Access Granted, Target Acquired

The Alfred Archery Club received a grant for over $2000 worth of equipment this semester, consisting of bows, targets, arrows and gadgets for professional shooting. The money will also be used to build more wooden stands for the targets themselves.

Sophomore Catherine Sahi obtained the grant from Easton Sports, which has recently been promoting college archery. By working with Jeff Porter, Director of Alfred’s Sponsored Research Department, Catherine was able to complete an application for the grant.

Sahi has been shooting recurve archery since she was nine years old. Since then, she has spent nine years shooting competitively at local, regional, national and international levels. At fifteen, Sahi joined a National Development Team for two and a half years where she trained at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. Before coming to Alfred, Sahi was ranked fifth in the nation and made it to the Junior U.S. Archery Team. She is also a National Archery Association certified Level II coach.

“Ultimately, I would like to see a full competitive archery team that can represent Alfred at regional and national tournaments,” said Sahi of the club’s new opportunities. In her opinion, the quality of the new equipment will keep members and first-timers interested in the sport. She hopes to develop both a competitive and leisurely atmosphere among the members. Sahi also wants to see the formation of a youth archery program in the community of Alfred in the future.

“I would be very happy to see the club attend archery competitions as a team,” said sophomore and President of the Archery Club Ryan Grohsmeyer. Grohsmeyer has been shooting for about fifteen years, first using a stickbow, then a fiberglass one and now his own hand-made, wooden recurve bows. He has not competed nationally; his biggest competition was the Traditional Classic at Baltimore Bowmen. However, Grohsmeyer started throwing atl-atls in 2004 and went on to win the International Youth Championship in 2005.

While the club is still a place for members to enjoy themselves and improve their shooting, Grohsmeyer wouldn’t mind some competitions. He especially likes the new industrial foam targets, which are quite durable, and the new take-down bows, or bows with detachable limbs. “I think it may be easier to teach members to be more consistent with the new bows,” he said, stating that the equipment could ultimately help members get really good at the sport. Now, there are many more bows than members.

If you are interested in lessons, recreational shooting, or competing, the club meets every Saturday at 4 P.M. in Davis Gym. All skill levels and bow types are welcome, as is personal equipment. Visits to nearby competitions in the future are now an even greater possibility for this growing club.