VIENNA — The Vienna Archery Club opened its season at Lewis & Clark Middle School in Jefferson City, showing early promise in both bullseye and 3D target shooting. Coaches Tim Simmons and Ethan Murphy stress focus with the program’s slogan, “Stay alert and be business only on the range,” and this week the team’s top shooters put that advice into action.

There are two competitions that go on during a shoot, one is called Bullseye and the other is called 3D. Everyone participates in the bullseye, however only a selected few participate in the 3d compeition. According to coach Simmons, the school has a Turkey, Fox, Bear, Elk and a Ram. The Turkey is placed at 10 meters, the Coyote is placed at 11 meters, while the Bear is placed at 12 meters, all with one goal in mind, to create a compeition that gets progressiveley more difficutlt.

For the Bulleye compeition, Among the elementary shooters, Savannah Wann led the girls with a score of 189, placing ninth, while Grant Kleffner topped the boys with a 226, good for seventh. Middle school competitors Katie Kloeppel and John Schulte also made their mark, scoring 256 and 253 and finishing among the top ranks in their divisions.

High school shooters were the standouts of the day. Gage Curtis and Evan Simmons both scored 282, with Curtis edging out Simmons for second place on a tiebreaker, while Grace Veasman led the high school girls with a 258.

For the 3d competition, Cora Wagner scored 163 to place fourth among elementary girls, while Katie Kloeppel continued her strong season start with a 258 to finish third in the middle school girls division. John Schulte posted 248 for 12th among middle school boys, and at the high school level, Alexis Curtis scored 251 to place 10th among girls, with Evan Simmons adding a 275 to take third among high school boys.

Coach Tim Simmons was impressed with the team across all levels including two male high school archers who have already quallfied for the state compeition later this season. Both Gage Curtis and Evan Simmons have qualified and have earned themselves a trip to Branson Missouri and join thousands of other students.

With a strong showing from the team’s top shooters, the Vienna Archery Club is off to a confident start this season, proving they’re ready to take aim and compete at every level. The next meet is on saturday the 10th in Jefferson City.