20 centimeters. That’s the difference between a 10 or a zero, and a team win or loss by the standards of Hillsdale College’s new archery team.
Sophomore Josh Brown, founded of the Archery club last spring to provide more extra-curricular club sports to students.
Brown took initiative, completed monotonous paperwork, and legwork in founding the first bow and arrow club in Hillsdale’s history.
First, Brown met with Bartley Spieth, the Range Master of the Shooting Sports Center and the Archery faculty advisor.
“Spieth told me the success of the club was directly reliant on student leadership. I wanted to provide a club where students could go to relieve stress from classes or work, just like how people go to the gym to play basketball,” said Brown.
Brown officially started the club last spring and attained club team status, acquiring club funding in order to compete against other clubs. Brown said he was considering competitions in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois for his six to seven archer team. Competitions vary anywhere from 20-yards indoor to 80-yards outdoor, requiring careful selections in entry depended on team skill.
After the Source this semester, the Archery team email list reached 31 recipients, and is still growing.
Hillsdale College’s 90-meter Olympic-standard archery range was completed last year. The 72-acre plot housing both the firearm and archery range was purchased by Hillsdale College in 2008 to develop their professional shooting program. The archery range is 100 feet wide, and can handle up to 40 archers on the shooting range line.
The trained facility directors take every precaution to create a safe range.
“Our range commanders ensure no one is ever down range while equipment is handled, and all practices are structured and controlled,” said Spieth.
Spieth and Brown are working together in planning matches against other club teams.
“We have no competitions planned yet, but competitions are what had in mind when building the facility. We are narrowing down practice schedules and are looking for staff and volunteers to help,” said Spieth.
Spieth was enthusiastic about the future of the Shooting Sports Complex.
“We are working towards competitive archery and pistol teams, and this may be the first step towards them. Just as Emmanuel Boyer was a catalyst for the shotgun team’s varsity status, this club could be for archery,” said Spieth.
Spieth attested to Brown’s goal of providing an escape from the stress of everyday life.
“My archery class differs from the firearm classes in that the archers hang out at the range after class to enjoy the beautiful, serene atmosphere which appeals to most classes.”
