Rediscovering Archery and Sharing It with My Family

After a 20-year hiatus, I rekindled my love for archery in 2018. This time, it wasn’t just about me—I brought my kids along for the ride, beginning our family archery journey. It started as a way to spend quality time together, but it quickly became a shared passion, especially for my son, Greyson.

Greyson's Early Love for Archery

Greyson was almost six when he picked up a bow for the first time. Initially, he was excited simply because it was something I loved. My daughter Chloe gave it a shot too but soon realized archery wasn’t her calling. Greyson, on the other hand, was captivated. His enthusiasm grew as he upgraded his equipment, constantly seeking ways to improve. Our family archery journey was well underway.

Our First Steps in Youth Competitive Archery

We began attending local shoots together, which only fueled Greyson’s passion further. He immersed himself in the archery world, watching YouTube videos of professional archers and eagerly sharing their tips and techniques with me. This was the beginning of our journey into youth competitive archery.

Attending National Events and Building Dreams

In 2019, we attended our first national event, the IBO Triple Crown in Franklin. Greyson walked with me, cheered me on, and started dreaming about competing himself. By 2020, we kicked off the season at the Lancaster Classic. Meeting the pros and taking countless photos only solidified Greyson's dedication to archery.

Overcoming Challenges During the Pandemic

Then, the pandemic hit, putting a temporary halt to our plans. Despite the challenges, we kept practicing and even moved to a new town where we found a supportive archery community. Greyson's skills improved, and his aspirations grew. He talked about joining teams with archery legends like Levi Morgan, Dan McCarthy, and Chris Bee. Our family archery journey continued despite the obstacles.

The Turning Point: Coaching and Competition

Our big moment came when we decided to compete in Metropolis. Greyson’s commitment was unwavering. He worked tirelessly on his form and shot, and we sought help from a coach to refine our techniques. This decision marked a turning point in his youth competitive archery journey.

The Rise of a Young Competitive Archer

In 2023, we competed at Lancaster together, and I noticed a remarkable transformation in Greyson. He emerged from our practice sessions as a more confident and skilled archer. His hard work paid off as he started winning competitions, surprising even me. It was then I realized that all our efforts had molded him into a serious, competitive archer.

A New Dynamic: Supporting Greyson's Archery Career

The shift in our dynamic became clear—I went from being the dad who brought his kids to shoots to keep them busy, to the dad who accompanied his son to shoots and watched him shine. Greyson’s victories became frequent, and he soon gained recognition in the archery community. He won at Nelsonville, Ohio, where we met pros like Ryan Jeffries. At just 11 years old, Greyson began securing staff positions, often independently applying and making calls. Our youth competitive archery journey was reaching new heights.

A Father-Son Archery Team

Now, at 12, Greyson and I are a team. He’s no longer just my sidekick; in many ways, I’ve become his. It’s every dad’s dream to have their child follow in their footsteps, and in archery, Greyson has done just that. But now, he’s leading the way, and I couldn’t be prouder to cheer him on as he climbs to new heights in the sport. Our father and son archery bond is stronger than ever.

Celebrating Our Family Archery Journey

Archery has become more than a hobby for us—it’s a bond that strengthens our relationship and a journey that we’re on together. Watching Greyson grow from a young enthusiast to a formidable competitor has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Here’s to many more arrows, many more victories, and many more memories together on the archery range.