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Jack’s Journal: National Champion Archer

1953 was a long time ago. That was when he scored his first championship while a junior in high school in Grand Rapids.  He and his dad would go shoot and it was something Richard enjoyed.  Yes the competition, but the mental angle of the sport was a fun challenge to the young lad.

“The thing about archery is it’s a mental game.  It’s not a physical game,” says national champion archer Richard Sololoski.

He says you have to block out all distractions and focus on the X, the bullseye. From relatively short indoor ranges, to the 80 yards of a field range.  And if you are good you can score big, or even pull off a William Tell and put one arrow into another. 

Arrows and bows have changed but not his joy of the sport, and over the years he’s racked up the wins. Till one day an invitation from the National Senior Games, a goal come true.

“I knew I was qualified for it, but never expected the letter.  When we got the letter I said to my wife, ‘This is a one in a million chance of going to a national championship for senior games’,” says Richard.

So this July in St. Paul, Minnesota he competed over two days, and in the end, he was the national champion!  From his 1st win in 1953 to a national title 62 years later!

“I was very pleased.  I mean standing on that podium was just a thrill.”