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“Archery is an independent sport, so we can get quite competitive with each other when we’re going head-to-head, but we try to keep the club as friendly as we can,� said club co-president Brynn Atonna.

Still, she called the group “tight knit.�

About 20 core members regularly attend practices — held Friday through Monday — and 10 to 15 others join in occasionally. The group welcomes newbies to the sport, as well as experienced archers who competed in high school.

“We all love that we have a community of people learning how to shoot or continuing to shoot,� said club secretary Ian Gold.

Co-president Natalianna Ferrara added that the club is also a great place to meet people while improving a skill.

Ferrara, who began archery when she was 11, said she loves to see people join the club with little experience and watch how much they learn. Now in her second year as president, she said her goal is to make tournaments more accessible to club members, because archery can be expensive.

In the past, all tournament costs were self-funded by students. She has helped the club cover expenses such as travel, entry fees and lodging through community fundraising.

“We’re trying to ramp up how many competitions we go to,� Gold said.

This academic year, the club has attended several events, including the State Outdoor Championship in Phoenix and the Regional Indoor Competition in Albuquerque.

Outdoor competitions consist of 72 arrows shot in six-arrow ends, while indoor tournaments involve 30 arrows in three-arrow ends. The club competes in both formats.

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