Cabell Midland's archery team aims for Nationals

ONA -- In three years, Cabell Midland High School's archery club has grown by the dozens, not only in the number of students but in the level of talent.

On Saturday, May 10, more than 30 students traveled to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the National Archery in the Schools Program's national competition.

Founder and Cabell Midland teacher Dale Martin said it's exciting to think about how fast the club has grown and what it's provided the students.

"There's so much that students are involved in, but there are those kids who just aren't part of that," Martin said. "We just want to get them involved in something, and we have kids who are sportsmen to kids who have never picked up a bow."

Martin, a longtime hunter and fisherman, stumbled upon NASP at a hunting and fishing expo in Columbus a few years back and realized it could be a successful program at Cabell Midland. The team has developed so much during the past three years that Martin is working to build a small facility on campus for the students to practice in.

Currently, they line up four at a time and shoot from 10 and 15 meters -- across Martin's classroom. The facility will cost between $25,000 and $30,000, and Martin said he hopes to have the facility built within the next two years.

Martin said archery teaches the kids about sportsmanship, teamwork and patience.

Many students have also learned how to shoot a bow, including senior Monica Urrutia. She moved to the area the year the program started and said shooting a bow was always something that interested her.