Daviess County hosts Western Kentucky S3DA Archery Tournament

January 18, 2021 | 12:04 am

Updated January 17, 2021 | 8:57 pm

Marc Ray | For the Owensboro Times

Almost a year of anticipation for a chance to get back to competitive shooting was behind them, and area archers were ready to show what they had. 

Their chance came on Jan. 8-9 at the Western Kentucky S3DA Regional Indoor Archery Tournament held at the Daviess County at the Lions Club Fairgrounds.  With archers from across the region, plenty was to be said about the event. 

The event took place over two days with COVID-19 safety precautions in place and according to Tournament Director and Daviess County Head Coach Matt Murphy, it was a success. 

“The number one priority was to keep the archers safe,” he said. “We had two different doors to come in and out and masks were to be worn at all times and hand sanitizer was available throughout the building. … I don’t think anything, even COVID-19, could keep these kids from wanting to get better and compete at the next level.”

The regional tournament was home to 16 teams with a total of 160 archers from around the Bluegrass State and close to 300 spectators throughout the weekend.  Each archer was allowed to have two people come and support them in order to keep the numbers to an acceptable limit. But even with the numbers of spectators limited this year, that didn’t put a damper on the archers and their desire to keep helping one another. 

Daviess County assistant coach Amy Bradshaw saw moments within the tournament that caught her eye.

“Our older archers were taking the elementary age members under their wing and helping them learn to advance their abilities,” she said. “They are always ready with encouraging words and praise for the younger ones. Even though they are limited in how much assistance they can offer during the tournament, they are willing to take their time and help whenever they can.”

No matter what the scores were, archery seems to have a special bond between the participants. Every single student is learning, no matter the length of time they have been in the sport. 

When Owensboro Catholic High School Archery coach Rick Hayden and Assistant Coach Tom Rhodes were asked the one thing they’d like to tell their students, their response was simple.  

“We just want to see them do their best to improve one shot at a time.  We teach them to have fun, relax and don’t focus on the last arrow.”

Murphy said he would like to thank the sponsors of the event; Cedar Stix, Diane’s Family Bakery, Wendy’s and Little Kentucky Smokehouse.

Bradshaw summed up the event.

“I feel that this tournament gave the archers an opportunity to compete with their parents present and to show them how much they have improved,” she said. “This made the archers excited about this competition in particular.”  

Murphy agreed.

“I’m excited to be back coaching this great group of archers,” he said. “Even though COVID has put a damper on the economy, there is no way it can put a damper on these kids and keep them from what they love. And that’s shooting archery.”

January 18, 2021 | 12:04 am

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