Camp Minden ASA

  In the days leading up to the Camp Minden ASA, I was under a lot of stress due to the many health issues I've been facing since December. When I headed to the ADK cardiac center two days before my planned trip to this ASA, I was unsure if I would have to cancel, as this was the visit that would make me aware of the challenges I will face in my immediate future. After a solid hour in the doctor's office, I was made aware that I could go on the trip. Although some stress was relieved from my shoulders for the short term, much of it will ride like a weight on my back for the rest of my life. I guess it's no different than the many things I've faced on my journey up to this point. I breathe in and breathe out and place one foot in front of the other. It's the same way I've always approached archery tournaments. I stay the path and don't get too high or too low until it's done. That's what I did last weekend, and it worked well. 

  After the Northeast ASA, I had a decision to make: should I shoot the Mach 34, which pounded, or should I shoot the black Dominator Duo 35? Well, I put the Duo to the test after the shoot and ran into a perfect setup by pure chance. Although the bow has held well, it wasn't holding like I really wanted it to. That's when I decided to take off my 15' back bar and try a 12' bar while adding a few more ounces on my front bar. After the first draw, I knew I had hit the jackpot. Luck was on my side, and the bow held like a rock. 

  Then, I went back a few years and examined some of my successes and failures and began seeing a much clearer picture. When I researched some of my best performances, I realized they were all when I used the stock wrist strap that came with the TruBall Execute release. After changing to a custom leather strap that had stiffer leather, my consistency slowed down a little bit. So before heading to Minden, I went back to the original strap. The original strap is softer leather and tends to stretch a little when under pressure. I believe the tiny bit of stretch helps trip the trigger as the shot is being executed. 

                                                       Practice Day

  After flying into Dallas, renting our vehicle and driving 3:40 to the place we stayed, I was exhausted. However, after unloading all of our gear, I realized I had forgot the backpack, which had all of my diabetic supplies (life support) in it, at the car rental place in Dallas. 

  So instead of practicing on Thursday, the time had to be donated to recovering the medical supplies that allow me to sustain life. It's something many people will never be able to understand, but it's a fact of my life: I'm on life support and times like this bring reality front and center. Without the medication, I will die. I figured I would book a flight home if I couldn't locate the supplies. I had enough insulin in my pump to last about two days, so I wasn't stressed to the point of being on edge, but it still created an uneasy feeling that is difficult to explain. 

  Jacob volunteered to shoot a few targets with me when I finally got to the practice range in the late afternoon. I was exhausted and could't hold well. However, I saw the yardage well and shot OK for all things considered. After 10 targets, I felt comfortable and couldn't wait to get some sleep. My eyes were heavy; my stomach was unsettled; my lower back ached; and my focus was all but gone. I would have to get a good night of sleep to see if I could recover and somehow find a way to save the weekend. Before heading to bed, we sat outside and talked for a while. It was a pretty deep conversation, and Jacob and I discussed a few things that stay within the inner circle. I expect great things for both of us in the coming months after being able to be a part of this conversation. When you talk with your friends about things you don't talk to others about, it has a way of uncovering things and bringing out things that others would never understand. I'm hoping we both look back on this evening in the future and realize it might've led to a new, old path. We are both headed in the right direction. Don Doherty used to call me the Little Badger back in the day. The Little Badger has been gone for a few years, probably since 2017, but he's poking his head out of the den, and he's ready to prowl for his prey. Badgers show now mercy, and they are feisty, nasty little critters who fight to win. They don't just fight to fight. 

                                                          Day 1

  My shot felt really good at the target butt. Although the wind was hammering, my shot felt strong. I didn't focus on holding the pin. Instead, I just wanted to get loose and feel things in my back. After a few minutes, I headed to my range to start the tournament. My confidence from home jumped in my back pocket and walked to the range with me. 

  After getting there, I realized there weren't many people in my class that showed up for this event. There were many empty stakes along the way, and I found myself on a stake with one person. That's when they moved us around, and I ended up in a group with Ray Young, Shawn Greathouse and Tony Tazza. I had no complaints with that group. I've shot with all of those guys many times, and I enjoy their company. I knew I was blessed to be in a good group, and that always lends to a better chance of having a good performance. 

  As we began making our way through the range, I felt great about my shots. Everything seemed to be flowing smoothly. I had good numbers, my hold was decent, and my shots were breaking cleanly. I was navigating the round and putting my new plan to use. It worked well. When we turned the corner, PJ Reilly was filming the Senior Pro division, and we were lucky enough to be filmed on the first target of the range. If you watch the beginning of the video, you'll see my group shoot the coyote. After Greathouse shot the target high, I was a little nervous. I couldn't figure out how he hit it high, so I trusted my gut and went with my original guess. I didn't let the placement of his arrow make me reset my sight. I was going all in, and if I messed up, I'd own it. I haven't shot with him enough to trust where his arrow landed. If I had been following Tazza, I would've instantly changed my sight setting, but I chose not to on this target. In the end, my choice paid off, as I walked away with a 10. 

  Heading toward the end of my round, the wind really picked up. Somehow, I escaped a few marginal shots and got off the round with a 200, which was the last spot on the leaderboard. I was satisfied with my efforts for the day, especially considering everything that happened over the last 48 hours. I couldn't ask for more than that. 

                                                               Day 2

  Going into Day 2, I felt confident. My new setup was clicking, and I liked the way it felt. I would also be shooting with Darrin Christenberry and Digger Cogar, two of my favorite people in my class. I can remember when we all started many years ago and battled back in forth in MBO for a few years. It seems like it was a couple of years ago, and it was just shy of 30 years ago. It felt good to be back with these guys, and I know that each of us wants to win for ourselves, but we also root for each other. Those are the people I value the most, and I'm thankful to compete against guys like them. 

  My day started off well when I was able to 12 a short antelope. The next few targets went well, and I knew I would give it a run. Although I shot out the top of one and missed a few to the left and right, I felt good about my execution. I never bent and kept moving forward, never knowing what could happen. 

  With five targets left, I knew I was only two points off the leaderboard. I stayed solid and barely missed a 12, hitting in a shot-out spot just above the 11, but not quite close enough to get to the 12. It was one of those that is ever so close, but just a pinch too far away. It was heartbreaking, but I knew I was holding well and shooting great shots. When I got the next one, I knew the previous one I didn't connect with might be the difference. However, Darrin had shot two 8s in the process. 

  

  When we got to the last target, the smaller boar, I reached inside my mind and tried deciding what to do after Darrin hit a 12. I figured I would probably make the cut if I just shot a safe 10, so I took my chance and tried to shoot it in the middle and hope for the best. I executed a good shot, and the arrow landed on the right side of the 11. I figured I had probably made it into the shootdown round, However, a few minutes later, I realized I was sitting in sixth place... first guy out of the shootdown round. I gave it my best and came up short. 

                                                 Looking Back at the Weekend

  I had the odds stacked against me at this tournament. Between the health issues I dealt with at the doctor's office before leaving, then leaving all of my medication at the airport and having to drive back and forth to get it, I'll consider this tournament a moral victory. I'd like to say I had a winning performance, but I can't say that in good faith. It was incredibly close to being a winning performance, but it lacked just a few things along the way. I'm close to having a winning performance, and we all must remember that although you might have a winning performance, you might not win. You cannot control what others do, but you can control your performance. 

  This was the first ASA I've shot in the last few years in which I didn't shoot a 5. I always figured I would make the shootdown round if I didn't shoot a 5. I guess I was pretty close to being correct. My plan of shooting all uppers seemed to work well. I did miss more than I expected out the top, but I guess that's going to happen. Of the ones I missed, I didn't miss them by much. It just shows you how much a score could change with a few inches on a ruler. 

  Hopefully, the weather will finally break, and I will be able to actually practice outside for consecutive days. However, it doesn't look like it will be this week, as rain is scheduled for the next two days. Between the rain, wind and cold, it has been impossible to get outside. At last I had one shoot here at home, other than the other two national ASAs, for practice before heading to this event. I look forward to being able to shoot some different courses now that spring is finally here. 

  After finding out I missed the cut, I talked with Joe Pitt for a while. We talked about how small the difference is between a great score and an OK score. Many of us are oh so close, yet oh so far away. This ASA game is unlike any game I've ever played. It definitely gets annoying, and it's a fact that you really do need some luck on your side. Luck is headed my way. I can feel it. When you have your equipment working well, see good numbers, and get a few lucky bounces, the sky is the limit. It's time. 

  On my way off the range, I walked back to the vendor area with Jamie Drouillard. Jamie and I met many years ago when we were both going through divorces. We both hunted in the same town in Ohio, and we also learned that we both competed at national ASAs. I never imagined we would both end up where we ended up, but we meet every month at ASAs to give it our best shot. We discussed the frustrations that come along with the game, and it's always good to talk to other people about the same things we all face. Sometimes we think we are on an island alone. However, we are all in this together, and we all face the same things. There are great moments, but there are also many low moments. The pursuit of perfection is what keeps all of us coming back. We have a passion that very few will ever understand, and we do everything we can to make the most of our passion. Father Time is undefeated, and we are all battling the great warrior. He gets some of us sooner than others, but we will all eventually succumb to him, so do what you can while you can still do it. 

  I've had a lot of people congratulate me on my performance over the weekend. I won't lie and tell you I'm not disappointed, but a congratulatory note on a sixth place finish is bitter sweet. We all shoot to win, and we all feel we have fallen short if we don't make the shootdown round. With that said, we also have to remember we are competing against the best of the best, so the moments of success are fleeting for the masses in those classes. While there are a few guys who seem to always be on the big stage, many others are always in the mix and occasionally get a crack or two at it. When we fall just short of a chance to make it happen, it stings a little. It's more than one sting from a hornet. It's more like walking across a nest of ground bees and getting stung nonstop until we get another chance. I appreciate everyone's support, and it feels great. Thank you for always giving me your best. I'll get it done for you if you stick around. Just be patient. We are all on this road together. My success is your success and your success is my success. I root for all of you, and I feel your failures and cheer your successes. It's now go-time for all of us here in New York and New England. Good luck in the coming months. 

  On another note, Noah Eisenhardt laid it down two weeks ago in Connecticut and continued his streak at Minden. He came home with his first national win and did it with a big performance. Speaking from experience, it's no easy feat to win a national event in any organization, especially the ASA. Congratulations on a great weekend. Wishing you much success in the future.