Five area archers are nationals bound

Two archers from Nodaway Valley and three from Orient-Macksburg have the prestigious distinction of being national archery qualifiers. They will compete this week at the National Archery in Schools Nationals, held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fifth-grader Aby Scovel and seventh-grader Everett Ehler are the two who qualified from Nodaway Valley.

Scovel was fifth place among elementary girls at the state meet to qualify in 3D. Ehler took eighth among middle school boys in 3D to qualify. The division of 3D has archers shooting from two different distances at animal targets.

Scovel said she was a bit nervous going into the state tournament in March.

“I was surprised because I got a lot of 10s, and I didn’t know I could do that,” Scovel said of her good scores. “I like 3D more than bullseye because it’s more interesting shooting at the different animals’ body types.”

Scovel’s goal is to concentrate and do her best while at nationals.

“I think I’ll be a little nervous, and it will be really big with a lot of people there,” Scovel said.

Ehler has made it to state for three years, but this is the first time he’s qualified individually for nationals. He went last year as part of a team that qualified and hopes that experience can propel him to success as an individual there this season.

“There are a lot of kids from around the country that go, and you meet a lot of new people,” Ehler said. Last year he became friends with an archer from New York. “I went to nationals last year for the team in 3D. Having been there last year should help me a lot because I’ll know what it’s like. It’s a lot less strict than state, which kind of surprised me. Last year we had to get up at 5 a.m. to shoot, it was a really late night, and I barely got any sleep, but it was a really fun day that day. It was a great learning experience on how to shoot there and have fun.”

Ehler’s goal is to shoot over a 280 at nationals. He feels that is an attainable goal.

Myka Hanscom, Brysen Shinn and Eli Campbell are Orient-Macksburg’s three nationals qualifiers.

Hanscom was first in seventh grade, middle school and overall girls at state in bullseye. Campbell was second among middle-schoolers, first among eighth graders and seventh overall among boys in bullseye.

Hanscom and Shinn have also each qualified in 3D.

Hanscom was fourth among middle-schoolers, second among seventh graders and sixth overall among girls in 3D. Shinn had the third-highest score of middle schoolers, was second among eighth graders and 12th among boys in 3D.

Shinn is a second time qualifier, however the first time he qualified was during the COVID-19 pandemic, so nationals was in an online format.

Hanscom was the youngest archer ever to win a state championship, regardless of division, in bullseye.

“I didn’t think I would accomplish it, but I’m very excited for it. In bullseye, positivity helped me, and having my confidence. In 3D, my shooting partner was really nice and that helped. My goal is to hopefully place and go on to Champions,” Hanscom said. Champions is the next round available to top finishers at nationals.

Campbell felt he was doing better in 3D throughout the season but came on strong at state in bullseye. Campbell enjoys 3D the most because anything you’re shooting, you’re scoring.

“It was fun at state because I had my family and friends there to watch while I was shooting. It was a really good time,” Campbell said. “My goal would be to make it to the champions round, like Myka said.

To get back to nationals and actually be able to compete is an exciting though for Shinn.

Shinn said he feels stronger in bullseye, but a lot came together at the right time for his 3D rounds to be strong enough to give him his nationals berth.

“I just shot, and I didn’t think about it,” Shinn said, speaking of the concentration and focus doing well in archery requires.

For Orient-Macksburg, as one of the smallest public schools in Iowa, to have three nationals qualifiers, is a very big deal to the entire Bulldog team and coaches.

“I think it’s pretty special because there are some big schools I know of who didn’t even qualify for nationals this year,” Campbell said.

“Most people expect the big schools to achieve it and not the little schools,” Hanscom said.