ELDON, IOWA -- Let’s play a game.  Name that sport. 

What sport can have a 4^th-grade girl standing next to a 12^th-grade boy, they are members of the same team, and neither one has a distint advantage over the other?

If you guessed archery, you are correct.

At the Cardinal Schools, their archery team consists of 94 members ranging from 4^th graders to seniors in high school.

While in competition, they split up into three different age brackets, elementary (4^th-6^th grades), middle (7^th and 8^th grades), and high school (9^th-12^th grades), but the team practices as one.

The team shares more in common than just practices, they share a distinct title: State Champions.

The Cardinal Schools recently swept the Iowa State Tournament in Archery taking first in the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

Archery coach Chad LaRue said the team shares a great bond.  He says some of his high-schoolers act as mentors helping and supporting their younger teammates. He says they will stand behind them at tournaments and cheer them on.

While LaRue loves watching his kids succeed in competition, he enjoys watching them grow as individuals even more.

“It helps with self esteem, it helps with their grades. It helps them understand they are part of a community, part of a team and that they have a sense of self worth,” said LaRue.

LaRue says the kids that make up the archery team are not your typical athletes, or your strong outgoing personalities.

Most of the kids are not in drama or band, nor do they play basketball or football.

He says the archery program opens up opportunities for kids and contributes to an overall increase in school spirit.

“Once they have been part of this program then it pulls them out of the shell and they are more involved in other activities within our school,” LaRue said. “It’s made the life at our school a lot better I feel.”

LaRue stressed the importance of the program is to help students grow and be part of a community. And, an emphasis on academics is a part of that.

“A student is removed from the program if they have a failing grade. They are not allowed to shoot again and rejoin the team until they are passing,” LaRue said.

LaRue has been floored by the kids’ dedication.  Academically, their efforts can be measured by the increased grades. Some students use the archery program to motivate them because they desire to stay on the team.

He routinely sees 90 or more kids at practice Monday through Thursday after school. Many of the kids stay and shoot for hours. It is often 8:00 by the time coach LaRue gets home.

After winning all three State titles, LaRue gave the team a two week break before practice resumes again. To some, that might sound nice, but LaRue said a lot of students complained about the break. They want to keep working and improving.

The team will soon resume practicing. Practice for the national tournament that is.

LaRue said the score the high school team shot at State would have qualified11^th nationwide.

Not too shabby. 

As the program continues to grow, its goals are not winning tournaments.  It is helping the kids in the classroom, making them feel part of a team, part of the school.  It is instilling kids with confidence and helping them find their self worth.

I have one word for you coach, Bull’s-eye.