While some teams are wrapping up their seasons, Paoli Archery is just getting started! With 41 archers across three divisions, Coach Amanda Bowles and her team began their season on November 11 with their sights set on the State Tournament.

The team is divided into Elementary (16 archers in fourth and fifth grade), Middle School (12 archers in sixth through eighth grade), and High School
divisions (13 archers). Leading the high school squad are five seniors: Keegan Cox, Alivia Sweet, Cheyenne Madden, Angel Besande, and Tyler Ross.

Senior Alivia Sweet started in fifth grade as a member of the archery team.

“My goal for this season is to make it to state. I have never been, and it would be nice to go during my senior season,” said Sweet.

Sweet is working on skills that will help her be more successful this season.

“I’m working on locking in my release because it has been giving me some trouble this year,” said Sweet.

Fellow senior Cheyenne Madden started her career in sixth grade, but sat out until last season. This year,

she is hoping to make archery an activity that continues after high school.

“(I hope) to earn a scholarship and to get up and moving and interact with more people,” said Madden.

Right now, Madden is changing up her strategy in practice and in matches.

“To focus on my sight and posture to shoot perfect scores, rather than what I have been doing since archery started this year,” said Madden.

Senior Keegan Cox has also been an archer since elementary school, starting in fourth grade. In his practices, he is focusing on honing one specific skill.

“I am working on my bow kick,” said Cox.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, archers practice accurate aiming, arrow grouping, and repetition shooting from 10 and 15 meters—skills that will be tested in multiple tournaments throughout the season.

At tournaments, each archer shoots four rounds of five arrows at both 10 and 15 meters. The first round at each distance is practice, then the next three rounds count toward their score. It’s all about consistency and precision under pressure.

The big goal? The State Qualifier is at the end of January. Teams and individuals who qualify will head to Indianapolis for the State Tournament.

“My goal is for each of my archers to beat their personal bests

and qualify for the State Tournament—whether as a team or as individuals,” said Coach Amanda Bowles.