Archery club at Highland Lakes Elementary aims to keep students active and involved

GRANITE SHOALS — Fourth-grader Cole Schmidt rocked back on his heels and raised the 25-pound recurve bow in front of him. He placed his right trigger finger gently over the arrow knock, with three more fingers below it.

He took a breath, stretched his left arm holding the bow in front of him and pulled his right arm back, bringing the Barnett bow to a full draw. He held the arrow narrow at the corner of his mouth, concentrated on the target down range and released the string.

The arrow zipped toward the target, striking it just inside the red circle.

“I like it because it’s fun and challenging,” said Schmidt, a Highland Lakes Elementary School student.

PHOTO 1: Highland Lakes Elementary School fourth-grader Cole Schmidt concentrates on the target as he comes to a full draw Thursday. The school’s archery club started last year to get students active on campus but outside the classroom. It’s open to qualified fourth- and fifth-graders and meets Thursdays 3:40-4:40 p.m. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton