"I think she's on her way to being better than me," said Allison. While her classmates play basketball, Siekert steps behind a curtain on the auditorium's stage and practices archery.Įd Allison, a custodian at the school and experienced bowhunter, sometimes stops by to check on Siekert. Yet she has taken to archery with enthusiasm. Cancer and a stroke left her without the use of her right arm and compromised her vision. Siekert provides one of the most striking examples. But like golf, archery only records the score, not the size or style of the shooter. The DNR brass received some expert instruction from Derick Peters and Brandon Johnson, shooters from Cadott High School who placed in the top dozen of their division.Īll conceivable athletic abilities and physiques were displayed among the 520 shooters. Frank emphasized the department's support for the program that "provides a fun challenge to kids while teaching attention to detail, focus and discipline."įrank and Tom Hauge, DNR wildlife chief, also took a few shots on the line. The students were addressed by DNR Secretary Matt Frank at the state shoot. "The focus is on archery and archery only, not gadgets or fashion." "This creates a level playing field and eliminates any nonsense that humans sometimes get into," said Bruce Trimble of Wisconsin Rapids, lead organizer for the state shoot. The maximum score for each arrow is 10 points.Īll of the bows, arrows and targets are identical. NASP uses a 300-point scoring system - 15 arrows are shot from 10 meters, 15 from 15 meters. "Every arrow provides instant gratification," said Schroeder. Safety assured, the rewards of the sport start flowing immediately. "The kids really learn to fall in line and not mess up. "The entire process is organized and controlled by whistle commands," said Schroeder. While some school officials might balk at the prospect of flinging arrows in class, Schroeder said the program has an outstanding safety record. Four of the manufacturers of NASP equipment are based here: the bow (Brennan Industries, Sparta), targets (Field Logic of Superior and Rhinehart Targets of Janesville) and a bow stand (Archery Shooter Systems of Endeavor). Though it started elsewhere, the program has a distinct Wisconsin accent. Students from 15 schools competed at the state tournament, from schools as far south as Trevor in Kenosha County and as far north as Superior. More than 140 schools in Wisconsin offer NASP programs, said Dan Schroeder of Greenville, state coordinator. Attendance at the state shoot has roughly doubled in each of its four years. The Wisconsin program has shown steady increases, too. Originated in Kentucky in 2002, NASP has now spread to 46 states and several foreign countries. "This archery program is unparalleled for giving every child, regardless of ability, a chance to succeed." "I've coached everything from gymnastics to volleyball," said Kris Slattery, physical education instructor for the last 11 years at East Junior High School and head of the school's NASP team. And unlike many sports, archery doesn't handicap based on size, speed or strength. The sport often is lauded for its ability to teach discipline, concentration and self-confidence. In Wisconsin, NASP programs are run through a partnership of the Wisconsin Archery Alliance and the Department of Natural Resources.Īrchery is sometimes called the "sport of man since time began." It is practiced from rural backyards to the Summer Olympics. The program is designed for students from fourth to 12th grade. NASP-certified instructors provide the training teachers then lead the program at schools, typically a two-week unit in physical education class. NASP provides a package of equipment, training and curriculum to introduce archery to students at school. The event, held March 27 and 28 at East Junior High, was the fourth annual.
Siekert and Ottestad were among 520 students who competed at the National Archery in the Schools Program 2009 Wisconsin State Archery Tournament. He took aim and released.ĭifferent deliveries. The accomplished high school athlete used his two strong arms to draw the bow in conventional fashion. The 13-year-old cancer and stroke survivor from Rapids eyed the yellow center and, when everything seemed right, she unclenched her jaw and let loose the arrow.Ĭarl Ottestad of Osseo-Fairchild was in his own crowd of shooters. Somewhere toward the left flank, swallowed in a sea of white and yellow and green t-shirt-clad students, Katey Siekert aligned her left shoulder to the target and drew back her bow. Wisconsin Rapids - At the whistle, the kids toed the line, lifted their bows and focused on the concentric rings 15 meters down range.įor an activity with 100 kids from a dozen schools, the gymnasium at East Junior High School has likely never been quieter.
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