By Shaun Szkolnik, sports editor
TRUSSVILLE — Often enough the most poignant part of getting older is realizing that so many youthful dreams must be given up. One local man, Nic Glenn, has no idea how that feels. Nic Glenn is an archer, and this year he won the Paris Texas Southeast Shootout, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the Archery Shooters Association (ASA). And he is just getting started.
“This is one of the most coveted tournaments,” said Glenn. “This is the only one that they give a belt buckle out for. All of them give a trophy and money, but nobody really cares about the money. I was very lucky to win this one. It was a real hard one, but it was a real good shoot. I was just blessed, just blessed; that is all there was to it.”
Glenn competes as an amateur in the Hunter Class, which means he shoots up to 40 yards. As if that were not difficult enough, other factors complicate the competition even more. For one, it is in Texas, and the shooter has to contend with a good deal of wind. For another, competitors don’t see what they are aiming at.
“It is a 3D competition (where competitors shoot at targets made to look like animals), so you don’t see what you’re aiming at,” said Glenn. “You’re aiming at three-dimensional animals, and you use binoculars to see where the score results are. You have an eight, which is a big area, five is anywhere on the target, a 10 is only five inches in diameter, and a 12 is about an inch and a half.”
For Glenn, it was a journey that started in his teens.
“When I fifteen years old my uncle had a bow, and I saw him shoot,” said Glenn. “I got interested in it, and my parents bought me one. I got into it for hunting, and then I started shooting tournaments to make me a better hunter, and then I got to where I shoot year-round now whether I’m hunting or not. I shoot during the winter, so it started out from hunting, and it just became a passion.”
Passion is only one part of the equation. It also takes practice. Glenn puts in at least three days, adding up to about six hours, of practice per week. He also tries to shoot a local competition every weekend that one is taking place.
“(I train at) my house, in my basement after my wife and daughter go to sleep,” said Glenn. “I’ve got a target I hang up in the basement, and I shoot it at nighttime just to practice.”
Fortunately for Glenn, the level of commitment necessary to perform at such a high level does not take away from family.
“They (the family) love it,” he said. “I even have my daughter a bow. She shoots some, but just in the back yard, and if I’m outside, she’s out there with me. And my daughter likes going to all those things. It is pretty cool because it is like a mini-vacation. ASA travels around all over the southeast.”
After winning the Paris Texas Southeast Shootout, Glenn has another goal he is aiming for.
“There is one other way that you can win a belt buckle, and that is if you win shooter of the year,” said Glenn. “Which is the combined top three scores (from all the tournaments).”
And that is what Glenn is going for now.
“I’m going to try and win shooter of the year in ASA,” said Glenn. “That is my goal, and it is very reachable now. I put up the highest score that has been shot in our class this year. So, I’ve got a good chance. I’ll have to shoot one more good tournament, and then I’ll be right up there with them.”
It is a goal he has been working towards for the last three years, and seriously for the last two years.
“Last year the Paris one was the only one I didn’t go to, the year before I went to one or two just to shoot the classic,” Glenn said. “So, I got serious about it last year trying to win shooter of the year. Last year I finished top 10 in all five shoots that I competed in, and I finished fourth in two of them and fifth in one of them. So, I was so close to the podium twice last year but just didn’t make it. So, I am very fortunate to have won this year.”
Even though Glenn has achieved a high level of success at a high level of competition, he has not lost sight about what makes all it worth it to him.
“I can’t say that I’m trying to go pro or anything like that,” he said. “I just do it for fun. When I get there, I’m not all serious. If you’re in my group, you’re going to be laughing. I want to have a good time. That is what it is about to me, having a good time and my family being able to do it with me.”