ASA Classic

 

  When we arrived in Alabama, we were greeted with a heavy dose of humidity. Although it wasn’t anything we haven’t experienced all summer in upstate New York, it still wasn’t what I would call conducive to enjoying many outdoor activities. 

 

  We got up early and got on the practice range on Thursday in an attempt to see some targets and do what we had to do before the temperatures climbed and things became uncomfortable. 

 

  In the area we began shooting, the lighting wasn’t the best and the woods had a dark tint. I didn’t pay much attention to it and excused the beginning of the practice round as the typical thing that accompanies traveling. When we got off the first range and headed to the longer one, things began falling into place and I felt much more like myself. At that time, the sun was higher in the sky and the woods lighted up. It made it much easier to see where I was aiming.  

 

  After packing our stuff  and heading back to the hotel, I felt good about the upcoming tournament. I ignored the random shots on the practice range because my bow felt good… and so did I. 

 

                                                      Day One

 

     Although it was hot and muggy when I got to my assigned shooting stake, I knew it wouldn’t affect anything. Starting at 9:00 a.m., I knew we would be done before the brunt of it would blanket the area and make it unbearable for many people. The heat has never bothered me, so I just took a quick look around at the course ahead of me and realized it was going to be a corker. It didn’t appear that there would be many chances to pick up 12s. I knew it was a course that would call for good shot execution and minimal risk taking. 

 

  When the cards were drawn, I was chosen to go first. I would start my day on the impala staring back at me from the other end of the lane. It wasn’t a very long shot compared to the vast majority of targets on the course, so I figured I should probably get after it while I could. 

 

  At my age, I never know what the hold will look like from day to day, and the first target usually gives me a good indication of what to expect. When the pin hit the target and I settled into my anchor point, the pin sat well. I let it find its way into the 12-ring and executed a good shot… I was off and running with a 12. 

 

  After securing a 10 on the next shot, my group found itself amongst some thicker cover with heavier canopy. It darkened the area and brought out a tunnel-like effect. That’s when I rattled off five of the next seven shots for 8s. Although I wanted to blame myself for the results, I couldn’t identify the origin of the problem.  My numbers seemed to match other shooters’ numbers. I was hitting the targets all around the 10-ring with no real pattern. I hit some to the right and some to the left. The height was good on most of them, but they were missing their mark by anywhere from an inch to three inches. I didn’t let it bother me because I knew I was making good shots. 

 

  In the blink of an eye, my good start had disappeared, and I knew I had to battle in an attempt to somehow get back near even. With the difficulty of the course, I figured that would keep me in the hunt. 

 

  With about six targets left, the thunder began banging in the distance. We thought the storm would miss us, so we never paid much attention to it. Walking up to the last target, a light drizzle started. Within seconds the sky turned black and the heavens let loose. When I drew my bow on the hyena, I could barely see it through the pounding rain, so I put the pin in the place where I believed the 10 to be and wasted no time getting the shot off. I wanted to make sure I lessened any chance of going backward due to weather. I succeeded in my mission when I saw the arrow appear in the center of the IBO 11. 

 

  Drenched from head to toe, I made my way off the range. I was satisfied to learn I gave myself a shot. Although I was sitting in a tie for 9^th place, I was only a few points out of the lead and right on the bubble for making the shootdown round. The stretch of targets in the early part of my round caused an obstacle, but I stayed the course and found a way to give myself a chance. That’s all you can do sometimes. 

 

  Dad had a rough first day. At the target butt, Jacob noticed Dad’s blade was standing straight up. I’m assuming it caught on his pants and bent into that position. He had to scramble to find to find a new blade from one of the vendors as soon as they opened. Then, he had to make a few minor adjustments before heading onto the course. It definitely wasn’t a good thing for confidence. 

 

  Jacob had a solid day and found himself near the top of the leaderboard. While talking to Brady Myers in the PSE booth after the round, Brady told me Jacob was within an inch or two of shooting a monster score. He said he was licking at every 12 throughout the day. 

 

  Going into Day 2, we both felt good about our chances. To top of Charlie’s bad Day 1 with the bent blade issue, he told Jacob and me that we would have to rush back to the hotel because he had an accident. In his efforts to get back to the outhouse, he realized there was no toilet paper in the first one he came to. In an attempt to get to the next one, it became and adventure and his cream-colored pants became a little stained and stinky. It’s always an adventure with my father, and there’s never any worry about not being entertained. The laughs, the stories and the adventures are what we bring with us when life changes, and I’m thankful for all of them, even when my dad poops his pants.  The ol’ saying, never gamble on a fart, definitely has some truth to it. 

 

                                                                   Day 2

 

  When I got to the stake the second day, I saw that I would be sharing it with Keith Ahlstrom, Brian LuAllen, and Jansen Asbill. I knew it would be a relaxing day. I shot with Jansen on Day 1, and I always like being around Brian because he’s upbeat and positive. It’s always nice to shoot with a guy who roots for you as well as competes with you, and Brian fits that bill. I’ve shot with Keith a few times and never had any issues. He won last year’s Classic in my division, so he was trying to find a way to get into the shootdown round to defend his title. I was ready for the day and had the group to allow everyone to perform at a high level.

 

  When we were instructed to shoot, I drew my bow on a javelina. It had some length to it, but my pin settled nicely, and I shot an OK shot. Being third in the shooting order, I had some good markers and gave it my best effort. The arrow landed less than an inch from the 12-ring, and we had to look at it with a flashlight to call it out. I made a great shot and felt confident with the effort. However, I started at the end of the range, where all of the targets were in the dark timber due to the sun position. I wasn’t lucky enough to start on one of the targets in the small field within the woods. The 7:30 a.m. start time has some advantages as well as disadvantages. 

 

  An hour into my round, I knew my odds were slim to get back all the points I had lost, but I also knew I could accomplish the task. I was executing the best shots I had all year, and my aim was good, too. However, I didn’t shoot a score in the double digits until target 7, and I ended up shooting eight 8s in the first 10 targets. That’ s a big hole to climb out of on a long range. With my numbers clicking and my shots firing without much effort, I never counted myself out – but I also couldn’t figure out why I had shot all of the 8s out the right and left with no type of consistency whatsoever. Although that was disturbing, I did the best I could to ignore it and keep marching. 

 

  As the woods began lighting up and the sun climbed, I found myself alternating between the shots in the open and the shots in the timber, but the results finally turned in a positive direction. The random 8s stopped, and I never fired another arrow that landed in a single-digit scoring area the rest of the day. I bit, scratched and clawed my way back to 10 down. Considering the fact that I only shot two 10s in the first 10 targets, I considered the end result a success. I hadn’t gained any ground in the standings from Day 1, and I was able to basically stay where I started. It’s not what I wanted, but considering what happened, I really can’t complain. 

 

                                                Thoughts on the Weekend

 

    This year has been extremely tough on me for a variety of reasons, but I still give it everything I have.  This weekend was particularly frustrating because I shot my bow the best I’ve shot it all year under tournament conditions. I was relaxed, and my aim was solid for the majority of my shots. 

 

  Looking back on things, I’m not sure where the train veered off the tracks, but I do know that I lost points to the left and right on shots I felt should’ve been on the money. The only thing I can possibly guess might’ve led to the issues is the fact that I used a smaller aperture than normal in my peep. I don’t know if I could’ve lost the housing in it or if it was something else that led to the issues. I’ll probably never know for sure. Either way, I’ll be shooting a larger aperture at the IBO World this week. 

 

  Sometimes I look at the smaller details of the big picture. I missed the shootdown round by 12 points, which comes down to three shots that hit in the 8-ring less than a half inch from the 12. Those three shots led to a 12-point swing… yup three shots and 12 points. I most likely hit where I aimed since I can’t see well enough to know.  I never shot a 5 at this tournament, but the 8s killed me. If they had landed, less than an inch to the right or left, I’m in the shootdown round with a chance. However, I sat on the outside looking in. Of the three closest shots, one needed a flashlight and the other two needed more than one opinion.  I shot my bow well enough to be there. It just shows you how scores sometimes aren’t a true reflection of how small the difference really is at times. 

 

                                                           The Big Show 

 

  For having limited access to ASA tournaments in our region, our region was able to put four shooters in the shootdown in four different classes. Louis Price came home with a podium finish in known pro, and Rick Baker came home with a podium finish in Senior Known Pro. Both of these guys gave themselves a chance to win, and you can never ask for more than that. The Bordwells did what the Bordwells always do and made themselves relevant on the biggest stage. Katie held off the competitors and gave it her best shot, but came up just a hair short and settled for a podium finish, and Glen was in it right until the last couple of targets on Saturday morning. 

 

  However, the moment belonged to Jacob Slusarz, and he owned it. He put a stamp on the envelope that says he’s here to stay. The future has arrived, and it’s inspiring and impressive to watch, especially from a front-row seat. 

 

  As everyone was getting in position and getting ready for their first target of the shootdown, Jacob looked at me and said, “What do you think? I could set the trend right here.” He was referring to shooting at the 14. Without much thought, I said, “If you think you can get it, then go for it.” 

  

  With the way the sun was shining, I could clearly see the entire ring. When the shot broke,  he said, “Yup” before it hit, and the arrow instantly appeared inside the ring and I said, “You smoked it.” He looked at me, smiled and said, “How the f**k do you know that. You don’t have any binoculars.” I laughed and said, “I could see the ring as clear as day due to where the sun was hitting it from where I was standing.” It was worth a good laugh on both of our ends. 

 

  After shooting a solid 10 on the boar, he moved to the coyote, and I got an uneasy feeling in my stomach when the arrow hit the target. After a quick look through his binoculars, he said, “I got it.” After handing me his binoculars to confirm it, I saw it and we breathed a sigh of relief. 

 

  After taking the time to walk to the first target, a howling wolf, Jacob looked at me and said, “What do you think I should do?”

 

  I was well aware of where the other shooters stood, so I said, “If you get a 12 here, you will still be in control, but I’m not making that choice for you.” 

 

  Then we laughed a little bit, and he said, “F**k it. I’m gonna win it right here.” I smiled and said, “Go for it. You can do it.” 

 

  Time slowed down for a second, and it seemed like we were behind the house a few years ago when he, Barry and I were messing around and he said, “I can get an arrow through there and get that deer. It was fun that day, and we were all enjoying the moment. Although I wasn’t shooting the arrow, this seemed the same as that day, but the result Saturday evening turned out much better than the medium alert deer on the other side of a brush-filled hole that day. 

 

  Seconds later, I was saying “Good f’n shot,” and the arrow was sitting in the 14 ring. Then I said, “You have way bigger kahunas than me,” and that was worth a few laughs too.

 

  The last two shots were somewhat anti-climatic after that one. He took control and let everyone know he was in charge. It was pretty cool to be a part of it. I’m glad we weren’t mic’d up because it surely wouldn’t have been rated children-friendly due to some language we shared, but it was no different than anything we normally do on any given weekend. 

 

  Unlike Jacob’s other wins in recent years that I’ve been able to be a part of, this one was different. I can’t really explain it, and unless you were in the same position for the other ones, it’s almost impossible to truly understand. He came out, set the tone, and there was no looking back. It was like he was on a two-lane merging ramp with 4 other vehicles, but he quickly put on his blinker and decided he wasn’t interested in easily merging into traffic. Instead, he pulled onto the main highway and put the pedal to the floor to avoid any congestion during the merge. A few second later, he was looking in his rearview as the other cars jockeyed for position behind him while he had no worries because he knew being out in front of it all would best suit himself. The calm confidence was inspiring.

 

  Jacob went from never experiencing any ASA events in his youth or semi-pro days to becoming ASA Classic Champion in two years, and he also backed up his Metroplis win last month with a repeat at this one. His dedication to his craft is finally being rewarded and noticed on the brightest stage, and it is something that has been coming for a long time. Your group from back home couldn’t be happier for you. Congratulations, Jacob, on a job well done. You make all of us proud to call you a friend, and we all look forward to watching where your journey brings you from here. Oh, just in case anyone wonders what happened between Jacob and Christenberry that they laughed about in the interview and said it wasn't G-rated, Darrin, Jacob, Dad and I were at the target butts in Metropolis last month when Darrin looked at Jacob and said, "When are you gonna quit f**ing around and pound these guys like you should?" Well, since that day at the practice butts, Jacob took the advice and has been pummeling people. It will be something we will all laugh about for a long time.  

 

  Well, we will be right back at it next weekend at the IBO World Championship. I look forward to seeing all my friends and archery family and calling it a year. Safe travels and good luck next weekend. I also want to give a shout-out to Matthew Tibbals. Great comeback at the Classic after some unfortunate luck on Day 1! Please don’t ever doubt yourself as you move forward. I’m not sure if you noticed, Matthew, but two of the guys you were shooting with and hanging with in peer groups a few years ago were both in this shootdown round at the Classic alongside Jacob. If you ever question your ability, please look at that and remember where you have already been, who you have competed against, and most importantly, how you held your own in those moments. Don’t ever beat yourself up or question your ability. When I chose to compete against my current peers a few years ago, I just looked into my memory and remembered all the times I competed with them in amateur classes and how I fared. That was enough to tell me I belonged and would do OK if I just had had the confidence to believe in myself and be myself. You got it inside ya, kid, and I believe in you. My journey hasn’t been all that much different than yours. Life happens -- and shit happens along with it but never question your ability! We all believe in you.  See y’all next weekend and shoot for the moon. If you miss, you will still land somewhere among the stars.

 

 

 

 

 

  

2024 IBO Northeast Triple Crown

 

  I've been involved in competitive archery in New England and New York since the early 1990s. I've seen many things come and go, and I've been a part of things that encountered stumbling blocks along the way. Now, our region has a few different options to choose from when it comes to 3D shooting, including the RBD, the ASA, and the IBO.

  I will be forever tied to the IBO because that's where I found my way in this sport, and I have encouraged others to follow since those days in the '90s. Although I support all archery, my heart is tied to the IBO. I've found great success there over the years, and I still believe what I was told when I started: the IBO will bring out and identify the greatest 3D shooters, as it tests all skills involved, including yardage judging, which is how the game started. Over the years, many of us have forgotten that all of these 3D tournaments are games, and each game requires shooters to strategize and figure out how to play it to the best of their ability. 

  A few years ago, there was some turmoil in New England when a line was drawn in the sand. Many people became tentative and got angry with each other. However, I was brought up on the beach and learned to play in the sand as a kid. I would watch the water wash away sand castles and create places to build new things. The water had no mercy and paid no attention to different architectural designs on the beach. I approached the situation the same way. 

  That's when three of us got together and formed a series of shoots that would be referred to as the IBO Northeast Triple Crown to give people an idea of what it feels like to compete for an overall prize. We figured we would let people experience what goes on at the national events in hopes of encouraging them to travel and try the same type of thing where they could compete against the best shooters in the country for a chance at winning the IBO National Triple Crown, the most coveted prize in 3D archery.

  There were some headaches in the beginning, and the other two organizers quickly had to devote more time to their children. That's when Tyler Thygesen and Rob LeLacheur stepped up and jumped into the ring in an attempt to keep the tradition alive and well. The three of us spent a lot of time talking about different things and trying to make decisions to benefit the shooters as well as ourselves, since all of us have very busy lives as well. That's why we put it in the hands of trusted individuals who have supported the IBO over the years. Although we ran into one hiccup with this and got blindsided, we navigated through the rough waters and were able to get the ship sailing straight again and pretend it never happened. There will never be a ship that doesn't have to navigate rough waters after getting a great forecast from a less-than-deserving weatherman. 

  That brings us to this year. As I sit here a week before the festivities of the IBO World Championship begin, Tyler, Rob and I would like to say thank you to every shooter in our region who has supported us, given us help, and shared new ideas. We have had to make some rough decisions since we began working together, but please know that we all do it as a team. If we can't handle anything or don't know what to do, we seek advice from the main office and let them have the final decision. A lot more goes into this than anyone can possibly imagine. I've always admired all the people who run archery organizations and tournaments. It takes a special person to do it and listen to all the nonstop complaints. While there are people who give compliments, the complaints can drag you down and question why you're doing it. A complaint is one thing, and constructive criticism is another thing. While I've done my share of both, I've tried being much more diplomatic about my criticisms in modern times. Please walk lightly when trying to lend advice. Not many people have thick enough skin to not become offended, then they hold grudges and refuse to make changes for the betterment of shooters.

  We had good crowds at all of our events this year, and we would like to thank the effort put forth by all of you. Without you, we could never pull this off. I encourage many of you to bring a friend next year and introduce them to some 3D archery. You can look at it as a short-distance TAC event. You're only competing with yourself, and there's a class for everyone. In our third leg this year we had over 100 shooters at the event. Third legs always get the least amount of participation, and we were ecstatic to have the turnout we did for that event. Walter Muzzey took the lead for this tournament and set a fantastic course. It resembled a national course to the T. 

  I'd like to encourage all of the people at the IBO World Championship to come up with ideas for your own regions. West Virginia already has its own Triple Crown, as we do here in New England. Please reach out to your state reps or the parent office and try to organize your own series of events. Don't rely on the reps but let them help you. You can still do these types of things as clubs. This is how we will continue to grow the organization that was put in place to preserve our rights as bowhunters, and those rights are under fire right now in many arenas that are unknown to most. You must also remember that it is a game, and yardage judging is part of the game. I like all archery games, and I never would've known this if I didn't try all of them. All of the guys in the picture at the beginning of this are part of our extended family of archers in New England. I encourage you to go above and beyond and create new members of your family through the creation of events that model themselves after national events. Good luck and God bless. I'll see you on the trail.

  Tyler, Rob and I would like to thank all IBO members and non-members for their support. All three of us support all things archery, and we would like to encourage others to do the same. It takes a team to create anything, and it also creates a team that comprises open-minded people who can look into the future and understand it's up to them to pass on the heritage they have come to love. 

ASA NY State Championship & Third Leg of the IBO Northeast Triple Crown

  A little less than two weeks ago, I set up a new Supra X and decided to give it everything I had for the next two weeks to decide if that would be the bow I would finish bring to the Classic and the IBO World  to finish the season. Sometimes you can catch lightning in a bottle and ride it to the finish line. Other times, the trial period can wreak havoc on your mind and make you start questioning your ability. In my attempts to rush and get it exactly where I wanted it, I ran into the latter. After the two events this weekend and last week's event, I decided the bow and I don't have a good enough relationship to complement each other at this time. However, if I were headed to a dot tournament, I wouldn't hesitate to bring the bow. I'm unsure why I can get it to pound while shooting at dots, and it just hasn't fallen into place on the 3D range. I don't have anymore time to waste to figure it out, so I'm bringing my black Dominator Duo 35 to the ASA Classic next weekend. I have a lot of miles behind that bow, and in my two previous events shooting it, I landed in the top 8 in both events. I have a lot of confidence behind that bow, and I know what it does under certain situations. So now I'll fill you in on the weekend. I won't go into depth, but I'll give a quick rundown, as I have many things to do this week before we head South. 

                                                     NY State ASA Championship

  Although Jacob and I aren't eligible to shoot in ASA federation shoots due to being in pro classes, we can participate as walk-ons, so that's what we did. When I woke up that morning, my blood glucose level was at 44. I ate some breakfast, took insulin to compensate for it, and headed west. Halfway into the trip, I realized my blood was going through the roof. When we got out of the truck, I checked it, and it was at 385... it should be about 80. I couldn't hold my bow to save my life, but I got through the first 20 targets at 2 down. I had all I could do to get through my shots. The pin literally went from head to tail and back to belly, but somehow the arrows found their way into good places for the most part. Over the last 10 targets, we began talking a lot, and my concentration level began to slope downhill. I was satisfied with the first 20 and called it good. However, I couldn't judge how the bow really shot with all of the medical conditions I dealt with throughout the day. At the second target my blood was 465 and when we finished the round, it was under 40. I literally beat the shit out of me. That is the issue I face when living with a hidden disease. I look fine from the outside, but internally I'm all but fine. It made shooting way more difficult than imaginable, and it gets frustrating at times. I'm glad I don't have anything worse than Type 1 diabetes, but it's still something that people just can't understand, not even Type 2s... it's just not the same. 

  I'm glad I went to the ASA shoot, even thought it was a three hour and 20-minute ride. I felt good to see targets in an ASA-type setting, and my yardage judging was good. Jim Burdic got it right, and I don't believe he's ever been to a national ASA. Of all the regional ASAs I've shot, including the ones in New England and the ones in New York, this one was the best. The range gave people who have never gone to a Pro-Am a true feeling for what it might feel like if they do. The tournament was run with a shotgun start and people were grouped with their peers. They got exactly what they would get at a national event. 

  My dad shot his best round of the year, and I firmly believe it was because there was minimal walking, and his body was able to handle it better than marching all over the countryside and getting tired out. I'm not sure, but I think he shot 10 down and lost about 6 or 8 points right near the end when he was getting tired. It felt great to see him shoot well. We have both struggled mightily at times this year, and he's been working to correct some of his issues. 

  Melissa also showed that her work is paying off. Although she had a few get away from her during the day, she stayed steady and remained mentally in tune. Like my dad, she also went on a run on the last 10 targets and put the pedal to the floor. She ended up winning the ASA State Championship for her class. Great job, Melissa. Your journey has been fun to watch, and you make all of us proud with your dedication to improving and learning all you can. It's been rewarding to watch from afar. I'm not sure I've ever seen so much improvement by one person in such a short time period, other than Aiden. You guys are doing great and just keep getting better. Thanks for making all of us look good. 

  Once again, if you get a chance to qualify for the New York State Championship next year, take advantage of it. This was well run and set up great for being an ASA. It's too bad the federation shoots in New England couldn't qualify shooters for this shoot. I bet they could work together and get a great turnout. I saw Kentucky's turnout this past weekend, and they had about 20 pros there from all over.

                                                  Third Leg of IBO Northeast Triple Crown

  While I'll write more about this event later on, I'll touch on it briefly here. Once again, I woke up with some blood issues. However, they cleared up until we started, at which time it went low and stayed there the rest of the day. 

  My hold wasn't great today, but it was better than yesterday. I battled through it and did the best I could. As we continued along the path, I had a difficult time feeling good behind the bow. I never felt poorly, but I did feel like I was working too hard. It felt like working too hard for nothing. Although my shots felt decent, the results weren't matching. Eventually, I put it all in the back of my mind and focused on judging. When it comes right down to it, judging is where I've struggled this year, and I know that has been a weakness. I did get fooled a few times along the way, but overall, I had a great day judging. 

  Shooting prevented me from being where I felt I should've been, but after dealing with the blood dilemma on Saturday and having it drain every last bit of energy from my body, I basically had nothing left. The effects of it were clearly seen on Sunday, as I shot the lowest score I've shot at a regional event in over 10 years. I guess it just shows you that anything can happen at anytime. Sometimes, we don't like the results, but getting obsessed with a bad outing can lead to bad things. The only think I can really say to anyone is that sh*t happens, and you have to have the ability to let it go and never give it another thought. I know what happened, and I also used the last two weeks to figure out if the new bow had what I needed to make me better. Sometimes different risers give us different feels, and we gain confidence. I didn't gain much confidence, but I also didn't allow it to drain my confidence. I know what I can do, and I'm just thankful I used the weekend to gives things an honest chance before making a decision. I felt the decision was made for me without much effort on my part. It could've gone either way, and I'm glad I did what I did the last two weeks. I don't recommend that people change their stuff as much as I have changed this year, but I also would tell you to bring the equipment to the big events that give you the most confidence. I will be doing that, and I'll see where the chips land when I'm done. It has been a rough year for a variety of reasons, so I'm going with no expectations. I'll shoot my bow and see where the arrows land. 

  In the last 10 years, I've shot many tournaments in New York and New England. This particular tournament ranked near the top for me. However, I did see where it could've been difficult for older people with a lot of the walking up and down steep hills to retrieve arrows. Older people have a difficult time with that, and we need to keep this in mind. Personally, I loved it, and I would encourage people who aren't in as good of shape to not score arrows or keep score. Instead, stay on top of the hills while arrows are retrieved. 

  Wally, Tom and the rest of the crew at Grafton deserve an awful lot of credit for this course. This was set up well, and it delivered. Jason VanHillo always set great courses, but this one could rival any of those too. There wasn't an awful lot of yardage, but it was tricky yardage. There were plenty of shorter yardages, but the long ones were tricky too. It made every class work. 

  Wally did see a problem while walking with us that he didn't see on Saturday. He set some targets during the week while the sun wasn't shining, and they didn't look too bad. Although he said the targets were much easier to see on Saturday, he was with us on Sunday while the sun was brutal and right at our back while shooting into the dark woods. I shot an 8 on a bedded doe that was in your face, like shooting indoors in the winter, and I hit it way to the right. I believe I hit it where the pin was sitting since I had to lead it off. Honestly, I couldn't even tell I was on the target. 

  When setting courses, these are the things we can easily miss. I'd always encourage people to make it a shooting contest rather than a contest of luck, and the luck is all when you get to the target and what the conditions are when you get there. 

  Besides those few small errors, this was top-notch. At the end of the day, I ordered a turkey sandwich... and the turkey was actually a baked turkey, not sliced deli turkey. They loaded my plate, and with the heart issues I'm battling, it felt good to have a healthy lunch after shooting. This was a pleasant surprise and seemed to be a big hit. I appreciated their efforts. 

  I'd like to keep going, but I don't have much tonight. To sum it up, this was the roughest two weeks I've had in archery in a long time, but I'm putting it behind me and going back to the well. We'll see if I can pull up an ice-cold bucket of water and drink it down. We will be headed to the classic on Wednesday this week and the IBO World the following Tuesday. I won't lie. I'm ready to be done with it, and I might just strip everything off my bows and hang up them up after the IBO World. I just need to focus on other things and get my mind right for what's a head. The journey will not be easy, but I know the road for me to travel is awaiting with many uncertainties. I hope to see many of you over the next few weekends, and I wish all of you luck. Shoot well and give it your best shot. Never be afraid to take a few steps backward in hopes of leaping forward. Don't get focused on scores when you have other things you're working toward. That's the only way you'll get to where you want to go. Take the highs and lows the same, and don't let people see any difference in the way you walk. 

   

Northeast ASA Championship

  This past weekend was the final shoot of the ASA series in New England. I'll preface this by saying I appreciate all of the efforts of everyone involved in putting this series together and giving archers of the region a different game to play, after all anything to do with archery is a game when it comes right down to it. So thank you to everyone who puts in the long hours, including the volunteers of the organization, the volunteers at the clubs, the director of operations, and most importantly the ASA itself. 

  This series has given the shooters in New England a feel for what they see on Competition Media Archery when they watch the shootdown rounds. I know we've probably all seen at least a few of them. How anyone could not view someone from our region taking down the titans of professional archery in this format of shooting is beyond me, and I would imagine most of you have viewed Jacob showing why he is one of the best in the sport of archery... all archery including 3D and target. 

   It was a long drive home from Ohio last weekend, and I had to do some soul searching. When looking in the mirror, it can sometimes be difficult to see the person staring back at you. It takes some navigating to figure out if that person is who you think he is or if it's just an apparition that is passing by in the moment. 

  After pulling into the driveway and putting that behind me, I got a good night's sleep and thought about the last few events of the year. At this point, I've had about enough, but I will continue on the path until I shoot my last arrow at the IBO World Championship in a few weeks. At that point, I'll be glad to put the bow in the closet and not touch it for a solid month, at which time I will get my hunting stuff out and put something together that will help me send and arrow through a deer's rib cage. 

 I got a new bow on Monday evening and spent Tuesday putting strings on it and roughing it in. The heat was unbearable, and it made it difficult to do many of the things with it that I would've liked to have done. However, I felt comfortable with it when we headed to Masschusetts for this event. I wanted to try it and see how it worked. I had to do a lot of things to get the speed out of it that is required for me to be competitive in my class. One of the things I had to do was set it up with an underspined arrow, but I've had good look with arrows that fall on the border of the chart over the years. The bow did not seem overly forgiving to me, but I wanted to shoot it at an event, especially one that had terrain because terrain will expose the flaws in a hurry. Yes, the bow might look like the one I was shooting last month. It's the same riser, but instead of having M2 cams on it, it now has SE2 cams on it. I loved the M2 cam, but it was beating up by surgically repaired shoulder, and I couldn't shoot any volume of arrows without paying the price for it. That's why I made the change.

                                                       Game Time

  We got an early start and arrived at the shoot around 8:00 a.m. It was a gorgeous day, and I looked forward to seeing how the bow would react. I shot 12 arrows at the 30-yard butt before we went onto the course. The bow seemed to hold well, and every arrow but two found its way into the X. 

  After walking across a short field in the bright sunlight to get to Target 16, where we would start our day, the adjustment for my eyes was difficult when I stepped under the heavy canopy of the forest. It made it extremely difficult to see any type of definition on the target. 

  Looking down the hill at a hill country deer, it was a little irritating to see the target leaned forward, almost hiding the 8-ring on the low side. It also made the top of the 8 line appear to be where the center of the 10 is usually found while aiming from afar. 

  Shooting all uppers, I knew that would create a problem and aiming in the area you had to aim just to shoot a 10 seemed extremely low. I'm not sure if my subconscious mind didn't adjust to how the target was set, but I believe I was holding a pinch below the 8 line. When the shot fired, I felt good about it. However, the arrow landed above the 8-line for a 5, and my number was only two yards different than Jacob's and he made a good shot and had a good result. This is a prime example of paying more attention to what you're doing before you do it. You can't rely on targets being set upright, especially the ones that have plastic legs. Plastic legs down't allow for a target to stay in the correct position for too terribly long when people start yarning on the them to pull arrows. 

  I made a good shot on the next one, barely missing the 12 to the right... things were feeling good, but the pin was a little too busy for my subconscious mind. Then, we came upon a long boar (the small brown one), and I could see a shadow in the 12 ring. Although it was a bomb, I held on the spot and executed my shot. The arrow hit right over the 12-ring.

  As we made our way through the first half, I began realizing the bow wasn't quite right. The draw length was a pinch too short, and it was causing a jittery sight picture with some occasional quick jolts. It was causing me to miss some stuff high and other things to the right. As we neared the end of the first half, the bow just didn't feel well in my hands. I ended up shoot a handful of 8s in a row while trying to manage the sight picture and the extremely slow shot execution. It came to a head when I shot a 5 on a wolf that was set in a dark area. I couldn't see where I needed to aim, so I just tried shooting a good shot and the arrow hit the target at the base of the next, top of the shoulder. I guess the bonus is that it was a good shot, even if it landed in la-la land. 

                                                              Second Half

  After shooting the last target on the first half, I stopped at the target change and lengthened the throw (vinyl connector) on my release. This allowed my from arm to extend a tad farther and settled down the sight picture. 

  

  It appeared to have a positive affect, as I shot a 12 on the mule deer to start the second half. Things continued in the right direction throughout the half, but I still wasn't satisfied with how the bow was aiming. The jittery, jerky sight picture wasn't nearly as bad as it was on the first half, but it was still disconcerting to deal with while trying to be calm and confident at full draw.

  The slight change in the release, which essentially lengthened the draw length, made enough of a different to get me through the last 15 targets with only one 8. I was also able to aim at some 12s and get them while also missing a few along the way. When I finished the day, I was content to know I learned a lot that I wouldn't have learned any other way. Although the 288 on the scorecard wasn't reflective of my yardage judging or execution, it told me the things I need to do to get the most out of the bow and get it to a place where I can confidently shoot it and consistently hit where I'm aiming. 

                                                        My Final Thoughts

    I'm glad things are winding down quickly. This spring/summer I've encountered some overwhelming things in my personal life, and it has made archery much less enjoyable. Of course, when you're used to competing at a high level, a lot of enjoyment comes from shooting well. This shoot allowed me to relax and take the result without much thought about it. For having the bow for three days before shooting it, I think it did well, and I learned what I need to know for the final two big events, the IBO World Championship and the ASA Classic. Unless something drastic happens in my head, I believe I will be taking Barney 2.0 with me to those events. In the past, I shot some of my best scores ever with my red Supra Focus, and this bow feels like home in my hands. I also believe it will shoot better than the Supra Focus used to shoot. I look forward to seeing what it does. I will most likely be shooting it indoors, too. I'm still not sure if I will stick with the 37' model or go to the 40. In all the years of shooting indoors, I always shot my best with 40' bows. 

  When I settled in for the evening on Sunday night, I smiled when I saw some photos online. This photo warmed my heart. 

  This picture speaks volumes in many ways. I can see Matt Witkowski in the back, and this makes me realize that other people deal with the same silent disease with which I deal. We might seem "normal" to anyone who talks to us, but we battle a disease that is difficult to understand from an outsider's perspective. Most people think we can't eat sugary and that's about it. Unfortunately, we live with the leading cause of blindness, the leading cause of kidney failure and the leading cause of heart disease. If a Type 1 diabetic can run the gauntlet of life and not encounter one of those warriors waiting in line with a tomahawk to smash the life out of you, you are a fortunate one. Some make it to the end of the run with bruises and wounds, and others barely get past the first few warriors. Although taking care of yourself is paramount to getting through the line, you can also take care of yourself better than all others and still take a tomahawk to the back of the skull and tumble into the ground. When it's your time, it's your time... death has no favorites, so live it well. 

  I also see Aiden Pfiitze and Rob LeLacheur in this picture. There are a lot of stories about these two, and I met both of them through archery. Even though they are decades apart in age, they both of their own stories. I feel fortunate to have met both of these people. They have given me insight that I might have been lacking at times, and they've helped me become a better archer and to look at things with a different perspective. It's also a reminder to treat everyone kindly because you never know when you might need someone, whether it be for an ear, a ride, a smile or just a pat on the back and a vote of confidence. When we are all out there on the range, try to remember that someone looks up to you, no matter who you might be. 

  I enjoyed shooting these ASA shoots this year. Although I have all of my own ASA targets, it's always nice to see targets in different pieces of woods. It makes the eyes accustomed to target size and helps when judging distance or even where to aim if you're shooting known distance. 

  With the good, always comes a little constructive criticism too. I can't remember when I attended my first national ASA Pro-Am, but I believe it was around 1997. I attended my first national IBO in 1993. In many ways, it seems like these events were 5-10 years ago. Time flies. I wish I could grab it and slow it down, but that' just not possible. It's hard to believe I'm in the senior class now. I can still remember when my dad turned 50 and entered the senior class for the first time. It caused all sorts of controversy because people didn't think 50 should be the cut-off for senior class. Funny how things go as we age. 

  Having seen both of these organizations since their infancy, I just wish we could have ASA events in New England that truly represented the ASA national shoots. I think it would increase attendance, and it would make it a social affair where everyone is on the same range shooting with their peers. It could be run just like they run the practice ranges at the nationals. 

  For anyone who doesn't know, ASA ranges are set up down flat roads. You can see from one end of the course to the other end and the targets are in lanes that are right on top of each other. Targets may be as close at 5-10 yards apart, but very rarely 20 yards apart. After you shoot your arrows, the group steps forward and waits for the groups on both sides to finish. When the group on your left and right are all done, everyone walks to the target together to score and pull. Things go quickly, you shoot with your peers, the kitchen has all its activity at the same time, and people can more easily socialize. There is very little terrain at national ASAs and it's an entirely different look than IBOs. There's no wandering through the woods from station to station. Instead, you walk 10 yards to the left and shoot your next shot. It takes minimal work to set up. It's easier for older people, people with kids, and people who aren't in good physical shape. It makes hot days easier because there's very little physical activity involved. It's basically 3D target shooting. Why not have our normal IBO courses in the northeast and try to actually set up an ASA just like a national ASA instead of having IBO courses with ASA targets? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind things as they are, but at the same time, I think it would be an eye-opening experience for a lot of people, and it adds an element that you can't get anywhere else unless you attend a national. It prepares people for nationals. That's the reason why New Englanders have always been very successful at national IBOs; they get the proper practice... practice that clearly resembles the national events. 

  I was a little disappointed with a few of the target sets too. When we came upon a downhill lynx, we had to try to figure out if we had, indeed, missed the actual shooting stakes. How could anyone set a target at the angle it was set at? We were basically shooting it head-on, and that was coming from a target that was leaning so far forward, it would have been impossible to shoot an 8 on the target without missing it. That target goes back to the plastic leg thing. McKenzie definitely doesn't do anyone any favors with those legs, other than shipping costs are probably slightly lower with them. if you look at the arrow on the far left, you can see that someone could actually hit the nose of the target and take a 5. However, if the arrow went through the tip of the nose, it would be an 8. I get the fact that everyone has to shoot it, but nobody wants to travel any distance and shoot shots they can find at local clubs while using their hunting bows and looking for bragging rights on the novelty shots. Let's do better. 

  When I was eating some lunch after finishing my round, I looked on the wall of the club and saw this picture.

 I smiled, and it brought me back to my childhood. I still have this same picture in my collection of stuff. I received it when I was a kid, and I always wondered how the deer could be jumping out of the water, but the water is unbroken. Anyhow, it brought me back in time and genuinely made me happy for the few seconds I looked at it. I used to stare at it in my house for hours on end and try to figure out what the person was thinking when they put it together. 

  Another thing about the club is the fact that they have an amazing field course. I've seen a lot of field courses but not many that can compare to theirs. Sometimes we take things for granted, and I hope none of the members take that club for granted. They have a really long indoor range, their outdoor range is second to none, and the field course is amazing. They have a great kitchen, nice bathrooms and great, friendly people to welcome you. I appreciate all of those things. 

  I heard through the grapevine that Rob LeLacheur is the only one who has shot their field course since they put the targets up a short time ago. Well, I think I'm gonna take up field archery. When I was looking at his groups, I think I might be able to give him a run for his money. It'll me close, after all I'm an old guy who can't see well now, and he's a younger guy who fried a lot of his memory many years ago. Either way, here are some of his recent arrow holes from his four rounds. As you can see, he must've shot a bonus arrow. If Wags plays, he might pound both of us. 

  I spent Sunday at Catamount bowhunters to get more time behind the bow after making a few more changes. Then I spent Monday night at a local place to get more time behind it. I'm just trying to learn what I can as quickly as possible. Between the last 17 targets on Saturday, the 30 targets on Sunday and the 15 targets last night, I've only shot three 8s, and two of them were from misjudged yardage. I feel good about where the bow is at, but I still feel I have a ways to go. Thanks again to everyone involved in setting up and running the ASA events. I enjoyed all of them and appreciate all of the time, work and dedication that is required to bring shooters events to attend. 

 

3rd Leg of the IBO National Triple Crown

 

  Going into this event, I felt somewhat out of sorts. I didn't get any practice on any ranges other than my own, and the miserable weather limited my time behind the bow. I also figured I needed time away from the bow to clear my head. I've been battling many demons behind the bow and in my personal life, and these things have made it extremely difficult to concentrate. I went into the event with no expectations. 

                                                                  Practice Day

 When we got to the venue, all the guys decided to shoot the field round. I didn't want to do that, so I hung out and chatted with Darrin Christenberry and Tim Gillingham for a while. After discussing many things, including Tim telling me to try squeezing the trigger rather than shooting it with back tension, I headed to the practice bags. When I began shooting, I experimented with some of the things we talked about, and it felt pretty good. I'll have to dig deeper into the method when I have more time to experiment. Tim had good points, and I appreciated his insight on it. 

  When I finished shooting at the practice bags, I headed to the defense range to shoot with Darrin and Loren Lohr. I didn't really feel like shooting, and the other end of those feeling displayed what was going on in my head. I walked off the range feeling a little defeated, but I didn't put too much thought into it. I spent the next few hours waiting for the guys to finish shooting the field round, and the heat was almost unbearable. Finally, when they finished in mid-afternoon, they wanted to shoot some 3D targets, so I headed back onto the practice range with them. This time, I felt a little better and shot well. 

                                                                      Day 1

   Arriving at target 18 to start my day, I saw a bedded buck at the end of the lane. The target had its back to us and was set at a slight angle. It was a bomb, too. Larry Kade's courses are very predictable. He always has targets facing the opposite direction; he puts big targets closer than they are usually seen; he uses the middle numbers a lot;  nine out of 10 times the alligator is always between 45-50 yards; there are a lot of uphill shots; grazing does are almost always 45-50 yards. With the predicatability as it is, it makes shooting the bow of utmost importance because you basically know what you're going to get. Unfortunately, at this tournament, I just let my mind wander and didn't pay attention to all of the things that are regular occurrences. 

  My day started off on a bad note when I pegged the number but hit to the right of the 10-ring. As I made my way through the day, I had no interest in being there. We also had a discussion at my third target of the day when we were asked questions about what we could do to get more attendees at the tournaments. The idea of shootdown rounds was also brought up in conversation. Digger, Darrin and I offered our opinions, and the opinions weren't exactly welcomed. Instead, it appeared our ideas were not listened to at all, especially with the concerns considering the shootdown rounds. There isn't much way to make a comeback in an IBO shootdown round due to the targets chosen and the distances they are placed. It's already hard to 11 a 48-yard impala, but it's even more difficult to inside out one of the smallest rings. Then, I'm not sure you can inside-out a turkey with a big arrow. If targets were set at a variety of closer yardages mixed in with a few long ones, it will make the rounds more exciting with the possibility of shooters changing back and forth from arrow to arrow. It's a moot point, but that's what we talked about for a little bit. 

  At the end of the day, I walked off the course with my tail tucked between my legs. My inability to concentrate and focus led me astray. At day's end, I found myself in last place. The bottom is a lonely place, and a place that isn't nice when you're not used to being there. I definitely earned my placing. When the stone started rolling downhill, I couldn't stop it like I had in many previous attempts. I was thoroughly embarrassed as I headed to the car. Archery has come to the point this year that it simply isn't fun anymore. However, I'll finish my season with the next two events and see what happens. 

                                                               Day 2

  Going into Day 2, I had no idea what to expect, other than I knew it would be difficult to match the previous day's performance. I went into it with one thing in mind: show myself what I am capable of doing on a regular basis. 

  When I got to my stake, I greeted Jackie Caudle and Ted Richards. They asked me what I was doing on that stake with them. I told them that I had a rough day, like them, and we would have to see if we could all do better the second day. 

  My day started off well and continued that way for the first 10 targets. I shot relaxed, powerful shots and felt great about every shot. Shots flowed more smoothly than they have the entire year, and it brought me to a place I hadn't been in a long time. I felt like I could stand on my head and stay above par. Although I misjudged a few targets and hit both of them high, they were both good shots and landed above the 10. Near the end of my round, I could see a hole at the bottom of the 10-ring on the turkey, so I held my pin on it and hoped it would hit just above it. After executing a perfect shot, the arrow pierced the hole, and I thought I had the 10. However, the bottom of the 10-line was shot out, making it difficult to tell if the arrow was in or out. We ended up calling it out, but I believe it could've gone either way since there was no line. 

  I ended my day by shooting perfect shots on an alert deer and a long, downhill antelope, hitting the antelope barely to the right of the 11. I had made my comeback and felt like I belonged. This year has been a nightmare at times, and at other times, I feel like Superman. Unfortunately, I have yet to have two good days in a row this year. I think it's still in there, and I'll keep fighting until I can't fight anymore. 

  After tallying up the scores, I felt a small sense of relief to learn I had shot one of the highest scores of the day in my class. Going from the bottom to the top in a day confirmed what I had already known: I can still compete at the highest level when things are going well.  I finished the day a 3 up for a 203. 

 

My Final Thoughts on the Weekend

  I haven't shared too much with any of you about the things I've faced this year, but it has been a rough go. I haven't had a day this year when my mind has felt calm, centered and focused solely on archery. There seems to be all sorts of thoughts running through it that can lead to disaster if not harnessed. However, I feel like I'm always doing a good job keeping the dirty devil where he belongs... hidden. 

  Between dealing with my own health issues, as well as my family members' health issues, this year has been an all-out struggle to stay above water and tread it while trying not to drown. I've had water sloshing around in my lungs for a long time now, and I almost swallowed the air with it last weekend. I didn't even fight to keep from being pulled under. Instead, I gave in and let the demons of the depth pull me into the darkness. Once I arrived there and looked them in the face, I didn't like it. They overtook me and stuck pitchforks in my belly and needles in my eyes. I had succumbed to their power and felt helpless. I was lost, searching for my own soul and not knowing if I really wanted to do this anymore. I do it because it's fun, and it simply hasn't been fun lately. There are things going on in my life that are hard to deal with while also performing at a top level. Although I've shared a few things, I won't get into the depth of anything else. I'm doing the best I can, and trying as hard as I can, maybe too hard at times. I'd also like to apologize to anyone who was around me when I was overwhelmed on Saturday afternoon when we were eating after the round. Over the years, I've had a way of withstanding all the blows given to me. I will find the path and walk through the walls to a better place. I appreciate all of your support, whether it be by text, phone calls or in general conversation. I appreciate each and every one of you. I just think sometimes it's good to know that everyone struggles. There are great times and not so great times in life... and in archery. If you haven't experienced them yet, you will. It's your job to figure out how to navigate the tough times. 

  I'd like to congratulate a few people. Dave Ferguson never ceases to amaze me. He won the third leg, and this means he won two out of the three legs. This is a feat that is unbelievably hard to accomplish. He deserves these wins, and he works really hard like the rest of us. It's great to see my friends achieve things like this because I enjoy their success as much as they do. Congratulations, Dave. Great job. 

  Christine Bushey went into the weekend with a chance to come home a Triple Crown Champion. I've slept on that before, and that can lead to some restless nights in the month leading up to the last leg. However, there's no place I'd rather be. She withstood all challengers and wrapped up the championship. She's a fighter and good is never good enough... she strives to be Great! Incredible job, Christine. It's been a pleasure to watch you from afar. 

  Haylee Yamin found herself on the leaderboard in a pro class for the first time. That can also wear on your nerves at night. You know you're in the hunt, and. you have to hold on the next day. It shows you that you belong. I was excited to see Haylee give herself a chance going into the second day. She beat and hung tight to many of the best of the best. Great job, Haylee. Keep at it and you'll find the way to the top in no time. 

  Derek Eastman won what I believe is his first national event, taking down one of the best shooters, Blake Kitching, who has ever competed in the MBR division. Although the division doesn't have the high number or shooters that it used to, Kitching is still a tough guy to beat and has the hardware to prove it. Congratulations, Derek. Here's to much more success in the future. 

  Jake LaFontaine brought game with him to the bowhunter defense shoot-off and gave it a great run. He mowed down some really tough competition and found himself with a chance to win $1,000. He came up just short and took home a $500 check for second place. Congratulations, Jake. It was great to watch you perform. 

  And the guy I just can't help but mention is my buddy Zac Mull. This guy is one of the best shooters I've ever had the pleasure of shooting with or against. His shot is great. He's a mental warrior, and he comes to win. He's got game, and he can intimidate anyone who watches him shoot. Zac ran the table and won all three events of the Triple Crown, which led to him being crowned as the National Triple Crown Champion. Congratulations, Zac. Your shooting amazes me, and I love watching you beat up on other people. I'm always rooting for you, and hope you see continued success. I'm also thankful I don't have to shoot against you anymore. I'm not sure I have the ability to keep up with the pace you have set. ... it's phenomenal. 

  While I've missed many others, these were the ones that were in my mind when I was finishing this up. Congratulations to everyone else who laid it down. I hope those of you who had a weekend similar to mine will find a way to put it behind you and work toward your next event. On to 

Cincinnati ... or maybe we should say the IBO World this time.