All About Accuracy
SLIPPERY ROCK — Heather Stewart's husband is building her a new room to house her archery equipment.
“Maybe I can store my awards in there, too,” Stewart said.
No joke there.
Stewart, 43, of Slippery Rock, recently returned home from Yankton, S.D., where she competed in the National Field Archery Association's Natural Field and Target Championships. She came back with one national title — winning the Target category in her division — and nearly came back with much more.
The Target category consists of shooting at stationary targets from 40, 50 and 60 yards out.
“She fell two points short of winning the Field championship and 2 X's short of tying the national record in Targets,” her father, Tom Kennedy, said.
Regardless, Stewart's championship was her third national title in the past two years and sixth of her storied amateur career. She has been an archer since her childhood.
“Just a little bit off,” Stewart said of her performance at nationals. “I was still pretty happy with everything. I've been struggling with a shoulder issue lately.
“I've been shooting for 32 years and have been lifting weights. The wear and tear is definitely there.”
In winning her Target championship, Stewart shot an 882 out of a possible 900. An archer scores an “X” when a shot lands inside the 10-ring. While Stewart's 882 tied the national record number, she fell just shy of the X's that would have officially knotted the mark.
Stewart shoots year-round. She does indoor archery beginning in January and competes in numerous archery events. Her season is far from over as she plans to compete in the International Bowhunting Organization's World Championships early this month at Seven Springs. She will also compete in the NFAA's Midwest Trail Classic Shoot Aug. 21-22 in Wabash, Ind.
“I haven't competed in the IBO event in a lot of years,” Stewart said. “You shoot at 3D foam targets there, but you are not told the distance you're shooting from. You need to adjust and figure out that range and I'm not very good at that. It's something I've been working at.”
Kennedy pointed out that when she does compete, Stewart wants to compete against others at their best.
“Heather will take the time to give her opponents tips and advice,” Kennedy said. “Not many archers will do that at a national competition. She always shows good sportsmanship that way and I'm proud of her for that. She wants to win fairly.”
When Stewart was 7, her family left this area and moved to Caliofornia. They returned to Butler County when she was 12.
She formerly practiced and shot at Shooter's Showcase near Slippery Rock. She now does so at Possum Hollow in Wampum.
“When we moved back here, the first friends I met were through archery,” Stewart said. “They became my archery family.”
