Franklinton High School freshman Meredith Rogers and Bowling Green School freshman Austin Forbes captured championships last Saturday at The Archery Shooters’ Association National Shoot in Cullman, Ala.
Rogers capped off the season No. 1 in the rankings for the middle school pins. She is the national champion. Rogers received the title of Shooter of the Year.
Rogers also won the Mississippi State Championship for Middle School Females Pins.
Forbes tallied an eighth-place finish nationally in Middle School Boys Pins.
Forbes is the Louisiana and Mississippi State Champion.
More than 100 archers compete for national titles.
“A lot of blood, sweat, tears, arrows and doubt went into this and these two never quit. They lost thousands of times over their career. I’ve watched these kids grow up and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” coach Meredith Rogers said.
Coach Rogers said archers cannot let their emotions interfere with their shot, because one change in the grip on the bow can change the outcome of the shot in a major way. She said those two did a good job with the mental game.
Rogers said Meredith Rodgers and Forbes both have had great coaches, especially Stephen Chatman and Shannon Forbes.
National rankings are determined over seven meets. The archers’ top three scores are used in their ranking.
The season runs from February to August.
This is the final meet of the season.
Next year’s first tournament is in Foley, Ala. in February.