When most people think of elementary school sports, archery rarely comes to mind. But for approximately 35 fourth and fifth graders at Herrin Elementary School, drawing a bow and aiming for a bullseye has become a passionate pursuit as members of the Flying Tigers archery team.

Founded seven years ago by Jason Hale, the program is part of a district-wide effort that includes approximately 70 students from fourth through twelfth grade. What began as Hale's vision after seeing similar programs in Kentucky has grown into a competitive team that sends archers to state competitions annually.

"I just thought the school needed a program," explains Hale, who serves as head coach despite having limited personal archery experience. "I saw it in Kentucky, and I brought it here."

The Flying Tigers practice in the school's new gymnasium, where students learn proper technique and precision. Fifth-grader Ellie Bink, who achieved her personal best score of 218 out of 300 at a recent tournament, explains that archers stay in one position during practice rather than rotating.

"Two people shoot at the same target," Bink says, "and they score you and you score them" — a system that ensures accuracy in scoring.

A typical practice includes a warm-up round followed by three five-arrow rounds at 10 meters, then the same sequence at 15 meters. The program follows national guidelines, with fourth and fifth graders practicing together twice weekly.

Assistant coach Chris Tuthill, who became involved when his sons joined the program, now handles fundraising efforts. "Both of my boys are in it. That's how I got into it," Tuthill says. "They were in the club for two or three years, and Jason said he needed some help."

The team is supported by a $50 registration fee that provides each archer with necessary equipment — a bow, arrows, and a club T-shirt. Scholarships are available for families who need assistance, as Hale emphasizes, "I never want that to be a hangup for somebody not to join."

Fourth-grader Kennedy Wyant, who splits his time between archery and wrestling, demonstrates the program's flexibility. "I practice one day a week," he explains, "because on Tuesdays I have wrestling practice."

The competitive season runs from October through March, with tournaments nearly every weekend from January through early March. The top 150 archers in each division qualify for the state competition, which will be held in Mattoon this year. Last season, three elementary school archers qualified for state, and the program sent one high school junior all the way to nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.

This year, the Flying Tigers hosted their first home tournament, allowing the community to see these young archers in action. Beyond traditional target shooting, the archers also compete in 3D competitions, where they aim at foam animal targets with different scoring zones.

Thursday practices bring together archers from all grade levels, creating a unique mentoring environment. "Kennedy could be shooting on the same target with an 18-year-old, fully grown bearded man," Hale notes. "That way they can feel that it's something different."

Despite the program's success, many community members remain unaware that Herrin offers archery. "A lot of people still don't know about archery in Herrin," says Hale, while Bink adds that she had "never heard of it" before joining this year.

The Flying Tigers hope more students will discover this unique opportunity as the program continues to grow. With dedicated coaches and enthusiastic young archers like Bink and Wyant developing their skills, the future looks bright for this distinctive program that offers students an alternative to traditional sports while teaching focus, discipline, and precision.

For information about joining or supporting the Flying Tigers archery program, contact Herrin Elementary School.