Foley Hitting Target with Archery Events

Archery and the City of Foley have grown synonymous in the last few years, but what people may not realize is the number of return visitors these events draw. This week the best in collegiate archery are coming from across the country to vie for the USA Archery Collegiate 3D National title.

Mike Tyrell, director of the event and president of the Archery Shooters Association (ASA) said they are expecting more than 400 competitors from states including New York, Michigan, South Dakota, California, Oklahoma, and Missouri. They will be competing for team and individual honors in recurve, compound, fixed pins, and barebow divisions.

Tyrell said they have been hosting the event in Foley since 2017 and have seen it grow every year. Those participants coming this week may very well return to the city in a few short months.

“Because ASA focuses solely on delivering 3D archery competitions, we were asked by USA Archery to help conduct their National 3D Championship in October using our rules of competition,” Tyrell said. “Many of our regular participants began with us even before high school and are now in college while still shooting ASA. We also have many ‘newbies’ join ASA after shooting this event.”

Leslie Gahagan, Environment & Nature Parks Director for the City of Foley, said with some shooters competing both collegiately and with ASA, they could be visiting twice each year and that means more opportunity to give them a trip to remember.

“In February, the ASA tour event often falls around Mardi Gras so visitors can experience a number of special events in conjunction with the holiday,” Gahagan said. “With all the Halloween events going on, October is also a perfect time for these archers to enjoy fun when they aren’t competing. For example, they don’t even have to leave Graham Creek Nature Preserve to get the scare of their lives at the Haunted Forest. There’s always something new to experience and we are helping visitors realize sometimes one trip a year just isn’t enough.”

For more information on the USA Archery Collegiate 3D Nationals or any FST event contact Stephanie Donald.