McHenry Community High School junior McKenzie Woods is preparing to take her archery skills to a big stage when she competes this weekend at the World Series archery tournament in Las Vegas.
Following solid results at recent national competitions, Woods is the youngest in the women’s pro championship at this year’s World Series indoor event. The three-day tournament draws more than 5,000 archers from around the world, including professionals, Olympic champions and more.
“It’s been like a roller-coaster,” said Woods, who has been practicing and competing since elementary school. “What keeps me going are all the new accomplishments.”
At her most recent National Field Archery Association national competition, Woods placed fourth in the young adult female category. For the recent USA indoor nationals, she earned fourth place for the u18 compound female category.
She credits her coaches for suggesting that she compete at the indoor World Series event known as the Vegas Shoot. Woods followed her older sister into archery in second grade and started competing in fifth grade.
She is a staff shooter for Strictly Archery in Shorewood and competes on the national team for BTX Archery. She competes in indoor and outdoor events.
At McHenry High School, Woods is an editor for the McHenry Messenger student newspaper and also serves on the student council. And she spends about two hours a day on archery.
For mastering archery, Woods said it is mostly mental over physical skill.
“I just have to make sure I have all the mental training,” Woods said. “If you think the wrong thing, it could go in not the right spot you want to hit.”
