Demon Archers prepare for World challenge

For the first time, Washington?s archers will be showing their ability with the best in the world.

On Friday, the Demons will take part in the NASP World Tournament held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shooting in the 3D target competition, with some of the best shooters in the world.

?I?m very happy with these kids,? Washington archery coach Tim Wells said. ?We have a lot that have grown and become phenomenal archers. We are taking nine of our top archers and we are going to the Worlds and giving it a challenge.?

With a diverse group competing in the tournament, a few of the archers are hoping to be introduced to some new cultures as well.

?I want to meet a German person,? Demon archer Griffin Wood said. ?I like Germany. They have cool stuff there.?

After nationals in May, the Demons saw one automatic qualifier in Samantha Mellinger earn her spot in the competition, and she will be joined by eight other Demons in the competition.

After another month of practice, the archers (who have been in season since Thanksgiving) will see their season officially end on Friday at 11 a.m. when they shoot at the 3D animal targets.

For a pair of Demons, Jade Wells and Joseph Dalziel, it means a chance to extend their high school careers.

?Having graduated, it?s really awesome to be able to go down (to Worlds) in my final year (with the archery team),? Jade Wells said.

While some of the Demons are looking forward to the culture and competition of the big tournament, the focus has remained simple from the coaching staff.

?What we told them at the beginning of learning that we were going to Worlds, was to enjoy the moment,? Tim Wells said. ?Enjoy it, and have fun doing it. I?m encouraging them to have patience, do their job well and be consistent, but I want them to enjoy it. It?s something I want them to remember.?

This is only Washington?s fourth year of having an archery program, and after qualifying for the past three national tournaments and their first World Tournament, the program is expected to continue to grow.

?We really picked up a lot of kids (in the first years), and I think next year we?ll have more than 130 (from elementary to high school), and it?s tremendous,? Tim Wells said. ?These kids love it and I?m glad to see them doing something they enjoy. They look at this kid from Anamosa, and he pulled in a bunch of scholarship money. There?s something out there for them to continue on somewhere.?

Wells also said the great thing about archery is how it is a sport everyone can participate in.

?The kids that don?t go out for a lot of sports, this is something they enjoy and they are good at it,? Tim Wells said. ?However, we have kids who are out for every sport and they are still here participating. Overall, it?s a good indoor sport, and we started this in Thanksgiving, and look where we are at now. We are still going at it. It?s been a long season, and the kids might be a little worn out, but they just have one hour and they?ll give it all they got.?

The athletes said they don?t know what kind of atmosphere to expect at the tournament, but they have a feeling it?s going to be a little different from nationals.

?It?s going to be a little bit different than nationals,? Tim Wells said. ?You might be next to someone who doesn?t even speak your language.?

The Demon Archers will compete at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday.