This is the first year that Porter’s Chapel Academy has had an archery team. Wyatt Mason, the team’s coach, said things are going well.

“There’s definitely a learning curve with it being my first year coaching it in an actual school setting, as well as it being the students’ first year and trying to get all the equipment and everything,” Mason said.

PCA’s archers range from grades 6-12 and come to the table with different levels of experience. Some are familiar with a bow from hunting, but others had never touched one before competing this season.

“Some have (bow) hunted before. We also have a lot of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders, so of course that’s good because it kind of gives us a basis for the future to build on going forward,” Mason said. “And then we have a few upperclassmen that kind of bring that leadership and discipline that you need when it comes to a first-year team.”

The team had its first competition last week, and will compete against four other Class 2A schools in the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools state meet Monday at Clinton Christian Academy.

“I’m really excited about Monday. We’ve practiced multiple times this week, and I’ve seen a lot of progress through just this week alone since our meet,” Mason said. “Kind of seeing them transition from just practice to now we know what a meet looks like. Now we can kind of practice like we’re going to actually perform. (I’ve been) seeing that transition of them getting ready for the next step and kind of getting ready for the state meet.”

Junior Lexi Whittington spoke highly of her teammates.

“I think it’s going pretty good. This is also my first year ever doing archery. It’s been a lot of fun. This team is just so kind to everyone,” Whittington said. “They’re very nice, very helpful, and very supportive.”

Skylar Campisi, the team’s assistant coach, said the team is improving every day despite the learning curve.

“A lot of us have never shot a bow before so there’s a lot of safety procedures that they’re learning, and learning that the distance between here and there is a whole lot farther than we thought it was,” Campisi said. “My favorite part is just seeing the kids get really excited about how they’re doing and seeing them challenge themselves to do better at every practice.”