The Scholastic Archery Association (S3DA) hosted its 13th annual Eastern 3D National Championship at the Whitley County Fairgrounds in Williamsburg, Kentucky. This year’s event was originally scheduled to take place in London, Kentucky, but due to a devastating tornado in Laurel County, the S3DA national staff quickly realized that an alternative venue would be required. With the assistance of the Whitley County Fiscal Court and Judge- Executive Pascal White, the championship was able to relocate just a few miles down the road in Williamsburg, KY. In a remarkable show of coordination and community effort, the entire venue change was accomplished in under three weeks. Despite the unexpected venue change and muddy conditions throughout the weekend, the archery community showed up in full force. Nearly 600 youth archers, representing 119 teams from 19 states competed for the chance to earn the title of “National Champion” in their respective division and class.

The event wasn’t just about competition. Participants and families enjoyed bonus activities like the Delta McKenzie Bowhunter Challenge and the Heath McDonald Long Shot Challenge, both designed to increase family engagement and highlight the conservation element of the S3DA program.

Weather throughout the weekend presented a variety of challenges, especially on the ranges, but the spirit of the archers and their families remained high. Alivia Slusser, from Reading Archery Club, shared, “Overall, it was a great weekend. I enjoyed shooting with the girls in my group, as they were welcoming, especially with this being my first year in the Young Adult class. The ranges were muddy, and even though they were slippery, I still found the courses fun and challenging.”

Chris Poston, a range official and North Carolina S3DA State Coordinator, said, “I had a blast working the ranges. I got to see archers in every age division. The general consensus was that families were just grateful the event could happen at all, and despite the mud, they had a great time. One range, was definitely the muddiest, but archers and parents teamed up to help each other navigate the course safely.”

South Carolina State Coordinator Sheila Tadlock added, “The mud actually became a distraction from the stress of the competition. Kids were laughing, helping each other, and genuinely having fun – even when boots got stuck or people almost fell. One lady grabbed a tree limb for balance, and it snapped, but another parent caught her before she ended up in the mud. Despite it all, I was amazed at how smoothly everything went.”

The event also welcomed staunch supporter and longtime sponsor Lancaster Archery Supply as well as other archery vendors, including Arrow Engineering Products (AEP), Mark’s 3-D Targets, Dove Designs, Clear Targets, and others. These companies offered a wide range of products for archers and their families, contributing to the vibrant vendor village atmosphere.

In addition, the championship offered valuable exposure to collegiate archery programs. Representatives from multiple colleges and universities were present throughout the weekend, engaging directly with archers and their families on the ranges. S3DA also continues to strengthen the bridge between youth and collegiate archery by awarding Young Adult and Elite podium finishers a special certificate that includes a QR code linking to a portal with information about 20+ colleges and universities that offer archery programs. As youth participation in the sport continues to rise, more institutions are launching or expanding their archery programs to meet the growing interest.

The Eastern S3DA Outdoor Target National Championship will return to Williamsburg, Kentucky, on July 11th-13th, 2025, followed by the Western S3DA 3D and Outdoor Target National Championships in Montana on July 24th-27th, 2025.

For more information on upcoming S3DA National events or how to get involved with Scholastic 3-D Archery, visit the official S3DA Facebook page or check out www.s3da.net.