After years of hard work and dedication, Columbia Academy is now home to the lone archery-only, on-campus facility in Mississippi.
When they first started in the building, the metal rafters and insulation were visible and there were only three targets, some worn-out arrows and just six used bows. Three years ago a drop ceiling and central air conditioning was installed to begin renovating what was just an empty metal building. This summer several new aspects were added to the facility to complete it, including large shelves for targets that are on wheels, 45 cubbies for archers to store their belongings, an arrow-repair station, a trophy display case and new carpeting.
It was carpeted in two colors that actually create natural shooting lines. Where the orange carpeting begins is the 10-meter line and where it ends and merges with the grey carpet is the 15-meter line. On the opposite end of the space, the grey carpet meets with more orange, creating the target line.
Barber said finishing the five-year project is huge for the school, the archery program, the archers and himself.
“It’s a gigantic symbol of pride,” he said. “Parents have worked extremely hard for this. We’ve had team members that have come through the program that contributed greatly as far as helping with the fundraisers and doing their part.”
The scope of the entire project has been enormous and was paid for with funds strictly raised by the program itself.
“We did this with zero school funds. We’re self-funded 100%,” Barber said.
The shelves for the targets are actually a big deal because they will add years to the targets’ life spans. Before they had to be stacked on top of each other, which would mess up their form over time.
“The sad part is we had a senior from last year walk back in here during the summer when it was completed to see it, and he never got to enjoy it. That really upset me a little bit and made me sad, but that’s part of life.”
Barber said he’s been in multiple junior college archery facilities, and he said the programs would do anything to have their own facility as nice as Columbia Academy’s.
“Most people when they walk in here can’t believe what they’re seeing,” he said.
Senior team captain Jaylyn Bridgman said when she first started with CA’s archery program, the Cougars were shooting outside and had just three targets. To have an archery-only facility with targets aplenty, she said it means everything to her and the Cougars.
“Seeing this and knowing how much dedication from the people who have put money into this, who worked really hard on it, who built all these shelves and everything, it’s really amazing,” she said.
Bridgman, who is planning to continue archery at William Carey next year, added that she absolutely didn’t think it would all get done before she graduated, but it’s a blessing to have it.
Bracey Digiovanni has been with the program for even longer than Bridgman, beginning eight years ago, and said it’s absolutely insane that the Cougars could have such a great facility.
“When we first started in fourth grade, we shot right by the field house where there’s an open area by the road. Now to see this carpet floor and all, it’s insane,” he said.
While it’s not big enough to hold large events, the facility allows CA to host practice matches with other schools without having to use the gym.
“I’m just so appreciative,” Digiovanni said. “We’re all very thankful of it. It’s absolutely incredible the amount of time that has been put into this.”
Preseason begins in January, with the season officially starting in February. When CA hosts its annual Cougar Classic at the Expo Center, which is expected to be in February, Barber said this will be the first year he won’t have to buy any new equipment to host it.
The first year CA hosted it, Waldo Cleland donated the equipment, and Barber used the money generated by the tournament to purchase the program’s own equipment. By the second year, all the equipment used was owned by CA, and Barber said he’s purchasing more and more each year.
