Local Brothers Set to Compete in National Archery Tournament

 

by Jake DeLuca

Two local brothers will be competing in an upcoming national archery competition that is to be held in the upcoming weeks.

Colton (11 years old) and Carter Lash (8 years old) will be taking their talents out of state soon to compete in the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Nationals in Alabama. JOAD is a program that basically “grooms Olympic archers”, according to Gabe Lash, the boys’ archery coach and father.

The event is based on two qualifiers, those being skill level and age. Colton competes in the Bowman Division, which is for 10-12 year olds, while Carter shoots in the Yeoman Division for kids nine and under.

Gabe went on to explain the rules for the tournament.

“Points are set on a 300 scale base for indoor archery, which is what the boys have traditionally shot. A 300 is 30 bulls eyes at 18 meters away, which is just shy of 20 yards. That’s what they’ve been shooting for the past three years. You win the trophies based on skill set. For example, out of 30 arrows, Carter has earned a skill level of 200 out of 300. They compete in two different categories, they compete as Yeomen and Bowmen, but they also compete in a blue skill set. The blue skill set is based on your skill-set and not your age. So an 18 year old could be shooting at a line next to Carter or Colton,” Gabe explained.

The boys are quite accomplished for their age; some of Colton’s accomplishments include 1st place in the JOAD 2016 indoor and outdoor state championships, 1st place in the 2015 FITA (International Archery Federation) Indoor Championship, and numerous other 1st place awards in 2016.

Carter has only been competing in archery for two years, and he already holds the Pennsylvania indoor state record for FITA (International Archery Federation) in the Yeoman division. Along with his state record, he has also taken first place in the JOAD Indoor and Outdoor State Championships in 2016.

Colton’s goal for the upcoming tournament is not only to get first place in all of his events, but to shoot at least 285 out of 300 in order to get a bronze medal. Gabe went on to explain these advanced medals.

“There are accredited pins that are given out by the Olympic Committee at the end of the event, and there is a bronze which is a score of 285, silver is 290, and gold is 295. If you keep this in mind, they shoot at an inner 10, so if you follow the target in you come to your yellow which is the 9 ring and then your bulls eye is a 10 ring, and the quarter sized circle in the center with the X is your inner 10, he has to hit that quarter sized X to get a 10 score, otherwise its only a 9. There for he has to hit 25 X’s and 5 9’s to hit that score. That’s a very high skill set to get to in order to achieve that gold pin,” Gabe said.

The Lash brothers hope to return to Pennsylvania with some more trophies to add to their collection. More news on the event will be coming soon.