He can shoot with the best of them, he’s in the Quesnel Sports Hall of Fame and he’s only 11 years old.
Michael Wright posted the top score on the board last weekend at the provincial 3D archery championships in Williams Lake.
His score of 806 bested 136 archers, including his mother, Samantha Wright, who is the current world bronze medalist in 3D archery.
Granted, shooting in the Pre-Cub category Michael shot from a closer distance than the older archers and was given a 146-point handicap.
But he still had to make the shots.
And he did.
“He was the star of the show,” Samantha said of her son.
Going into the competition, Michael was hoping to average 200 points per round, and with a four-round score of 806, he accomplished that goal.
“He makes it all look easy,” Samantha said.
He may make it look easy, but Michael admits there is nothing easy about it, other than having fun with the archers in his group.
Given he is 11 years old, it is no surprise Michael admits staying focused through the full round of 20 targets is tough.
This year also marks the first time Michael is eligible to qualify for the Canadian team, so there is added pressure.
“I worry more when the course is harder,” he said.
Michael’s four-round score of 806 was not only tops at the provincial championships, but the score seeded him first in the Pre-Cub category on Team BC by a margin of more than 130 points.
Michael and Samantha, who also qualified to represent B.C. at the Canadian championships, head to the Canadian 3D Archery Championship in Regina, July 27.
