West Penn Archery wins state title – Times News Online

The first known use of the bow and arrow was by the Babylonians in 2340 BC.

Throughout the centuries, man has tried to master the ancestral weapon both for hunting and for sport.

Recently, a group of young people from the region were recognized for the progress they have made in this area.

West Penn Archery Club’s Eagle team – made up of four girls and two boys aged 9 to 11 – won the S3DA Pennsylvania State Championship in February at an event in Lebanon.

The club, located on Archery Club Road in Tamaqua, is in its infancy when it comes to competitive archery. But that didn’t stop him from earning the state’s highest honor.

The team is coached by Karl Bachert, assisted by Glenn Mummey, Steve Yerger, Brian Melochick and Mike White. All coaches must be certified in the sport.

Mummey, who resides in Hometown and served as the club’s spokesperson, explained what the West Penn Eagle team needed to accomplish to win the state title.

“In this age group, archers shoot at targets 10 meters away. Paper targets have five dots with inner and outer circles,” Mummey explained. “Each archer shoots five arrows, six different times. Hitting the inner circle scores five points for the team and hitting the outer circle scores four. No points are awarded for failure. »

Murray said the bows shoot between 23 and 34 pounds – depending on the strength and ability of the archer. An electronic device measures the speed of the arrows between 136 and 157 feet per second.

“Archery at this level is all about participation,” Mummey said. “Archers can choose which string pull is right for them based on their strength level and tournaments are run so as long as you go to a region you qualify for the States…and if you go to the States , then you are eligible for the national tournament.

Develop the program

The success the team has had this season was just an added bonus according to Mummey, who cited the fun, learning and bonding among team members as some of the benefits that come from participating.

The next step for West Penn Archery is to expand the program and increase its membership. Last season, nine youngsters took part in the program – Tyler Buchman, Rylee Campbell, Eva Melochick, Lilly Parks, AJ Mummey, Lilly Rogers, Emily Buchman, Levi McCullian and McKenzie Campbell.

S3DA (Scholastic 3D Archery) sponsors competitions in four age groups – Junior Eagle, Eagle, Youth and Young Adult – which encompass boys and girls ages 8-18. Last season, West Penn had members competing in two age groups – Eagle and Youth. But the club hopes to eventually sponsor teams in all four age groups.

The state championship was far from the only highlight of the season, however.

Several members of the West Penn team traveled to Kentucky for the Nationals after their performance in the United States. Although none of the youngsters from the region returned with national medals, they put in exceptional performances.

Among the highlights, Mummey’s son, AJ, equaled his personal best scoring 25 points with five arrows in the bullseye.

Archery ‘seasons’

There are three “seasons” or disciplines sponsored by S3DA:

• The 5 Indoor Spot which runs from the end of December to spring

• The 3D, which kicked off recently with a regional tournament in Liberty, Pennsylvania on May 14th.

• Filming on the outdoor field, which begins on July 2. The outside targets are images of animals placed on hay bales 25 yards away in an effort to prepare some of the older archers for the fall hunting season.

The mission of S3DA (Scholastic 3D Archery) is to “promote, educate and guide young people in the fields of indoor, 3D (three-dimensional) and outdoor target archery, as well as target hunting practices. ‘safe and ethical arc’.

The organization offers after-school archery programs with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in communities. Additionally, S3DA expects an increase in participation at target archery events at local, regional and national levels. The program emphasizes understanding and respect for our natural resources, wildlife conservation and regulated sport hunting.

Tournaments are held in many locations across the country. After traveling to Kentucky in the spring, West Penn has a new destination for some of its members this summer.

“We’re going to Rend Lake, Illinois for a competition next month,” Mom said.

A look ahead

Mummey hopes the growing popularity of archery will soon help form an area school league that the PIAA will sanction as an interscholastic sport. He also highlighted how it could secure college scholarships for participants.

“The particularity of archery is that it is less physically demanding than other sports,” he said, “and in addition to the skills acquired which are specific to the bow and arrow, children also learn teamwork while remaining independent.

“They also learn etiquette during competition. When there are up to 80 archers on the line at the same time preparing to shoot, children learn to stand and stay still if there is someone next to them in the middle of a draw or ready to shoot. shoot so as not to disturb the concentration of the shooter. .”

The bow and arrow have come a long way from the primitive devices the Babylonians used over 4,000 years ago – and thanks to the efforts of Mummey and the West Penn Archery Club – the sport of archery continues to evolve and prosper in the region today. .

Members of the West Penn Archery Club team were, front row, left to right, AJ Mummey, Lilly Rodgers, Emily Buchman, Levi McCullian and McKenzie Campbell. Back row are Tyler Buchman, Rylee Campbell, Eva Melochick, head coach Karl Bachert and Lilly Parks. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO