Taking aim

By Keeley Fitzgerald for the Three Rivers Edition - 01/16/2007

Tanya Maninger, right, a certified Level 2 National Archery Association and Junior Olympics instructor, has been coaching shooting sports for the past nine years. She takes time each school year to share a sport she has helped countless youth succeed at through 4-H and other archery programs throughout the Madison Valley. Keeley Fitzgerald photo

Ennis junior high and high school students are getting the opportunity to learn one of the United States fastest growing lifelong sports-archery.

According to the National Archery School Program, a record 1.4 million students were successfully taught archery during school hours in 2006. That number promises to grow as more and more schools add archery to its list of “must have” skills.

“Archery has become so big in Montana in the last three years. Shooting sports, which includes archery, air rifles, and air pistols, is the largest youth program in the U.S. right now,” said Ennis’ Tanya Maninger, a certified Level 2 National Archery Association and Junior Olympics instructor.

Maninger, who has been coaching shooting sports for the past nine years, takes time each school year to share a sport she has helped countless youth succeed at through 4-H and other archery programs throughout the Madison Valley.

“Coaching archery is a fun experience. It is a sport I want to share with others,” said Maninger. “Seeing the personal successes and seeing the progress of kids through the years is something I truly enjoy. Helping them set personal goals and then seeing them reach their goals is so rewarding.”

Maninger, one of three Level 2 shooting sports instructors in Ennis, says archery is a

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challenging sport that allows individual students personal success on many levels. From learning equipment and safety basics to hitting the target, archery is a growing sport where all kids have the opportunity to succeed.

“I love seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they hit the bulls-eye for the first time. Even if they hit it by accident, it’s great to see their reaction when they finally hit that yellow area. It really is a sport where everyone can have personal success,” said Maninger.

Since implementing archery into the Physical Education curriculum three years ago, Ennis P.E. teacher Colleen McNally says students have become hooked. Many students take their skills and interests in the sport beyond the gym and begin bow hunting or participating in shooting sports contests throughout the state.

“The kids just love it. Everybody is able to compete at the same level. We are finding that a lot of kids that don’t like the more traditional sports like basketball and volleyball are finding success in archery,” said McNally.

McNally also likes the fact that archery is one of those lifelong sports that offers everyone a chance to succeed regardless of athletic ability.

“Lifelong sports are huge. It is so important to have sports that everyone can succeed at. You don’t have to be athletic to succeed at archery,” added McNally

McNally says teaching archery in Ennis has been made possible by the joint efforts of the National Archery School Program, FWP, and the Department of Education — the three sponsoring organizations that provide schools across the nation with state of the art archery equipment at reduced prices. Aside from equipment deals, the organization also provides a 2-week core content lesson format that covers history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration, and self-improvement.

After years of working with youth, both McNally and Maninger agree that archery imparts a level of self-confidence in students that lasts a lifetime. Part of archery’s appeal, says Maninger, is the fact that it can be done almost anywhere by anyone.

“It can be done at home, in the gym, or at a 3D course. Archery can be done almost anywhere. There a lots of opportunities for everyone of all ages with archery. It is lifelong-it’s not something you just give up once you start,” said Maninger.

Year after year and lesson after lesson Maninger has watched countless youth develop self-confidence and self-respect through archery-two traits they will carry throughout life.

“I love to see their smiles. It is rewarding when they come back and tell me thank you for that little extra help that brought them success. I want it to be a positive experience so I coach with a lot of praise. Even on their worst day I want them to find something positive in what they’ve done...Seeing that confidence develop is a wonderful thing.”

Keeley Fitzgerald can be contacted at keeleyfitz@hotmail.com