By MANDY BOGGS
Guest Columnist
Hello, I am Mandy Boggs!
My daughter and I travel around the United States doing competitive archery. We practice out of our home archery range right here in Noblesville, Koteewi Archery Range. Together, we compete just about every weekend, so just shooting in my team jersey is one thing, but getting to wear your country’s name and colors is something completely unbelievable.
Noblesville’s own Mandy Boggs will represent Team USA next month at the World 3D Archery Championships in Italy. (Photo provided)
I have been shooting a recurve for over seven years now, but really began taking it seriously in the past four years – and it shows.
Now, after years of hard work and determination, it has become a lifestyle: whether it’s shooting for fun, co-running a traditional archery club, coaching the Koteewi Archery youth team, or competing for Team USA wearing red, white and blue.
The World 3D Archery Championships are held every two years at different locations around the world. The last was held in 2019, and it was shortly after that tournament that some of the team approached me and asked if I would consider preparing for the 2021 Championship. I started working hard and beginning to prepare, but the tournament was postponed due to COVID restrictions.
I continued training and was able to take second place at this year’s trials to make Team USA. I am one of only 24 archers: 12 men and 12 women, representing Team USA this Sept. 4 to 10 at the Rinehart World Archery 3D Championships in Terni, Italy. This specific tournament will consist of seven days of shooting with open practice, two qualification days of 48 arrows each day, then a mixed team event with one male and one female from each style of shooting, quarter finals, semifinals and the actual finals that will be held upon Roman ruins.
Not only will the trip consist of the shooting events, but there will be opening and closing ceremonies, a couple of tourist days to travel the beautiful towns, and even a gala in the ancient streets of the town of Stroncone, Italy.
As I have only three months from trials to the time the plane takes off, I am feeling all kinds of emotions, but I could not be more excited to represent Team USA doing something I love!