Local Junior Archers Exceed Expectations at Archery Competition

Just three weeks after forming the Rising Phoenix Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development Club (JOAD), head coach Brandon Wright decided to "test the waters" and bring five of his 22 young archers to the MSU Fall Classic in Lansing.

Much to Wright's surprise and delight, all five of his students – who are all between the ages of 8 and 10 – placed in the top half of their respective age categories at the Saturday event.

"We have had some good practices," Wright said, "but nothing that indicated the kids could shoot at this level so quickly."

In the Yeoman category for archers 9 and under, 8-year-old Travis Wright earned first place, 8-year-old Zach Milosevic placed second and 9-year-old Jacob Godoshian placed third. All three archers are from Washington Township.

In the Bowman category for archers 9-12 years old, 10-year-old Leonard resident AJ LaRoche placed second, and 10-year-old Washington Township resident Chris Iafrate placed third.

Most impressive, Wright said, is how two of the five young archers "picked up a bow for the first time just weeks ago."

He added, "They really stepped it up for this event."

For more information about Rising Phoenix archery visit www.risingphoenixarchery.com or www.michiganarchery.net