It’s been a week since Gabi and I left for the 2018 JOAD National Target Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina. What a wild rollercoaster ride watching from the sidelines and one special day during the Olympic Rounds on Saturday! For this tournament Gabi and I talked about it and decided against shooting two age divisions up to Cadet (60 meter 15-17 yrs old). Instead we registered for Cub (50 meter 13, 14), which is a one division jump for her and while challenging gave her the opportunity to still be very competitive.
Wednesday, the first day of official practice conditions were beautiful, 92 degrees and humid. Gabi was looking great and having fun. The following two days of qualifiers would test Gabi’s mettle both mentally and emotionally. She struggled both days with lower scores than she is used to seeing. At some point she shot a 10 on the wrong target which counts as a miss. Gabi knew she was not shooting well and when we talked about it we couldn’t figure it out. She said her shot felt good, wind conditions were nearly perfect and all the usual things were good as well.
Saturday, the big day with eliminations, the Olympic Rounds (OR’s) with head to head action. On the off chance she might say yes I asked Gabi if she would like me to stand behind her. This is typically the coach’s position that calls the scores and gives general feedback. Gabi agreed, I was in total shock! Normally she doesn’t like me around when she is shooting. We worked out our system and OR’s started. She retired her first two opponents in the round of 1/32nd and 1/16th but still had some loose shots. I suggested I count her timing out load to see if that would tighten up her groups. Quietly and calmly as Gabi raised her bow at the start of the round of 1/8th I counted – “1, 2, 3, 4, 5.” We followed this formula thru to the quarterfinals and then JOAD National Target Championships craziness happened! Gabi lined up to the wrong target and shot all three arrows on the wrong bale – miss, miss, miss and handed over the first two set points to her opponent (6 set points to win the round)! A friend, who was still alive in the OR’s, asked her if she was freaking out. Gabi calmly replied “No, not really.” She pushed hard in the quarter finals and after the missed points got to 5 to 3. On End 5 she was shooting to force the match to a one arrow shoot off tiebreaker. Both of them shot loose arrows and tied at 26 each and by splitting the points Gabi was retired 6 to 4.
I am always deeply touched how Gabi takes success and failure all in stride. She finished 5th in qualifications and made it to the quarterfinals in OR’s. She made major mistakes in qualifiers and OR’s and had they not happened may have affected the outcome more positively in her favor. Despite all this she made no mention of it to me in the car ride, no lamenting “what could have been” as we drove back to the hotel. Instead she said she was proud and happy how things went and that she tried her best. I can’t help but tease Gabi for shooting the wrong target because it goes to say at this event, outdoor nationals, it is “THAT” tournament where crazy things happen. Last year’s mixed up bracket, this year’s shooting the wrong target. Maybe the third time will be a charm? I am happy to have been allowed to share in her event and be part of the memories. I got to stand behind my daughter and watch her shoot her heart out! I got to stand behind her during a one arrow shoot off tiebreaker and see her retire her opponent!
Some of the best memories weren’t even archery related. It was being able to see old friends and share a common experience!
Thank you Next Step Archery and The Nock Point for your support and all you do. Thank you to Faith Cook and the Coach Rob and Coach Karin Nelson Cook. Thank you to Darrin Barry and Bob Hickey for supporting Gabi and her archery dreams!
