The Millard South archery team is a club unknown to many students, but the lack of spotlight doesn’t stop the group from coming together to bond and work on their archery skills.
“It’s a really fun team,” three-year member Jaedyn Colman said. “A lot of my friends are on it, and that just makes it a really good environment to be in, and a great community to be a part of.”
The team is coached by Disney Elementary PE teacher Amanda Smith, Holling Heights PE teacher Corey Lorenz, and certified coach Jason Schleimer.
The long-awaited team has only formed at the high school level within the past few years, so they are still getting their footing in trying to expand to new students.
“It is a culmination of many years,” Lorenz said. “It’s an amazing feeling, honestly, just to see the growth of archery kids who started in elementary, went through middle school, and now we get to see them at their final peak performance as an archer.”
While many members have gone through these levels, the team is also open to those who have never held a bow before.
“I love it,” senior Jack Pueppke, who had never previously done archery before joining the team, said.
“I originally joined because a lot of my friends were on the team, but now I really look forward to shooting,” he said.
There is much to gain from participating in archery, with some members viewing it as a way to connect with their peers.
“It reminds me of my childhood honestly. I get to be with all my childhood friends,” eight-year member, Issi Simpson said.
Others, such as senior Tyler Heisler have stayed on the team because he “hunt[s] deer with another bow, and shooting [on the team] gives [him] more practice.”
The group meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Holling Heights Elementary School to prepare for the NASP state competition in March which takes place at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln.
“Going to state in archery isn’t like any other sport,” seven-year member, junior Hayden Posten said. “It’s very direct. Everything goes on at once. You just line up then go, so it’s really quick.”
The tournament hosts dozens of schools and has great opportunities to connect with new people, earn scholarships, and win state titles.
“The first year I did state, I didn’t expect it to be that way at all, and it was in this large warehouse,” Colman said. “There were a bunch of schools there that I had never even heard of before, and it’s really fun to see how many people gather to do archery since it’s like a lesser-known thing.”
Last year, Millard South placed 7th in the tournament, and both students and coaches are hoping to improve their standings even more in the upcoming season.
“It’s neat to be able to tell a high school archer ‘Hey try this’ and then you guys implement what we tell you and find success,” Lorenz said. “For elementary, I could tell them a thousand times and it’s like yeah, there’s no change. To be able to see the higher skill level and focus in high school is really good.”
The current team is comprised mostly of seniors, so many are trying to spread the word to keep the program alive.
“We really want people to join, and don’t be scared! It’s not a large commitment,” Colman said. “The practices are literally 45 minutes, two nights a week, it’s really just a fun hobby to do. It’s fun to be able to tell people that you do archery because a lot of people, their jaws will drop.”