Richfield, WI – Scholastic 3-D Archery, S3DA, is a group of archers from the Washington County area. Two team members and a coach from Paradox Archers in Richfield give a closer look on how they discovered archery and what they hope to accomplish in their newfound sport.
The range is set up with yellow lines on the floor to divide the shooting spaces. About 20 yards down field are bales lined up against the wall. A radio plays in the background as the thwack of arrow piercing target becomes a rhythm of its own.
There’s a low murmur during practice as conversations create a hum between shooters, coaches, and parents. The atmosphere is somewhat different during competition as parents are quiet and coaches can advise but are not allowed to make adjustments after two practice rounds.
Chloe Nelson, a 14-year-old archer, was inspired by the sport after watching the movie “Brave;” an animated Pixar film about a young girl, the daughter of a King from Scotland, who created her own path in life by becoming an archer. Nelson initially took classes at the YMCA.
In 2021 at age 11, she won a national competition in Las Vegas and is working to turn pro.
Team member, Owen Frohmader, 18, said archery is a sport of precision and focus. “The thing I found most challenging is once you get to a level just working on getting perfect to correct your form and making every shot,” he said. “There’s a lot to it, just dealing with the nerves and keeping consistent under pressure.”
Frohmader’s dad has been his archery coach since third grade.
After all his hard work he received a D1 scholarship to the University of Cumberlands in Kentucky to go pro in his future.
Click HERE to learn more about SD3A Archery in Richfield, WI
The head coach of Paradox, Michelle Litke, has been competing in archery for a very long time and she wants to teach kids to keep the sport going. “This is an underrated sport,” said Litke. “It actually teaches kids and teenagers things like patience, focus and determination.”
