Taking aim: Archers compete in tournament

By Crystal Price KVAL News Published: Apr 30, 2012 at 8:16 AM PDT
Taking aim: Archers compete in tournament »Play Video

DEXTER, Ore.- Twelve-year-old Natalie Ochs of Eugene carefully took aim as she stepped up to the 10 foot target at Green Valley Archers Sunday afternoon.

Ochs has only been an archer for a little over a month. An avid fan of the Hunger Games, Ochs said that is where she caught the love for archery.

"I liked just the whole theme of it and how Katniss had to survive off of a bow pretty much," Ochs said.

Eager to be a heroine as well, Ochs decided to take up the sport.

On Sunday, Ochs competed with more than 20 other young archers at Cabela's and Willamalane's archery tournament. Organizers said since the Hunger Games hit the big screen, it has helped the archery business.

"There definitely has been a huge increase in interest in the archery locally," said Sarah Kinder, an organizer of this weekend's archery tournament. "We've been seeing a lot of folks coming in."

Kinser said she hopes to keep the archery skill stay alive in younger generations through events like this weekend's tournament.

"A lot of folks have grown old and retired," Kinser said. "It's open to every age bracket as well as boys or girls. We want everyone out there having fun."

The next archery tournament will be at Green Valley Archers on Mother's Day weekend.