Trout Creek earns third straight archery championship

Trout Creek School took 19 athletes to Helena last week for the National Archery in Schools State Tournament. The school brought home the first-place trophy for the third year in a row.

Coach and teacher Becky Doyle said this is the third year of the program in the Trout Creek school and the second year that they have won in the middle school division. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks sponsors the program. "It is growing throughout the state," Doyle said. "Students shot 3D on Monday, then Bullseye on Tuesday," Doyle said. Of the 19 who participated, six students are from Trout Creek School, two are from Trout Creek Adventist School, and 11 are home schooled. The program allows 4th through 12th grade students to participate.

Bella Nottnagel, a seventh grader, won the first place ribbon in the Bullseye competition. Bella also won a gold medal and a championship bow. She is considering archery as a career and going to the Olympics. "I think archery would be a great job, as a competitor in many competitions with boys and girls," Bella said.

Eighth grader Wyatt Matthew won fifth place for middle school boys. He wants to pursue a future in archery. "It's very quiet and helps me find a calm space. Archery is where my home is, my happy place. My team is my family," Matthew said. He is also the team captain, Doyle said. "He's supportive and he knows the rules and always has a positive smile and laugh. He practices hard," she added.

Rachel Nottnagel said this is her second year coaching. "It's an amazing experience being able to contribute to the kids' lives. I love spending time with them and watching them grow. I can see how archery has enriched their lives. It has brought us together as a family. I am extremely proud of all the kids on the team. Our archery team is our family," Rachel said.

Doyle said they are a small community who has to work together to make sure that the children have opportunities. "We are a solid unit of friends who are supportive of each other," she added. Archery is about more than the kids winning a championship back to back. It's about youth development and success through camaraderie and teamwork, she emphasized. "Across the state adults in the archery industry and those involved with FWP complemented our team on their behavior and their manners, how they conduct themselves and how they represent their community. They set the standards on how kids should act," Doyle explained.

Archery is an individual sport that allows for any student to participate in extracurricular activities, according to Doyle. "All of our students are academic archers. They all have grades that meet the standards," she emphasized.

"The team will be going to Western Nationals April 24-27. We will be having a fundraiser on April 19 at the Knotty Pine in Trout Creek. There will be dinner and an auction to raise money for the trip to Utah," Doyle said. "This community makes things possible. It takes community effort, not individual effort, to accomplish what we do," she added. "We have six coaches and amazing parents who help out. I couldn't do it without them," Doyle concluded.

Trout Creek Principal Carolyn Nesbitt said she is very proud of the team. "They are amazing students. All of our students are amazing. We have such a great school of teachers, staff and students."