my blood above 69 for the day, with it in the 50s for most of the day. Biting and clawing to stay above water, I survived the next 10 targets and got off that 10 with a 99. When the day ended, I was pretty down that I had to sign off on a 177, yet another embarrassing moment in a year filled with many of them. I'll touch more on that when I do my year's wrap-up. 

                                                                Day 2

  We spent the day that was canceled at GT Archery. Since I remembered most of the yardages, I decided to shoot a button, so I broke out my SX2 and gave it a whirl. Most of the friends with whom I was shooting have never shot with me while I was shooting a button, so I think they were surprised with the results. I only missed a few 11s. Every arrow was down the pipe, and it felt really good.  

  Although I went to the range, I was feeling horrible. My head was pounding and my chest was severely congested. By day's end, I had to stop working the Eagle Eye event to sit down and try to recover. My body was totally shot. I never should've left the house, but I just don't know when to quit. I should've known better. 

  When I woke up on Day 2, I just wanted to lay low and head home as soon as possible. However, my dad was feeling slightly better and wanted to finish. This made me put on my big boy pants and do what I had to do... finish. 

  A few people in my class left after Day 2 was postponed, so groups were shuffled, and our group gained Jackie Caudle, and the group in front of us gained Jim Livak. When we arrived at Target 1, I saw a gator on a log, and it wasn't what I would call a chip shot. Instead it was one of those that made you scratch your head for a minute and hope you picked the right number. If you were short on it, your arrow would most likely be stuck in the log the target was sitting on. 

  Darrin led it off and made a good shot. I broke an OK shot when it was my turn, but the pin was bouncing up and down. The arrow struck barely below the 10-ring. It probably hit where the pin was located when the shot fired. 

  Once again, I struggled a little bit through the first 10 targets, but I was able to shoot 4 up on the last 10, and that is how my year ended. When we began the second 10, Darrin was struggling with lefts and rights. I've watched Darrin shoot a lot this year, and I noticed something over the course of the two days that I didn't see the last time I shot with him. He's always had a stationary hand when executing his shot. However, I noticed when his shot wasn't firing great, his pinky was moving toward his wrist, and I could see the tension building in the bottom of this hand, into his wrist and going up his forearm. It was changing the pitch of the release on his face from shot to shot, and I believe it might've been the reason for the changing impact points of his arrows. When he started complaining about not knowing why he was getting phantom arrows to the left and right, I asked him if he wanted me to tell him something I had noticed. Some people don't like that, so I stayed in my lane but offered some guidance when he told me to give it to him. As you can see in this picture, his pinky is relaxed and just sitting there without any curl in it. However, when he was shooting and having issues, that pinky was moving the entire time he was trying to execute, and at times, it was almost back to his palm.

  To many this might not seem like much, but these guys are my competitors and my friends. I want my friends to do well, and I want them to succeed. If I'm going to beat them, I want to beat them at their best. I'd also want them to help me if they saw something they thought might make a difference. After all, we had 10 targets left, and he was on the bubble of making the dance. I wanted him to make it to the final day. 

  Once we discussed it, he got through the last 10 targets without any phantom arrows, and he never went out of the 10 again. In all reality, I probably had nothing to do with it, but I was trying to help a good friend. Darrin has always gone out of his way to be good to me, my dad and all of my friends. I'm glad I met him almost 30 years ago. He's the same exact person he was back then, and I appreciate that, so if I can do anything to help him, I will do it.

                                                                    Final Thoughts

I could've been the person on the left after the tournament ended or even during the tournament, but over the years, I've learned it's better to be the person on the right and accept the things that happen on our journey. If we flounder in the water, we will drown ourselves. I've always tried my best to not drown myself when bad things happen... they happen to everyone. I'll just keep floating and hope I wind up on a beautiful beach somewhere.

  With all of the things I've battled this year, the ending of this tournament was bitter sweet. I know in reality, it may be the last national event I shoot. I don't know what lies ahead on the employment trail, but starting over at 55 years old will make it difficult to have the leeway I've been used to over the years. If I find a job in which I don't have much flexibility or time off, I will not use any limited amount of time to shoot archery. Archery just isn't that important to me, and if I have to say goodbye to my national tournament career, I'm satisfied with what I accomplished and where it brought me. At the end of the day, I did the best I could, and I always had limited talent compared to everyone else. I probably worked harder at it than anyone I know and did all I could just to be average. It was frustrating, but the frustrations were worth it. 

  The group I shot with over the weekend was the best group I shot with the entire year. Tony Tazza is one of the best guys you could ever ask to shoot with. He never gets too high or low, and you would never be able to tell if he shot his worst or best score ever. He's consistent and constant. I admire everything about Tony, including his caring, compassionate personality. He also has knack for humor, and it's quiet humor that probably goes unnoticed by many. Tony is one of my absolute favorite peers. He's always encouraging, and he roots for you as you root for him. He's the steadiest shooters with whom I've ever shot. His steady demeanor allows you to not realize why he's always there in the end. His lows never last and his highs are rapid and sharp. Instead, his line looks like a typical line with a few bumps in it. That's why he's in the hunt in every shoot. He doesn't do anything special except shoot good shots all the time, and he makes very few mistakes. The phrase should be changed from "Be Like Mike" to "Be Like Tony."

  I've known and shot with Darrin on and off since the mid 1990s, and I appreciate his calm demeanor. Even when he gets upset, he keeps it in check. He focuses intently at the task on hand, and he cheers on his peers. He fist bumps you for a good shot, and he lets you know how much he appreciates a good arrow to aim at. He doesn't acknowledge the bad parts of a round if you're struggling, and you can tell he doesn't like to watch others struggle, even if its for his benefit. Darrin is and always has been one of my favorite people I've ever met in archery. I also think he's one of the most underrated pros who has ever shot a bow. Most people don't know Darrin shot a 900 in Vegas once upon a time. I respect his talent, and I find his transition to left-handed shooting inspiring. I'd like to have some of his talent because he is one talented individual. 

  Scott Price was in the group both days too. I've shot with Scott a number of times over the last few years, and I've always shot well when shooting with him. However, that didn't hold true this past weekend. That was no fault of Scott's. I own that, and it's just the way it goes. Scott's daughter walked onto our range after she had finished to tell him she had made the cut in Female Pro. I could tell that made his weekend. He was proud, and he couldn't hide it. I felt happy for him when they shared the quick moment before she walked away as quickly as she had appeared. After all, we were shooting a target right next to the road.

  When Jackie Caudle joined us after his group was broken up, I was glad to have Jackie with us. Jackie is in his '70s now, and most people don't realize how many things he has won in his archery career. If you ever want to be surprised, then go and do some research. His resume is impressive. He always goes out of his way to ask how I'm doing and to offer the entire archery community good thoughts and experience. 

  While sitting back and trying to figure out how I shot three fives straight left in a five-target stretch, I don't have any answers for you. All I can say is that when your blood goes that low, it's very similar to being drunk to the point where you lose conscious ability of what you're doing. I'm not sure if I was seeing double and shooting at the wrong target since all three arrows that first day hit in the same exact spot. I'm not sure if my string was hitting my raincoat sleeve, or if I was just thinking I was making good shots and I was doing something drastically wrong. I really don't know what happened, so I guess I'll just own it. It happened; I don't know what caused it; and I'm not giving any extra attention to it. 

  While I'd like to go into the phenomenal ending of the year for my buddy and shooting partner Jacob Slusarz, I'm going to save that for later this week. He deserves his own space and not to be filed into my recollections of last weekend about my own performance. There were also many others from my region who deserve their own space, but I won't lie when I tell you that John Freeman is one of the people who has an awesome story. He repeated as IBO World Champion after struggling all year to rehab a shoulder injury. Grit, determination and will power allowed him to get it done. Here are some pictures from our weekend. 

Here's Jeff right after getting hit by a fallen limb, putting him out of the tournament. The next pictures are of his shoulder after the injury took effect. He's lucky to be alive and makes it evident that when it's our time, it's our time. 

  We ordered the Big Daddy pizza one night, and this is what we got. It's the biggest pizza I've ever seen.