{"id":34357,"date":"2023-04-26T17:15:52","date_gmt":"2023-04-26T23:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fifth-grade-dolores-bear-archers-prepare-for-nationals\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T08:17:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:17:33","slug":"fifth-grade-dolores-bear-archers-prepare-for-nationals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fifth-grade-dolores-bear-archers-prepare-for-nationals\/","title":{"rendered":"Fifth-grade Dolores Bear Archers prepare for nationals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The
The fifth-grade Dolores Bear Archers are gearing up to compete at nationals in Sandy, Utah, on April 28. Left to Right: Back Row: Sofia Olivas, Sean Tarpey, Braxton Thornbrugh, Olivia Elder, Gabby Hollen, Brody Conrad. Middle Row: Jackson Willett, Bryson Higman, Owen Elder, Bailey Bauer, Aleiah Grove, Kade Stepp, Kora Rantz, Kennedy Erautt Front Row: Hunter Sturdevant, Kazden Scholes, Ayden Winter, Riegan Hofmann, Ryatt Loomis, Abby Schmitt. Front Middle: coach Brooke Elder (Brooke Elder\/Courtesy photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

On April 28, the Dolores Bear Archers will compete at National Archery in the Schools Program Nationals in Sandy, Utah after winning state.<\/p>\n

The Dolores Bear Archers are made up of fourth and fifth graders at Dolores Elementary School, and the students practice their archery skills while in physical education class under Brooke Elder.<\/p>\n

In 2020, state archery began taking place virtually because of the pandemic. Archers from schools across the state competed virtually, and their coaches uploaded their final results after students finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do the tournament according to all the rules, like if it was in person. We use the same score cards and everything. And then when they\u2019re done shooting, the amount of shots that they\u2019re supposed to have for the tournament, I go online and I enter all of them. And then we wait and see what happens. It was so fun this year,\u201d Elder said.<\/p>\n

While the Bears\u2019 team consists of both fourth and fifth graders, only the fifth graders competed at state.<\/p>\n

\u201cI use fourth grade sort of as a learning year,\u201d Elder said. \u201cFifth grade is sort of something to look forward to for the tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once the results were tallied, the Bears were named Colorado state champions as a team. Owen Elder placed first in the state for the boys and another seven of Dolores\u2019 archers placed in the top eight. Those seven were Hunter Sturdevan, Ayden Winter, Kade Stepp and Braxton Thornbrugh for the boys, and Kora Rantz, Sofia Olivas and Olivia Elder for the girls.<\/p>\n

Olivia and Owen Elder are not related to coach Elder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got an email back about three weeks later that said, \u2018Hey, you guys won.\u2019 And we had no idea that there was a chance to move on to something else, we were just excited to do it to start with,\u201d Elder said.<\/p>\n

The team\u2019s state win clinched their ticket to nationals, where 20 of the Bears will compete against other elementary school archers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were so stoked. It was hilarious. So excited. And they\u2019re just flipping out excited about going this Friday to Utah. They\u2019re so cute. I think it\u2019s just going to be this huge memory maker,\u201d Elder said.<\/p>\n

The archery nationals are divided into western states and eastern states. The Bears will be competing against other archers from states such as Hawaii, Alaska and California all the way to Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Bears will compete against other elementary school archers from the states highlighted in yellow. (Brooke Elder\/Courtesy photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Archers will have a total of 30 shots, not including practice shots, and will shoot 15 arrows from 10 meters and another 15 from 15 meters.<\/p>\n

Arrows will be shot in groups of five, allowing archers a break in between to focus and rest.<\/p>\n

Elder said she emphasizes to her archers that it does not matter if you come from a small town or small school, saying they deserve to be there as much as any of the other archers competing, and they could place really well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI keep telling them you know, just because you\u2019re from a small school and this is new and huge, don\u2019t go thinking, \u2018We\u2019re just glad we went\u2019, go thinking \u2018if I shoot my best, I could win this thing,\u2019\u201d Elder said. \u201cThey\u2019re starting to get their mind around that a little bit. It\u2019s pretty fun to work with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Out of the 20 archers from Dolores who are competing, 12 of their scores will count toward their overall team score, and the eight who placed top 10 in state will be able to compete individually as well.<\/p>\n

Elder is thankful for the support the team has received as they gear up to compete at nationals.<\/p>\n

The archers have been sponsored by multiple individuals and businesses, including many of their families and other individuals, Bauer Welding, Lost Canyon Outfitters, The Depot, Dolores Elementary PTA, Calico Cactus, Cortez Kiwanis Club, Dolores Rotary Club, Notah Dineh and the Dolores RE-4A School District and board.<\/p>\n

The archery team is funded by National Archery in the School and Parks of Wildlife as a PE program. Elder said including the program in PE makes it unique and allows many students to participate who may not be able to otherwise.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents don\u2019t have to run kids around and think of how to come up with the money for expenses. I\u2019m really so thankful,\u201d Elder said.<\/p>\n

The program runs from January to February each year, and Elder said she hopes they will be able to have a program for middle and high school in the near future.<\/p>\n

She noted that anyone can do archery, and that it can be a good alternative for kids who aren\u2019t interested in traditional sports like track or basketball.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny kid, no matter their athletic ability to start with could be a rock star at this. You\u2019ve got basketball stars that can be good at it. You\u2019ve got the bookworms, you\u2019ve got kids that, you know, don\u2019t have a lot of athletic confidence and they come out of this kind of going, \u2018Oh my gosh, I\u2019m an athlete.\u2019 And it\u2019s just so fun. I can see just a light bulb going on for some of them like, \u2018Oh my gosh I\u2019m good at this.\u2019 You can just see their confidence racing and, oh, the confidence building and focus. It\u2019s just the best,\u201d Elder said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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