Riverside Archery is Right on Target.
The team has been at Riverside for four years now and recently attended the state competition where the high school team placed 6th. The next stop is Nationals in Louisville, KY.
We are all very proud of our archers and are very excited to compete in Kentucky in May,” said said Angela Conner, head coach. “In 4 years we have exceeded what we ever thought possible but the hard work and diligence of these archers have proven we are Riverside strong and can’t wait to see what our archers do at Nationals!”
The High School Archers include:
- Lily Scott
- Dalton Gabriel
- Taylan Coyne
- Kaylee Sutphen
- Hunter Curtin
- Logan Stoops
- Jonah Double
- Giana McMullen
- Owen Maddix
- Caleb Dwyer
- Nolan Zona
- Samantha Baker
- Clayton Plassmeyer
- Patrick O’Leary
- Michael Zallo
- Alli McClain
- Jakob Johnston
- Ava Weisz
- Rebecca Baker
Four archers placed in the top 10 in PA:
- Lily Scott
- Dalton Gabriel
- Taylan Coyne
- Sam Eiler
Before heading to States, the team hosted its first State qualifying tournament this year.
The qualifying tournament was awesome,” said Angela Conner, head coach. “There were 219 kids there from 15 participating schools, some from as much as six hours away.”
Riverside’s team alone boasts 60 students from grades 6-12.
“It’s the biggest organization in Riverside,” Conner said.
The students participate through The National Archery in the Schools Program (https://www.naspschools.org). NASP is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4th – 12th. And through it, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.
According to NASP’s website, it is an activity that doesn’t discriminate based on popularity, athletic skill, gender, size, or academic ability.
“It’s a different kind of team sport. It’s open to any student. Its biggest supporters are professional educators. Teams come together around one thing: Archery.”
Since it’s origination the team has grown significantly and even promotes the Jim Kline Memorial scholarship for any graduating senior at Riverside.
“He loved archery, he loved the kids learning new things and what better way to keep his memory alive, Conner said.
Conner is joined by a team of assistant coaches: William Stoops, Shawn Baker, Kirby Double, Brenda Double, and Mike Kowalski. All the coaches are Basic Archery Instructor (BAI) certified.
“We have a strong support system with our our coaches, our families, and the school,” Conner said. “We couldn’t do it without all of them.”
The team is sponsored by and shoots at the Connoquenessing Valley Bowman Archery Club in Fombell and Talkin’Stick Game Calls in Ellwood City.
Conner said any student considering joining the team shouldn’t be intimidated or afraid to try archery. She said the participants use a Genesis Bow, which goes up to 20lbs and can be adjusted to lower poundage per the archer and we supply all of the equipment.
“Anyone can shoot a Genesis Bow,” she said.
And according to Conner, archery gives the students confidence, determination ,focus, discipline and pride in themselves.
“The kids just love it,” she said. “It gives them acceptance. It’s an individual sport where they can compete and prove themselves while still being a team sport. The program builds such confidence in the kids.”
Conner added that the students really love practice and being on the team has also improved their grades. It also provides kids who aren’t involved in other sports an outlet and a way to be competitive and accepted.
The archery season starts in September with practices on Mondays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Tournaments begin in February.
Conner said schools all over Pennsylvania compete against each other and then compete nationally provided they score high numbers.
For Conner watching the students grow and thrive and love archery is like winning a championship.
“To watch any kid shoot and get a bullseye is the best. They get so excited.”
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