2016 Ohio State JOAD Outdoor

I just participated in the 2016 Ohio State JOAD Outdoor Championships June 18th & 19th. I went into the tournament excited to shoot, but also a little nervous because I didn't know who I was up against. My two major goals for this tournament were the following...

1. Keep the majority of my arrows in the yellow. 
2. I wanted to earn my silver JOAD pin.

The first day was very windy but I shot very well considering the wind. I didn't keep all of them in the red, only 5 were outside of the yellow. I was able to achieve my second goal and earn my silver JOAD pin with a score of 351/360!

The wind affected my first goal because it causes you to make adjustments to your bow. You have to move your sight left and right according to where the arrows are hitting on the target. Sometimes when you draw back your bow, there is a big gust of wind that comes in and causes you to swing back and forth until you can get stable again. While this is happening, sometimes your arms start to get tired and shake, which means you should draw your bow down. Keeping in mind you only have four minutes to shoot six arrows, you might run out of time, causing the arrows you were not able to shoot to be a score of zero.

I feel that I achieved my goals. I had a lot of fun with my friends at the tournament. My friends, Sophie and Trey, shot in a team event with me and we got first place at 30 meters.

When I was walking into the tournament, I was a little nervous because I didn't know who I was up against. I handled being nervous by making it a competition with my goals rather than with the other girls in my division. It took some of the weight off of my shoulders knowing that I just wanted to compete with myself.

My new goals for between now and nationals in Decatur, Alabama (July 13th- July 17th) are...

1. Earning my gold JOAD pin. (350/360)
2. Practicing a minimum of five days per week.
3. Practice in all different kinds of weather, because last year it rained a lot at nationals and caused the field to be all muddy.

I'm very excited for nationals and can't wait to practice for it. I think that state was very good practice in the wind. I will be posting small updates of practice between now and nationals. Thank you!