The Van Buren County Archery Club wrapped up one of its most successful seasons in program history, capping the year with a trip to the National Tournament in Lexington, Kentucky in May, according to head coach Sonya Love-Smith.
The season began in November with a record 47 archers and six volunteer coaches. Over the course of the year, the club participated in 12 state qualifying bullseye and 3D tournaments, the Iowa State Bullseye and 3D Tournament, and the National Bullseye and 3D Tournament.
Season Highlights
The high school team averaged 259 as a unit, while the middle school team averaged 182. Individual high scores for the season were led by senior Audrey Smith in the high school girls division with a 287, sophomore Ben Wells in the high school boys division with a 281, Paisley Barker in the middle school girls division with a 262, and William Robertson in the middle school boys division with a 283.
Van Buren County also hosted two tournaments this season — a dual meet against Mount Pleasant in early December and the 2nd Annual Robert Adams Memorial Tournament on December 20th, which drew 268 bullseye archers from 13 teams and 221 3D archers from 13 teams.
State Tournament Results
At the Iowa State Tournament, the high school bullseye team placed 23rd out of 44 schools with a score of 3,247, shooting 132 tens. The high school 3D team placed 17th out of 34 schools with a score of 1,646 and 76 tens. Smith was a standout performer, placing 14th out of 535 girls in the state in bullseye with a score of 285 and 18th out of 252 girls in 3D with a score of 280. Sophomore Thomas Roberts placed 17th out of 320 boys in the state in 3D with a score of 283.
Several middle schoolers also competed at the state level in bullseye. Eighth grader William Roberts scored 272, Paisley Baker scored 253, Lincoln Mahon scored 251, and Calen Brown scored 243. Roberts also competed as an individual in the 3D event, scoring a 275.
Two additional highlights came from the state tournament podium. Senior Lily Berner was randomly selected to receive a $500 scholarship, while Audrey Smith was awarded the $1,000 Haney Family Foundation Senior Scholarship, which is essay-based. Smith was also named to the International Bowhunting Organization 3D All-State Team, an honor determined by combining an archer’s highest regular season score with their state tournament score.
National Tournament
Both the high school bullseye and 3D teams qualified for the National Tournament in Lexington, Kentucky — a significant achievement for the program, which had qualified last year but was unable to attend due to logistical challenges. This year, the club worked around district track scheduling to accommodate all archers who wanted to make the trip.
On May 8th and 9th, the high school teams competed against some of the largest fields in the country. The bullseye team placed 175th out of 262 schools, while the 3D team placed 85th out of 225 schools. To put the scale of the event in perspective, the Eastern Nationals tournament featured 6,997 female and 7,306 male archers in the high school bullseye division alone, along with 4,003 female and 4,307 male archers in the 3D division. While no individual placed in the top 20, Love-Smith said the coaches were proud of how the team performed at an event of that magnitude for the first time. Three personal records were set at Nationals — Logan Adams shot a 270, Cora Markley shot a 262, and Lily Berner shot a 277.
The team also learned their scores qualified them for the Championships in Orlando, Florida. However, due to the cost of attending and an insufficient number of students able to make the trip to form a full team, the club will not be attending. “As coaches, we are super proud of our archers for doing a great job and getting qualified,” Love-Smith said. “Maybe next year we will qualify and be able to attend.”
Academic Recognition and College Commitment
The National Archery in the Schools Program also recognizes academic excellence. This year, 30 Van Buren County archers — both middle school and high school — earned academic archer recognition by maintaining a 3.25 cumulative GPA with no D’s or F’s at the end of the first semester.
In another first for the program, Audrey Smith signed her letter of intent to compete in archery at Grandview University in Des Moines — the club’s first-ever college recruit. Smith plans to study elementary education and has expressed her intention to return to Van Buren County to teach and help with the archery club after graduation.
Farewell to Six Seniors
This year’s graduating class is the largest in program history with six seniors — Lily Berner, Maddax Brecount, Ethan Pforts, Kayden Simmons, Audrey Smith, and Ben Wells. Maddax, Ethan, Kayden, and Audrey have been with the club since its founding in the fall of 2022.
Love-Smith expressed gratitude to the community for four years of support. “Archery has provided a place for students who may not be able to or want to do other team sports to participate and be successful,” she said. “We have seen students become more focused, encouraging, and confident. We look forward to next year and a new season.”
