FC Bulldogs Archery hosts meeting to outline 2022 goals, expectations

Franklin County’s competitive archery teams hosted their season-kickoff meeting with participants and parents in the high school auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 20.

Connie Johnston, who serves as archery instructor and sponsor, used the half-hour meeting to discuss team rules and expectations.

“This year, we have 62 on the teams — 29 high schoolers, 18 middle schoolers and 15 from the upper elementary school,” Johnston said.

“Archery is growing in popularity in Franklin County because we had 60 try-out at the elementary level coming into this season.”

Johnston said the FC Bulldog Archery teams require student-athletes to maintain strong grades and not have any discipline issues in order to participate.

“Our archers are looked upon as leaders in and representatives for our schools,” she continued. “We require them to be respectful at all times and loyal to their fellow archers, plus they have to adhere to the school rules handbook at all times.”

Other requirements for the squads include:

• Attending all practices — as archers will not sit on the sidelines with all participating and taking part in shoots.

“If you do what it takes in practice, then you are going to shoot,” Johnston continued.

• Those riding with parents and family members for competition will be required to follow the bus to any scheduled event.

• Archers will be required to attend school to take part in competition.

• No cellular telephones will be allowed during practice or competition.

• Participants must provide records of having a physical conducted before being allowed to take part in any archery activities.

Practice sessions will be held on Mondays and Thursdays in the Franklin County Middle School gymnasium, according to Johnston.

“Our upper elementary students will get on the bus and arrive around 3:15 p.m., and our middle schools will have the range set up so they all can shoot between 3:15 and 4:15 p.m.,” she added.

“The high schools will practice between 4:15 and 5:30, and will be responsible for breaking down the range at the completion of the day.

“The number one rule is that we expect our archers to show up and give it 100 percent in whatever they do.”

Johnston said support for the archery teams comes in large part from the annual raffle fund-raiser, which will be held in the near future.

Every archer will be asked to sell at least 20 raffle tickets to raise the money necessary to help pay for the program’s expenses.

As far as the season schedule goes, Johnston said she is working to finalize this year’s campaign and hopes to release competition dates soon.

“Franklin County will once again serve as a host for competition with schools from surrounding areas coming here to compete,” she added.

“The sport has grown from around 500 participants to between 18,000 and 20,000 statewide, which means it can now take several days to host an event because so many are taking part.

Johnston reminded parents to monitor the program’s Facebook page — FC Bulldogs Archery — for late-breaking notices regarding practice sessions and competition.

“Because there are so many involved, I encourage you to check this page frequently because it is the fastest and easiest way to keep up with what we are doing,” she said.