Article published Mar 19, 2008 in the Granville Sentinel

Students qualify for archery nationals

CHARLES A. PETERSON
Sentinel Editor

"I need to work on the 15 meters more," Chandler said, referring to his aim for that distance in comparison to the 10 meter shoot.

"You have to focus more on your form. If you drop your bow (in the) 10 meters, it goes a little low, but is probably still in the yellow," explained Rachael, describing the circles of color around the target's bull's-eye. "But if you do it at 15, it goes a lot lower."

Both get a chance to display their improved form May 10 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, when they and 18 teammates from GIS return to the national meet. They earned the right with a third-place finish in the Ohio National Archery in the Schools Program Championships this month in Columbus as part of the Arnold Fitness Classic.

One middle-school student, Candace Danby, also is competing at nationals. She placed an impressive third in the state meet in the middle-school division, then competing in the all-grades division that included high school students.

The Granville Archery in the Schools Program has been supported with grant funding through the Granville Education Foundation. Meredith Ervin, GIS physical education teacher, is the program's adviser.

"I'm very proud of what we accomplished at state," she said. "It's a huge accomplishment for the students involved, for our program, and for Granville schools."

The GIS team finished third in state competition behind Maysville and Meigs. GIS sixth-grader Isaac Maurer had a score of 250 out of a possible 300, with six bull's-eyes. Teammate Rachael Schulze had 248, placing fourth. Chandler Morris scored a 247 with six bull's-eyes. Fifth-grader Jett Nye (231 points.) had eight bull's-eyes and sixth-grader Reilly Tallentire (186) also had six. Fifth-grader Emily Crock was among GIS's top shooters with 222 points.

Danby might have put forth the most impressive performance, however. After she scored a 262 out of 300 to place her third in the middle school female division, she participated in the all-grades shootout that included high-schoolers. In a shoot-off round she scored a 44 including two "dead-on" bull's-eyes, right behind scores of 46 and 45 by two high school shooters.

"They (judges) were right down there with flashlights," Ervin said of their close examination of the bull's-eyes.

Candace practices at the Broken Arrow Bow Hunters Club and began as an archer when the program was introduced two years ago at GIS. She normally practices twice per week.

"When (the nationals) gets closer I'll work for longer periods of time," she said.

She's also working on form.

"I guess I'm trying to improve my posture," she said. "That usually helps me focus better."

The students use Genesis compound bows approved by NASP, through the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Ervin said. They shoot they shoot three rounds at each distance with five arrows in each.

Finding practice times and locations has been a challenge for the team, Ervin said.

"We basically just do it in P.E. They have to practice on their own, so we're relying on the parents," she said.

Several use the facility owned by Rachael's dad, Paul Schulze, on Deeds Road. Others go to Broken Arrow and Buckeye Outdoors.

Others who will be part of the GIS team at nationals are: sixth grade -- Justin King, Dane Heughebart, Casey Lenfest, Matt Kaercher, Sam Gress, Noah Hosack, Kendall Griesse and Kaitlin Lebovitz; fifth grade -- Josh Richards; and fourth grade -- Bryce Richards.