LHS archery program hits a bullseye

The soft thunk-thunk-thunk of arrows hitting their mark can be heard upstairs in the small gym at Lawton High School most days after school.

Those creating the sound effects are a small group of archers who are members of the Lawton High School and Central Middle School JROTC programs. David Cecil, JROTC instructor at Lawton High School, introduced the sport to the students in September.

“Not many other schools have a JROTC archery program,” said Cecil, who has been involved in archery since he was 12 years old. Cecil received a grant last year to start the archery program and attended training to become certified in the basics of archery last summer.

Cecil said about 15 students in the two schools are active in the club.

“Not every kid can stay after school,” Cecil said. But for those who are able to participate, the club provides a place to bond with their fellow cadets — and to see who can outshoot each other.

“I’ve always been interested in it. It was new and it was free,” said JROTC Cadet Lt. Col. Efrain Ontiveros Jr. “I really enjoy it. If I’ve had a bad day, I look forward to archery.”

JROTC Cadet Staff Sgt. Alanah Harper said archery helps her to focus.

“It helps me self-reflect as best I can,” Harper said. “I take inventory of what I thought of when shooting and how I can shoot better next time.”

Since the cadets were new to the sport, there was a bit of a learning curve involved, with consistency being the biggest lesson to learn.

“They were always shooting for the bullseye and they were always inconsistent,” Cecil said. “Until you put three arrows in close proximity to each other, you couldn’t go anywhere. They didn’t understand the concept of zeroing a bow.”

“Arrows were going all over the place the first time,” said LHS JROTC instructor James Daniels.

“In the beginning, it was kind of different because I would not pay attention to the smallest details,” Harper said. “Once I learned how to be consistent and pay attention to the smallest detail, I was able to follow through. It is not always about the arrow, but consistency in everything, like in the way you stand. If you stand a different way the next time, it can change your whole thing.”

That was a lesson that Ontiveros also had to learn.

“The smallest change can make the biggest difference. Aiming down the point of an arrow changes everything dramatically,” Ontiveros said. “Some want to just shoot arrows. If you work hard to improve your aim, you will be able to hit the spot almost every time. I love a challenge.”

Hitting the bullseye or getting three arrows to land in close proximity to one another is not the main aim of the club.

“They know they can go out there and try something new and be successful at it. That’s the life lesson I want them to learn,” Cecil said.

Ontiveros and Harper said they plan to put their archery skills to use outside of the LHS gym.

Ontiveros said his mother’s side of the family goes bow and arrow hunting, but he has never had anyone to teach him. Now that he knows how to shoot, he looks forward to going hunting with his family.

Harper said she, too, might hunt and might even teach her dad how to shoot.