ARCHIVE

Archery club provides something else to do

If you don't know by now, which means you don't read this paper, a new organization called Marion County Archery Club began practice this past week.

The club, which will focus on bow-hunting and other types of archery, is somewhat of a first to the county. One of the club's co-founders, Marion High School teacher Lucas King, said he remembered Marion having an indoor range, but nothing outdoors.

Right now anyone interested in joining the club will be practicing once a month at a residence just south and west of Marion. King is thankful for any area to practice, but one day he would like there to be some acreage set aside just for the club.

King said in Lebo, where he grew up, there is a club that has 25-30 acres set aside for practice and competitions.

The only experience I have shooting anything other than a basketball, is the plastic gun used to play Duck Hunt on the original Nintendo Entertainment System.

That being said, I think this club is good for the area. Archery is something that takes patience, strength, and absolute, precise accuracy. It's a sport different from traditional ones offered in the area, and even is included in the Olympics.

A lot of people say there is nothing to do in small towns, and while this one club won't equal the amount of opportunities for youth and adults as say, Wichita, it still is one more thing to do. Most importantly, it's one more thing a kid can do on his or her own, or with the whole family.

It's good to see someone like King move back to the area and contribute like he has. On top of helping form the new club, his industrial arts class will build a house for the Marion community as part of the school's curriculum.

I hope the club starts off well, and continues to climb in numbers. It targets, no pun intended, everyone in the county, and it's never a bad thing when neighboring towns can collaborate on something.

If the club is still there when my two-year-old is big enough to participate, it would be fun for the two of us to try. For now, we have to stick to video games.

Quantcast