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.