For the second consecutive year, Columbia Academy claimed all three levels in archery, winning the MAIS AAA state championship in elementary, middle school and high school.
Archery coach Mike Barber said it was sweet to win back-to-back titles at all three levels, especially with the rise in competition and nearly 7,000 archers participating.
“I knew before we got on the bus that we should win all three. I didn’t tell the kids that but some of the older kids saw some of the scores coming in at state. There are about seven or eight MAIS schools whose programs have really gotten strong,” he said. “I told them it’s not always if you win, it’s how you win. You want to set the bar and do your best each time you line up.”
Barber said there was some concern, however, because he felt like the team had already peaked two days before competition April 4 at the Kirk Fordice Equine Center in Jackson, but its experience paid off.
“Every year I see young kids scared to death because it’s a big floor, there’s a lot of people and it’s a lot of pressure, but from our fourth graders all the way to our seniors nobody was fazed,” he said. “There were no nerves, and that probably comes from competing 18 to 20 times a season. They’re conditioned and ready to go.”
There were several CA archers in each division that shot perfect 50s, which fired the team up, according to Barber. The elementary team shot a 3,094, with the next closest team, Adams County Christian, shooting just a 2,529. The middle school won by more than 250 points, besting Winston Academy with a 3,133. The high school team set a new team record with a 3,363, topping Laurel Christian, who shot a 3,177.
Barber said when he took over the program four years ago that he had hoped it would become this successful, but he didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. The Cougars competed in around 20 tournaments this season, including at Dexter, Sumrall and West Marion, and never once got outscored.
“I wanted it to become that when we walked in, the competition knew not to bother. It sounds mean, but I just wanted the point that when they saw Columbia Academy they knew a great team was about to take the floor,” he said.
A score around 3,400 is considered nationally elite, which only Mendenhall High School reached in the entire state, and CA missed by only 37 points. Regardless of classification or public vs. private, the Cougars were the No. 3 team in the state behind Mendenhall and Simpson Academy, who is in AAAA.
The Cougars’ Top 12 at state was made up of only six high schoolers and included two middle schoolers and four elementary shooters.
“No other school ranked where we’re at had to do that,” Barber said. “Simpson Academy lined up 160 kids, and we only have 40.”
Kaitlyn “Bug” Pannell shot a team-high 293 to pace the high school squad, and Colby Creel and Jaylyn Bridgman both shot 290. Emily Garner shot a 289, Josh Stuckey 286 and Maci Eggan 283. Ethan King led the elementary team with a 283, followed by Eggan’s 278 and Carson Wesley’s 269. King led the middle school team as well, shooting a 276 while Eggan shot 275 and Cameron Rogers 270.
The Cougars aren’t done either. Columbia Academy is competing in nationals for the first time May 9 through May 11 in Louisville, Ken., which Barber called a reward trip for the top 24 Cougars for an outstanding season. But he also challenged his archers, asking whether they wanted to simply have a good time and shoot a respectable score or go for it.
“So far the 100 percent reply has been we want every point we can get out of it. As a coach that’s what you want to hear,” Barber said.
Barber’s goal going forward is to get his archers some extra help over the next few months to take the Cougars to an even higher level.
“It’s unreal what we’ve got with a limited kid count. But our main goal this year is to bolster our roster; seventh through 12th (grade) we want more kids,” he said.
Pictured Above: The Columbia Academy archery team captured its second consecutive sweep at the state championship April 4 in Jackson, claiming the MAIS AAA title in elementary, middle school and high school. The high school Cougars shot a 3,363, which was good for No. 3 in the entire state, despite having only 40 total archers on the team. The Cougars will be heading to Louisville, Ken., May 9 through May 11 to compete at nationals. | Submitted Photo
