The Van Buren County Archery program will send 29 archers to the NASP State Tournament at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, qualifying for the fourth straight year — a streak that head coach Curt Goudy called a dynasty in the making during a send-off ceremony for the team.
The program, which started in the fall of 2022, has qualified and sent members to state every year of its existence. Van Buren County Archery fields both middle school and high school archers who compete individually and as a team in both Bullseye and 3D tournaments throughout the season. Teams include both male and female archers and require 12 members to field a full squad. Competition at the state fairgrounds is scheduled with 3D shooting at 1:00 p.m. and Bullseye at 3:30 p.m. on March 28th. A perfect score is 300, and the program’s top score is 294, set by Audrey Smith at a Cardinal tournament during the 2023-24 season.
The Bullseye Middle School individual qualifiers are Paisley Baker, Calen Brown, Malik Huntington, Lincoln Mahon, and William Roberts, who is pulling double duty by also qualifying for 3D Middle School.
The High School Bullseye and 3D qualifiers are Logan Adam, Ian Arbogast, Kaycee Bell, Lilly Berner, Kiera Bird, Cody Blind, Maddax Brecount, Gwen Conley, Aubrey Cram, Noah Duncan, Michelle Gordy, Randi Grimm, Beau Johnson, Caden Keefe, Cora Markley, Ethan Pforts, Thomas Roberts, Conner Sedore, Jayce Simmons, Kayden Simmons, Audrey Smith, Brody Smithburg, Gabby Titus, and Ben Wells. Seniors on the roster include Lilly Berner, Gwen Conley, Ethan Pforts, Audrey Smith, and Ben Wells.
At the send-off, Coach Goudy addressed the team with a message centered on the program’s growth and the mental demands of the sport.
“Four years ago, qualifying for State was a massive goal,” Goudy said. “Today, thanks to your hard work, it’s a Van Buren tradition. You haven’t just built a team; you’ve built a powerhouse that the rest of the state has to look out for.”
Goudy acknowledged the seniors specifically, noting they were freshmen when the four-year qualifying streak began. “You are the anchors of this culture,” he said. “You’ve shown the younger archers how to handle the pressure and how to lead with humbleness. As you take your final state-level shots in this jersey, know that you’ve left a blueprint for excellence that will last long after you graduate.”
He closed with a message about the unique mental challenge archery presents. “Once that arrow leaves the rest, you can’t bring it back. You can’t dwell on the last end, and you can’t worry about the next flight. The only arrow that matters is the one you are nocking right now. So, when you step up to that line this weekend, take a deep breath. Settle into your stance. Anchor. And remember that you have an entire county behind you. Go out there, aim small, and bring it home.”
Coach Sonya Love-Smith said, “These kids have worked hard this season to earn their way to the state tournament. We are super proud of them and their dedication to the sport. We are looking forward to a great tournament!”
Photo courtesy of A.J. Roe.
