Gunn siblings take aim at archery success

With skill and precision, Jason and Miranda Gunn raise their bows simultaneously and release arrows toward separate targets.

The Gunn siblings, who both attend Sacred Heart School, began participating in archery in 2006. Jason, 15, said he was watching bow hunters on television and thought the sport might be fun. Jason’s father, Jason Gunn Sr., said he immediately began searching for a place to learn archery.

“It started as a father-son thing,” Jason Gunn Sr. said.

Miranda said she got involved in archery later in the year after watching her father and brother shoot.

“The first time I just wondered if I’d hit the target,” Miranda said. “I knew the arrow would land somewhere.”

Miranda hit the target on her first try and she was hooked.

Jason Jr., nicknamed “Jase” by his family, took to the sport immediately as well, but found the bow harder to maneuver than he expected.

“I thought it would be easy to pull back,” he said, “but, no.”

The siblings practice at Treestand Archery, where Jason uses a sighted bow and shoots at traditional targets. Miranda shoots at three-dimensional targets at a closer range than her brother due to her short stature. John Wells, owner of Treestand Archery, called Jason’s shooting style “contemporary” and Miranda’s “instinctive.”

“Archery teaches patience and self-discipline,” Wells said.

Jason Gunn Sr. said the hours of practice have allowed them to shoot from greater distances.

“We started up close and worked our way back,” he said.

Patricia Gunn, the siblings’ mother, said Jason and Miranda practice between four and five hours a week during the school year.

“Not so much in the summer,” she said. “That’s their off-season.”

The results of their practice and dedication is displayed in the family’s living room, where two shelves are full of trophies they have won in area competitions.

“It’s exciting to win,” Miranda said.

Patricia Gunn said archery is great for children and teenagers who don’t play more traditional sports like football and baseball. The Gunn family also enjoys the sport because it is relatively inexpensive and there are a variety of local competitions to choose from.

“Kids pick up archery easy,” Wells said.

According to Patricia Gunn, archery is addictive because improvement comes quick and easy with practice.

While Jason and Miranda both enjoy archery, they have very different reasons. Miranda, the more outgoing of the duo, likes the fact that her entire family has started shooting, while Jason, who is described as “competitive” by his mother, likes winning trophies.

Miranda completed her sixth-grade year on the A honor roll and Jason worked hard during his eighth-grade year to earn the B honor roll, Patricia Gunn said.

Miranda is also involved in theater and has a part in “Willy Wonka Jr.,” an upcoming Liberty Center play. Another passion of Miranda’s is volleyball; she plays on both a traveling team and Sacred Heart’s team.

Jason spends his free time playing video games and hopes to pursue a career in video game programming after high school.

Class acts
Each Monday, the Democrat will tell the story of a student in the area who performs exceptionally well, in and out of the classroom. If you know a student, in kindergarten through college, who has made a difference or does something unique, let us know about it. E-mail your suggestion to tfennell@sedaliademocrat.com or awalther@sedaliademocrat.com or call 660-826-1000, ext. 211.