Practice makes perfect for Anamosa archer

The adage that practice makes perfect has held true for Anamosa archer David Machart.

The Anamosa High School senior, a practiceholic, shot 30 consecutive bull's eyes at an invitational meet this month in Anamosa to become the first participant in the Iowa Afterschool National Archery in the Schools program to get a perfect 300 score in a sanctioned event.

The tension was palpable as a crowd gathered Feb. 20 to watch Machart fire his last few arrows, according to his mother, Sheila Machart.

When the 30th arrow joined the other 29 within the 3-inch ring in the center of the target, 'I screamed, and I wasn't the only one,” she said.

Machart's perfect score was only the fifth in the nation under the Archery in the Schools program auspices, according to Donise Petersen, archery coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. A sixth archer accomplished the feat after Machart did, she said.

As the consecutive bull's eyes mounted up, Machart said he, too, felt pressure but no more than he feels at any other tournament.

'I try not to think about it. If I think about it too much it makes me more nervous,” he said.

Machart, 18, said he strives to maintain consistency in his simple shooting routine.

'I close one eye, aim at the same spot and try to keep a steady hand,” he said.

Asked what gives him an edge over other competitors, Machart replied, 'Practice. You don't get anywhere without practice.”

Sean Braden, his head coach, seconded the emphasis on practice - 'whenever he has free time he practices” - and added that 'love of the sport” doesn't hurt.

Braden said Machart is 'steady as a rock” on the firing line and has the right mind-set for competition.

With strong fundamentals and practice, he said, anyone can shoot a 250. 'Above 250, it's all mental,” he said.

While a good archer may fall apart after a bad arrow, a great archer like Machart will laugh it off and work right through it, Braden said.

If an Iowan were going to shoot a perfect 300, Machart, who previously had shot five 297s, a 298 and a 299, was a likely candidate.

Machart, who will defend his state title in Des Moines this Saturday. finished second last year in both national and world competition and won a $10,000 scholarship for his runner-up finish at the national meet.

This will be the 10th state tournament since the rapidly expanding program was introduced in Iowa in 2006, according to Petersen.

Just 88 archers competed in the first state tournament in 2007. That compares with 1,300 registered archers for this year's event at the Jacobson Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, she said.

Along with increased participation has come increased proficiency, Petersen said.

In the 2008 state high school tournament, for example, a team from Spencer won the team title with a score of 2,578 - an average score of about 215 for its 12 highest-scoring members. In also winning the team title last year, Spencer totaled 3,393 points - an average score of 283 for its top 12 shooters.

Among several factors driving the sport's growth in popularity, Petersen cited its safety and its inclusiveness. 'Everyone can participate. You don't have to be big, strong or fast to excel,” she said.

How it works:

National Archery in the Schools Program competitors shoot 30 arrows at a standard bull's eye target, half from 10 meters, half from 15 meters. Arrows that strike the 3-inch center ring score 10 points; arrows that land outside the center ring score progressively less depending upon their distance from the center.

To ensure a level playing field, all competitors use identical equipment - an inexpensive compound bow with no sights and no mechanical arrow release.