Archers, take your mark

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Scurry County 4-H archery team finishes second at district competition

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  • Pictured on the front row are Scurry County 4-H Archery team members (l-r) Laramie Winkler, Kyle Beights, Whitley Anderson, Collin Maxfield, Bryson Rhoades, Evan Davis, Stayton Robinson, Grayson Barbee and Rykin McCown. On the back row are (l-r) coach Mike Hale, Shiloh Thomison, Jori Haynes, Micaiah Thomison, Lauren Rollins, Nathaniel Rocha, Cutter Thomison, Isaac Rocha, Jaxton Haynes, Allie Gullett and Jeremy Haynes.
    Pictured on the front row are Scurry County 4-H Archery team members (l-r) Laramie Winkler, Kyle Beights, Whitley Anderson, Collin Maxfield, Bryson Rhoades, Evan Davis, Stayton Robinson, Grayson Barbee and Rykin McCown. On the back row are (l-r) coach Mike Hale, Shiloh Thomison, Jori Haynes, Micaiah Thomison, Lauren Rollins, Nathaniel Rocha, Cutter Thomison, Isaac Rocha, Jaxton Haynes, Allie Gullett and Jeremy Haynes.
  • Scurry County 4-H archery team member Jori Haynes competes in the outdoor 3D shoot during the District 2 4-H Archery Contest on May 19.
    Scurry County 4-H archery team member Jori Haynes competes in the outdoor 3D shoot during the District 2 4-H Archery Contest on May 19.
  • Archer Bryson Rhoades takes his aim.
    Archer Bryson Rhoades takes his aim.
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The Scurry County 4-H Archery team had a successful competition season this year.
In only its second year of competition, the team finished second out of 16 teams at the 2017-18 District 2 4-H Archery Contest. The competition was held May 19 at the Floyd County Friends Unity Center in Lockney.
“I thought that finishing second overall was cool for it only being our second year,” Shiloh Thomison said. “It was really cool that all of our team was able to do good. I think if we’re able to get more endurance, that will help us a lot next year. I think everyone did good this year, and we saw a lot of improvement in everybody. Maybe we can get first next year.” 
Thomison, whose brother and sister are also on the team, said she enjoys the competitiveness in archery. 
While the Scurry County team was successful at district, Cutter Thomison also had his own success, finishing as the top individual out of 257 archers. He said he was excited when he found out his results.
“I’ve had a bow since I was little and would go hunting, but last year was the first year I did archery,” he said. “I shoot probably 250-plus arrows every day just to practice. Archery is fun and competitive, and I love shooting. Last year at district, I came in fifth place, so I was a lot more prepared and knew what to expect this year.” 
Micaiah Thomison said she’s learned a lot from her brother.
“Every time we shoot, my brother helps me a lot and has taught me a lot,” she said. “It’s cool to do archery with my brother and sister because I don’t do all the same hobbies they do. They do this hobby too, so I get to do something with them.” 
First-year archer Evan Davis got involved in archery when his friend gave him an old bow.
“I started shooting a target and was pretty good at it,” he said. “Archery requires a lot of patience because you have to focus on the target.”
Davis said he felt happy when Scurry County finished second at district.
“We would have come in first but Lubbock had more kids than us,” he said. “At district, we shot at 3D targets, which are foam animals. We were competing against all of the other counties.”
The district competition involved an indoor shoot and an outdoor shoot. For the indoor shoot, archers shot six rounds of six arrows for a possible score of 360 points. In the outdoor shoot, archers shot at 15 3D targets.
“You shoot a bow and arrow, and the goal is to get a 10x, which is in the middle,” first-year archer Bryson Rhoades said.
Second-year archer Lauren Rollins said she immediately fell in love with archery once she started.
“I was already in 4-H when I decided to try archery, and I loved it,” she said. “I love the community and the people that get involved. I’ve made lots of new friends since I started.”
Like Davis, Rollins said that archery involves patience.
“It’s a sport that involves patience, and it’s a sport that involves teamwork,” Rollins said. “You need to be working together with everyone.” 
While archery is one of many activities available to Scurry County students, it is also something that can provide opportunities in the future. Scholarships are often available to students who stick with archery through high school, and many colleges have archery teams.
To celebrate a successful season, the Scurry County 4-H archery team held an awards ceremony Thursday night where nine archers were recognized.
Cutter Thomison received the overall top shooter award.
Whitley Anderson and Davis received the most improved award.
Grayson Barbee received the most dedicated award.
Collin Maxfield received the most enthusiastic archer award.
Nathaniel Rocha, Kyle Beights and Jori Haynes received golden archer awards.
Anzlee Hale was recognized for helping out wherever it was needed.