The White County archery program continues to build on its legacy of excellence, achieving remarkable success this season thanks to its athletes’ dedication and the community’s unwavering support.
My journey with White County archery began as a freshman in 2011. During my high school career, our team secured back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015, qualifying for nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, all four years. I was also honored to compete at the World Championships, in Orlando, Florida, and Nashville, Tennessee. Since graduating, I have had the privilege of coaching since 2017, helping lead three state championship teams.
In 2023, we expanded into 3-D archery after a few students pursued it individually. Thanks to our incredible sponsors, we secured a full set of targets and launched a high school team. This year, I was determined to grow the program further by introducing a middle school 3-D team. These young archers trained relentlessly, practicing for hours each week, and their dedication paid off - they won the state championship in their first season. We had two boys, Kaiden Young and Drake Goodwin, place in the top 10 3-D middle school male individuals. The Bullseye team also excelled, finishing 5th out of 30 teams in the state.
From the start of the season, both teams set ambitious goals for their scores. However, as tournaments began, they consistently surpassed those benchmarks, requiring us to set new goals week after week. Their commitment led to an extraordinary achievement - winning nearly every local tournament they competed in.
As the season continues, our journey is far from over. The team will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, for nationals, May 8-10, hoping to qualify for the World Championships, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this June.
None of this success would be possible without the overwhelming support from our community. Seeing teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members come together to cheer on these archers has meant the world to them. The police-escorted bus ride home was a momentous occasion, not just for the athletes but for the coaches and even the bus driver, who were moved by the outpouring of encouragement. This level of support has inspired our archers to push themselves to new heights, and we cannot thank our community enough for their unwavering belief in these young athletes.
Before every competition, our archers gather in a circle, and we ask them the same question: “What are our goals?” The answer is always the same: “To have fun and to do our best.” More than any score, we emphasize the importance of effort and enjoyment, ensuring that every archer leaves the range proud of their performance.
This year has been particularly meaningful as we have watched our 8th graders, who were part of our very first elementary team, rise to new levels, and our seniors, who started on our first middle school team, prepare to graduate. Each athlete holds a special place in our hearts, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey. Coaching these talented young archers has been an honor, and we hope to continue positively impacting their lives for years to come.
Coaches:
Elementary: Larry Daniels & Joe Cannon
Middle School: Bryan Steele, Natalye Steele & Joe Cannon
High School: Mickye Steele, Natalye Steele, & Bo Hartman
Although each coach is assigned to a specific team, we all collaborate to support all three teams interchangeably. With over 75 archers at every practice and tournament, it truly takes a village to ensure each athlete receives the guidance and encouragement they need to succeed.
Roster: including archer’s grade level
Middle school 3-D team: Luke Benson (7), Sami Benson (7), Cannon Dildine (8), Drake Goodwin (8), Jayce Goodwin (8), Addison Henry (8), Jenna McCoy (8), Caleb Moore (8), Eli Rice (6), Laney Roberts (7), Silas Rust (8), Gavin Rutherford (8), Deegan Sims (8), & Kaiden Young (7)
Middle school Bullseye:
Luke Benson (7), Sami Benson (7), Ellie Blaylock (7), Madi Bryant (6), Cannon Dildine (8), Isaac Easley (6), Drake Goodwin (8), Jayce Goodwin (8), Landrie Guy (6), Addison Henry (8), Addie Humphrey (6), Kelly Long (6), Layton Manibusan (6), Jenna McCoy (8), Blake Mether (6), Caleb Moore (8), Eli Rice (6), Katherine Roberts (7), Laney Roberts (7), Silas Rust (8), Gavin Rutherford (8), Alliana Sanders (6), Deegan Sims (8), Conner Ward (7), Kaiden Young (7).
Other comments from coaches:
As the elementary team coaches, we are proud to be part of each archer’s journey. Since the season began in December, our young athletes have shown remarkable improvement. It has been especially rewarding to have coached some of the archers who went on to join the middle school 3-D team, ultimately bringing home a state championship.
What began as a small group of high school archers, in 2011, under the leadership of Melea Johnson, has grown into a powerhouse program known for its dedication, talent, and success. The vision for Warrior Archery was sparked by the encouragement of my father, James Daniels, and Harvie Johnson, Melea’s father-in-law. I joined as an assistant coach in 2012, working alongside Melea until I became head coach in 2018.
Since then, the program has expanded significantly. A middle school team was added in 2020-21, followed by our first elementary team in 2022. Last season, the high school team took on the challenge of 3-D archery for the first time, and despite a steep learning curve, they worked hard and qualified for Nationals. This year, the high school 3-D team has done it again, with two male archers, Justin Cannon and Camden Ryan, ranking among the top ten in the state. The high school Bullseye team has also earned a spot at Nationals, with two individual archers, Justin Cannon and Camden Ryan, in the state’s top ten.
This season, we introduced a middle school 3-D team, and in their very first year, they made history by winning the state championship - an incredible accomplishment.
Warrior Archery has a strong history of success, with state titles in 2014, 2015, 2018, and 2022. The high school team has qualified for Nationals every year since 2011, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition. As we head to Nationals in May, we are hopeful we will earn a spot at the 2025 NASP Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
I couldn’t be prouder of these athletes. From December through May, they dedicate countless hours to training and pushing themselves to be their best. Their hard work, resilience, and sportsmanship truly embody what it means to be a Warrior archer, and I look forward to seeing them compete on the national stage.
Elementary roster:
Jayden Burgess, David Cannon, Duke Goodwin, Rose Joseph, Dusit Leombruno, Cherokee McCallister, Cooper Paul, Demi Reinharts, Tucker Phillips, Hailey Rigsby, Tuck Seibers, David Simpson, Eghan Sparks, Kalen Spivey, Andrew Swack, Blake West, Ryker Williams, Henry Zuber, Oliver Zuber, & Landen Winn
High School Bullseye Roster:
Cassidy Barnes, Karsyn Bell, Justin Cannon, Cameron Dishman, Dalilah Gateley, Wyatt Goodwin, Lily Herren, Dillon Hutson, Alexis Jones, Addie King, Kayleigh Lee, Addisyn Mace, Brodey Menard, Leeah Paul, Rebecca-Lynn Phipps, Hunter Rigsby, Chet Roberts, Olivia Roberts, Camden Ryan, McCabre Sparks, Collyer Steele, Will Stockton, Mailee Taylor, & Will Whitworth
High School 3-D Roster:
Justin Cannon, Cameron Dishman, Lily Herren, Dillon Hutson, Addie King, Brodey Menard, Leeah Paul, Rebecca-Lynn Phipps, Chet Roberts, Olivia Roberts, Camden Ryan, McCabre Sparks, Collyer Steele, & Will Whitworth.
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