A NEW LEVEL

DES MOINES — Nodaway Valley archery reached a new level at last weekend’s state tournament.

The Wolverines claimed their first state championships, qualified multiple teams and individuals for nationals, and delivered one of the program’s strongest overall performances at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The high school 3D team and junior Collin Akers each brought home state titles, highlighting a breakthrough weekend for a program that has steadily grown in recent years.

In all, three teams and two individuals qualified for the national tournament in May.

Freshman Myka Hanscom also earned a national berth, placing fifth individually in 3D with a score of 283.

Both Nodaway Valley middle school teams advanced as well, with the 3D team finishing ninth and the bullseye team 10th.

The high school 3D team title came down to the final shooters.

“We knew we were in the top 10 for 3D before our last couple of archers shot — I think we were sitting in seventh and only down by 24 points,” head coach Bill Newbury said. “[Taryn Gutierrez and Everett Ehler] came out and shot their best. We got done with that flight, and when they scored it, it was enough to put us on top and lock us into first place.”

Akers led the way with one of the top individual performances of the meet.

He won the 3D state title with a 296 out of 300 — a personal record — and added a 294 in bullseye, tying another personal best.

“I feel great, but I was nervous with all these other great archers here,” Akers said. “I was a little shellshocked when that happened.”

Akers said the 3D course presented its own challenges, particularly on smaller targets such as the coyote and turkey.

“For me, I have to aim off the target, but it just varies on the person,” he said. “By the time I got to the coyote and turkey I felt like I was going down, but as soon as I got to the ram, deer and antelope I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m pretty confident about this.’”

In bullseye, Akers said early nerves settled as the rounds progressed.

Starting at 10 meters, he felt pressure early in the flight before finding his rhythm at 15 meters, knowing consistent scores in the high 40s per round would put him in strong position.

Despite her national-qualifying finish, Hanscom said she expects more from herself.

“I think our team did well, but I personally wasn’t happy with mine — but overall, I think everybody did well,” she said. “I had hoped we would win as a team, but with the other big schools, I was nervous about how it would go. I’m glad we got to do it, and this motivates me as we go to nationals and for the rest of my career.”

Two seniors on the team also got to particpate in the state championship: Briley Bates and Lakota Whitney.

Whitney commented that prior success as a member of Orient-Macksburg’s team kept her confident that something like this was possible. While last year’s trip for the Bulldogs to nationals was extra sweet because it took all ages to complete it — Orient-Macksburg competed as a high school team but counted scores from all members to comprise the team score due to team and school size — she is excited to go again with the Wolverines.

Bates, who has shot for NV his entire archery career, said winning the state championship as a team is “pretty exciting.” He’s never gotten to go to nationals, so he’s excited for that experience the most.

The middle school bullseye team scored 3,217, while the 3D team posted a 1,621.

Bentley Miller and Ashby Melton led the bullseye group with scores of 279. In 3D, Melton shot a 276, while Miller and Amber Campbell followed with 274.

“They all did great,” Newbury said. “They all did their best, tried their best, and when it was all said and done, they did the best they could.”

In all, Nodaway Valley archers recorded seven perfect 50-point rounds in bullseye during the tournament, including efforts from Akers, Gutierrez, Lincoln Van Horn, Ehler and Campbell.

In 3D, Akers posted perfect scores on the deer and antelope targets, while Hanscom recorded a perfect score on the turkey.

The Wolverines set four new career highs in 3D and five in bullseye.

Freshman Mya Larson was also awarded a $500 scholarship through a random draw.

With plenty of momentum from state, Nodaway Valley returned to practice this week with its focus on nationals.

“This is huge,” Newbury said. “We beat everybody in our little sector of the world — Valley, Atlantic, Creston, Diagonal — and then we shot against teams out in eastern Iowa who are always on top. This will be the most we’ve taken down to nationals when it’s all said and done.

“It’ll basically be the same approach: it’s just another tournament. It’s a bigger venue, a lot more people and a lot more commotion. We just need to keep focusing on what we do, stick to our process, enjoy it and shoot the best that we can.”