Follow your arrow: Central to offer archery classes

Danasia Pierce is a senior at Central High School in Cape Girardeau who says she's always wanted to shoot a bow and arrow.

Being a big fan of the blockbuster "Hunger Games" movies certainly hasn't dampened her passion for the sport.

"Katniss Everdeen, oh my gosh," Pierce gushed, referring to the tough but vulnerable main character in the series and her signature bow and quiver.

This week, Pierce and her fellow physical education students have been preparing to shoot, which they will begin doing in earnest beginning Monday or Tuesday.

So far they've been learning safety commands and measuring their bowstrings, so when they're ready to shoot, they'll be able to maintain the proper stance and avoid injuries to themselves and others.

Meagan Davault pulls a string back to simulate a bow and arrow during an archery unit of the racket/recreation sports class Wednesday at Cape Girardeau Central High School.Glenn Landberg

Charity Huff, the students' PE teacher, has taught archery once before, when it began at the school this time last year.

She was trained last March by the Missouri Department of Conservation and then began teaching her students the following month as part of their regular PE curriculum. A grant from the department, through the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program, helped pay for training and equipment.

Huff said one of the main points of emphasis in archery is making sure students are trained to shoot only when signaled to do so.

"Everything we do is on command for safety," she said.

Once students are well versed in how to hold their bows and how far to draw back the strings before loosing their arrows, they're ready to line up in front of their targets.

Domonique Johnson pulls a string back to simulate a bow and arrow during an archery unit of the racket/recreation sports class at Cape Central High School Wednesday, April 27, 2016.Glenn Landberg

Then, they're taken through various games and exercises that teach them how to shoot in the same way players at the Olympics do.

"We have to have an entire gym," Huff said.

In the beginning, the focus is more on technique than accuracy. The accuracy builds over time.

Instead of being a strenuous sport that requires a great deal of upper body strength, archery is pretty all-inclusive, Huff said: "We have different tensions on our bows so we can adjust them."

A.J. Henderschott, the Conservation Department's outdoor education supervisor for the Southeast region, said he and his staff promote archery in Missouri schools because it's something for students of all skills levels.

Physical education teacher, Charity Huff, right, works with Alex Modglin to get his form right during an archery unit in the racket/recreation sports class at Cape Central High School Wednesday, April 27, 2016.Glenn Landberg

"Archery is one of those sports that most anybody can participate in," he said.

Not only does the sport build confidence and self-esteem, but the enthusiasm it generates has been found to spill over into attendance and academic performance.

"When you see the success this can (create) for a school, it's hard to say no," he said.

Since NASP's inception in 2002, more than 8 million students have participated in it nationwide, according to program materials.

In Missouri, more than 54,000 participate each year in more than 248 schools.

The best part, Henderschott said, is how safe the sport is if rules are followed properly.

"The only sport that is safer than archery is table tennis," he said.

CHS senior Landon Hays said he can't wait for the shooting to begin next week.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun," he said.

ljones@semissourian.com

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