by Zack Walton
This day was not your average day in the archery shop. This day was special. These archers were not your average shooters. These archers were special. “They’re not your average kids,” said Tim Burnett, owner of Impact Archery and Hoyt pro staff shooter. “They are amazing kids—even beyond that. They have no worries and just have fun all the time.” On the third Saturday in March, Impact Archery in Clovis, Calif. was the spot for more than 25 kids and young adults with special needs and local archers to gather and share in the experience archery provides. This event focused on involving select members from Break The Barriers—an organization that brings together athletes and performers of all abilities. Founded in 1983 by former New York Yankee Steve Hergenrader and his wife, Deby, whose dream was to offer a place to include and instruct athletes like her sister, Kathy, who has Down syndrome. Now, Break The Barriers has members with different physical, neurological and mental disabilities, and intermingles them with people of all abilities. “Everyone has disability and everybody has abil-
ity,” said Steve Hergenrader. “We try to pull out the ability and the best in everyone.” This event matched the members of Break The Barriers with local pros. Highlighted by two-time Paralympics bronze medalist and seven-time World Archery Festival champion Jeff Fabry. Fabry’s accomplishments in the archery world are numerous. But what made him of special interest to the participants is not how well he shoots his bow but the manner in which he shoots it—with his mouth. Fabry’s unique shooting style has evolved because of a passion to compete with archery equipment and an unfortunate accident more than 20 years ago. As a teenager, he was in a horrific motorcycle accident that cost him his right leg and his right arm just below the elbow. Now, in addition to having been all over the world for competitions, Fabry travels to all corners of the United States giving seminars at Paralympic summits and military bases. Although he will teach anyone about archery, many of the people with whom Fabry works are disabled—including veterans.
After being greeted with gift bags, the participants met with several members of the Hoyt pro shooters staff and got a peek at Fabry’s bronze medal from Beijing before heading into the lanes for a quick tutorial on safety and archery techniques. Then, the arrows started flying. With each bow drawn and each arrow loosed, each shooter’s grin grew wider and wider. And after only a few shots, arrows started smacking spots. Loud cheers from Break The Barriers members as they bounced around high-fiving each other touched the instructors in an unexpected way. The day began with the experienced shooters slated to be the teachers. As the day progressed, however, it was obvious that the students had taught the invaluable lessons. “When they hit a bulls-eye they are genuinely excited,” said Josh Binger, a Hoyt pro staffer. “It’s a good thing for us to gain that perspective.” After an hour of shooting, the group gathered to watch one of the world’s elite Paralympic archers in action. Seated in his wheelchair with a large “Team Redneck” sticker plastered firmly across the back,
Fabry carefully knocks the arrow with his left hand before using the same hand to grip the bow’s riser. Leaning forward, he finds the dimpled markings on the nylon tab that have been perfectly molded to fit his molars from thousands of shots. With a slight tug from his neck and the steady extension of his arm, Fabry settles at full draw. Zeroing on the spot, he allows his clenched jaw to relax. Sending the arrow streaming toward the target where it buries deep in the “X” ring. A burst of excitement and applause erupts through the high-ceilinged lanes. The audience has swelled to nearly 50 people, each of whom, regardless of their level of experience or ability in awe of the ease with which Fabry stacks arrows in the spot. But there is no doubt that the kids and young adults, for whom this event was put together, were the most inspired. “Jeff is so amazing,” said Terra Lynch, a wheelchair dancer on the Break The Barriers performance team. “He blew me away.” Lynch, a 21-year-old with cerebral palsy, has been continued on pg. 24
NFAA Professional Jeff Fabry helps with aiming
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June / July 2009
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June / July 2009 23
