PBHS archery club on target for growth

In just a few short months, Poplar Bluff High School’s archery club has gone from a concept for getting younger people involved in the sport to nearly 30 active members.

“It’s grown much faster and gotten much bigger than what we were anticipating,” said instructor Jim Akers. “We were hoping for a handful of kids and we’re well above that.”

After just three weekly meetings, Akers said, the students’ shooting abilities have grown exponentially.

PBHS sophomore McKenna Mills takes aim at a target before taking a shot during the most recent archery club meeting. DAR/Paul Davis

“Their skill level is increasing very quickly,” he said. “It appears as if they’ve been shooting for months instead of for a few short lessons.”

Heather Rommel, the club advisor at the high school, said she “knew there would be a lot of interest given the region we’re in, but it’s definitely gone better than I thought.”

At each Thursday night meeting, Akers noted, club members are divided into two groups.

Instructor Jim Akers (right) talks with Asher Gariepy about sight alignment while looking at a group of arrows he shot into the target. DAR/Paul Davis

“Half of the class will shoot while the other half learns some type of history or some type of education on archery or hunting. Then, we flip-flop,” he said.

The parents are very involved, he said, and the excitement in the students is obvious.

“It’s really refreshing to see how quickly they’re taking to it and their enthusiasm,” Akers said of the club’s members.

David Sanderson takes aim on the indoor range at Twisted Arrow during a club meeting. DAR/Paul Davis

Rommel agreed, saying there’s “a lot of enthusiasm.”

“Honestly, the club is great,” said sophomore McKenna Mills, who also shoots on the high school’s trapshooting team and loves to bowhunt. “Jim and Mrs. Rommel are helping me so much, and I see a lot of improvements by just showing up and shooting three rounds of arrows.”

Mills’ mother, Charlene Mills, said her daughter was “absolutely thrilled when she found out we were getting an archery club” at the school “because this is what she loves to do.”

PBHS archery club member Tyson Huddleston photographs his first-ever Robin Hood, which is one arrow shot into the back of another. DAR/Paul Davis

Freshman Dakota Armiger said she doesn’t really have much archery experience, other than a little shooting at her old school, but she’s enjoying the club and has a goal to bowhunt in the future.

As the club continues to grow, more topics will be taught, Rommel said.

“It’s not only getting the basics of archery skills, but also other skills they may need, like survival, hunting and things like that,” she said. “We’ll incorporate those things later on.”

Other clubs at Neelyville and Eminence high schools are seeing the same success, Akers noted.

In addition to the high school clubs, Akers also has established the “Southeast Missouri School of Archery,” which is part of the Scholastic 3-D Association, at his store, Twisted Arrow Archery in Poplar Bluff. It’s a separate club, but all school-aged archers are welcome.

“Any kids involved in their school clubs can come join that. It’s also open to students whose schools don’t have clubs,” he said.

Even better, Akers noted, is students in the School of Archery can compete for college scholarships.

That, according to McKenna Mills, is right up her alley.

“I’ve looked into several colleges with archery programs,” she said. “Hopefully, I can get far enough to earn a scholarship.”