Trout Creek School starts archery program

In an effort to expand their extracurricular activities, Trout Creek School has started a community archery team, run through the school. The team pulls participants from all over the county, and has members from Noxon, Trout Creek, Thompson Falls and Plains. The program is quickly growing and according to Superintendent Preston Wenz, it already has 23 team members. "It's been off to a wonderful start," said Wenz.

The team is trying to get more community members and youth involved and interested in the activity, and Wenz said it provides a different outlet for youth outside of sports. Wenz spoke of one participant who is not involved in any sports but has been to every archery team practice. Another member, Lucas Summers from Noxon, explained that he really enjoys the archery program. "It's perfect here and a good place to shoot. You get to shoot bows, you get to have fun, and it's not too challenging," Summers said when asked what he would tell others interested in joining.

Leslee Francis from Thompson Falls, mother of team member Austin Francis, said her son loves the program. She said Austin asked her on his own volition if he could get involved. Leslee explained that her 12-year-old son has built several bows from scratch and has always been interested in archery. "He just wanted to learn the sport, and the more he can learn the better. He is so excited for the competition part of it."

Team coach Bryant Eaton, who is from Trout Creek and whose son is also a member, said he decided to help out because he is a hunter and has some competition experience. To him, the sport shows the participants "discipline. It's both mentally and physically challenging. There's a lot of life morals they can learn from it."

The team is National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) affiliated and includes both an elementary and middle school division. The group has several big events planned and even wants to help start a statewide NASP archery tournament, of which there is no kind currently in Montana.

The program is looking for sponsors and has so far received over $1,400 from the community and several local businesses. They have ordered team shirts which will have sponsor names on them. Wenz explained that the program continues to look for donations as the travel and equipment can be expensive. Wenz remarked that the group wants to get more bows, but they cost over $100 each. There are also participation fees for the tournaments and the travel costs can be high since the competitive shoots are all over the state. Wenz says donations of $200 and over will get the donors business logo on the backs of the team shirts and on the team banner. Donors of $100 or over will get their logos on the banner and those who donate $300 or more will have their own banners.

The school eventually wants to have its own 3-D archery course that will be available to the community and wants to split into junior varsity and varsity teams, with new bows for the varsity members.

For more information on the program or to donate, contact Wenz at (406) 242-5221 or the school at (406) 827-3629.