A DREAM TAKES FLIGHT

Caleb Kimble, son of Tommy and Melissa Kimble, earned the distinction of National Archery in the Schools Program Elementary World Champion last week in Nashville, Tenn.

Caleb has been shooting in the NASP for two years and started this year’s journey at a state qualifying meet in Queen City.

With a solid score of 284 out of 300, Caleb advanced to the State Tournament held in Belton, Texas, in March.

After countless hours of practice at school and in his own backyard, Caleb put up an impressive score of 295, earning himself the title of Overall Male State Champion and beating out 1,348 other male archers from 4th through 12th grade.

This earned Caleb a trip to the NASP National Tournament in Louisville, Ky. in May where he shot a 280 leaving him sitting 32nd out of 2,229 elementary boys.

After winning a state championship, Caleb was left feeling unsatisfied with his National performance.

Fortunately, not long after competing in Louisville, Caleb’s archery coach and dad, Tommy Kimble was notified that his team had qualified for the World Championship Tournament to be held in July. In an effort to improve upon their national performances, Caleb and his fellow teammates sacrificed a good portion of their summer and met at the gym from 8-9:30 for practice three days a week.

Most afternoons also found Caleb in his backyard shooting arrow after arrow determined to perform well in Nashville.

July 24 finally arrived and the QC Archery team set out on a seven hour drive to the Music City Center where the big event would be held.

On the afternoon of July 25, at 2 p.m., as his mom held her breath, Caleb stepped up to the line and drew back his bow.

A short 45 minutes later, he had hit 24 bullseyes out of 30 attempts and racked up an impressive score of 293 landing him at the top of the leaderboard.

Possibly the most difficult part of the weekend though was still ahead with two days of competition left, but on Saturday afternoon as the dust settled, Caleb Kimble was the last man standing in the Elementary Boys Division with his 293.

In the days since becoming a World Champion, Caleb has been found exactly where one might expect, about 10-15 meters in front of his target, with his bow drawn, practicing because his next goal is the USA Jr. Olympic Team. Follow your arrow, Caleb, one shot at a time.