By Anna Catherman (‘24)
Students will have an exciting new extracurricular activity to join in the fall semester when the recently formed Archery Club begins meeting. Just approved by Houghton College, the Archery Club is designed to allow students to come together to practice their skills on-campus, as well as in surrounding areas.
Archery Club aims to cater to all levels of archers, from beginners to pros. So far, around 25 students have expressed interest in joining the club, including 11 students who already own their own bows and want to practice. Most of these students are hunters, although a few have competed.
Freshman Kamaron Hillman (‘24), the club’s founder, was already an expert archer when she came to Houghton. She competed in the Junior Olympic Association in high school and is a certified level one USA Archery instructor. She hasn’t practiced in months due to lockdowns in the spring and summer. She decided she wanted to change that. With three years left on campus, she reasons it will be a great investment for current and future students to benefit from.
“I talked to some students here, and they were like ‘Oh, I’m a junior here, and I really wish we had an archery club when I first came here, because it really would have benefited my archery skills. It would’ve been a fun club to join and participate in and get to know other archers on campus.’” Hillman explained.
Cassie Caval (’23), the club’s treasurer, is new to archery. Her boyfriend introduced it to her, and they have been taking trips off campus to shoot on nearby state forest lands. She said it will be nice to have a place to practice on-campus, as well as a group to practice with. “It’s such a relational thing and also a very competitive thing…it’s definitely something that’s not an individual thing. It’s very much about the people you’re doing it with. So I’m super glad we get to do a club and incorporate a lot more people into our passion.”
The response to the new Archery Club has been positive both on and off campus. Belmont Archery in Friendship, just a 20-minute drive from Houghton, has offered to lend a helping hand. According to Scott Neville, the shop’s owner, Belmont has an indoor range which some Houghton students have already been frequenting. He hopes to see more Houghton students at the range in the future.
The endeavor was assisted by many faculty members, including Dr. Laura Sayers, AC Taylor, and the Safety and Security Department. They were key in helping students find and secure space to practice on campus, next to the Field of Dreams. Safety and Security has approved the club’s operations; all equipment will be stored with the department when not in use.
While the club is primarily an educational and recreational endeavor, the members are open to competition. Belmont Archery already hosts some casual competitions for colleges, including Alfred University. Houghton Archery Club members will likely have an opportunity to join in on these events in the coming months.
Both Hillman and Caval were enthusiastic when asked why and how interested students should join. For Hillman, archery is an excellent stress reliever that she hopes to share with her fellow students. “You don’t think about anything else when you’re shooting, you only think about the target and improving your form. If you need a break from school, the stress of college, you can come and we can teach you archery.”
Caval had similar thoughts. “It’s a really fun thing to do. I’ve grown up hunting and fishing, and it’s the best way I’d share my passion with people.” While she also rifle hunts, she said that shooting a bow and arrow is a unique and special experience.
Those interested in joining next semester should plan on bringing their own bows, if they have them. If not, students shouldn’t be worried. The club is planning on purchasing two basic recurve bows for those who don’t already have their own equipment. ★
