My name is Reagan Trent and I’m a sophomore at Howell High School in Michigan. I will be one of the NASP® Student Contributors for the 2023 season. I am very excited for this wonderful opportunity. I am currently fifteen years old and have been shooting since I was six. I enjoy shooting with family and friends both competitively and for sport. My archery experiences so far have been amazing.
I have been associated with Howell Archery since I was in sixth grade and knew this is what I wanted to do. I practiced about three times a week for at least an hour along with my friends on the team. For the first two years I was on the team, I shot pretty well, when my coach announced that the stakes would be higher next year I knew I had to step up my game. I started practicing every day, but my practice area at home only measured ten meters, so I joined a local sportsmen’s club to get fifteen meter practice in. It definitely paid off in tryouts and in future tournaments.
I began really focusing on improving my shot and ended up earning second place in our State tournament this past year and have placed in several tournaments over the last several years. One of my favorite memories from archery was when our team won first place overall, the trophy was huge. The whole team went to a restaurant and we celebrated together as one big family. It was the best thing ever, all the smiles and cheers made me so happy. We even got the restaurant cheering, though I don’t think they knew what it was for.
My goals for archery are very ambitious, but with hard work and dedication, I believe they can be achieved. I would like to beat my personal best in our State tournament this year. We have a high score board in our gym, your name is placed on the board when you shoot a new record for your team at the State, National, or Championship tournaments. This year I’m going to aim for the National record. I’m hoping I can improve and fine tune my shooting so that I can reach my goals.
Archery is a sport of balance and precision. My coach told me, “when you walk into the room, leave all your emotions at the door. Just go out there with confidence and you will do well.” I’ve stuck with that ever since sixth grade and it’s served me well. You need a balance of your physical and mental state. When they’re off balance, you can’t be consistent. Just remember, when you walk into the shooting range, stay calm and confident. You will do well and improve.
-Reagan Trent is a 2023 student contributor-
