WARRENSBURG, Ill. (WAND) - Chase White is gearing up to head off to college on an archery scholarship.
He stumbled into the sport when he was just 8 years old at a fishing show.
"My dad found a little archery stand, so I got to try out a little bow and shoot balloons downrange, and I, apparently, thought that was the greatest thing ever," White recalled.
White has become very skilled with the bow in his hands. He shoots barebow, meaning there is no sight, no stabilizer, so nothing aiding in his shooting is attached to the bow.
"Your bow is bare, kind of like a tree," White explained. "You're not able to have anything on it. All you've got is your centerpiece, your riser and your two limbs, and that's about all. You have to rest to hold your arrow."
Chase recently won National Shooter of the Year.
In August, he heads down to the University of the Cumberlands, one of the top archery schools in the country. He's ready for it.
"I'll be shooting five days a week—it's a requirement for the team," White said. "I'll be doing the big shoots for USA Archery, so there will be several nationals per year, and I'll be on a team. There will be a lot of support."
White credits his family and Rigney's School of Archery for helping him get to where he is now.
While he has not looked into it thoroughly, White says the Olympics could be an option if he continues improving.
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