Bayou Bowmen Archery Club and others from across the state were unable to beat the heat but did beat the rain on the first day of June at the Louisiana Field Archery Association State 900 Championship, which attracted nearly 40 shooters from as far away as Little Rock, Arkansas.

One of the 12 BBAC members who competed at the club’s outdoor site near Spanish Lake on a warm, muggy day was Bryan Thibodeaux of Franklin. Thibodeaux, who joined the club more than 30 years ago, was one of four BBACers earning first-place medals.

Thibodeaux, LFAA vice president, recorded the third-highest total, 881, of any of the archers shooting in an adult class. His Senior Male Bowhunter Freestyle score included 31 Xs, second-highest among the adult shooters.

The 56-year-old mechanic at Compass Mineral Mine on Cote Blanche Island tied a state record held by a fellow club member, Ricky St. Upery of New Iberia, but was two Xs short of St. Upery’s 33 Xs.

“I shot well (overall). I’m really getting back on my game. In a couple spots I was disappointed with my shooting. I’m trying to get back to my younger form but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Thibodeaux said with a chuckle.

He owns several state records after getting into the sport in 1988, taking a break while raising a family, then getting back into competitive archery.

Thibodeaux’s pleased that his club has grown to 65 families (nearly 100 total members including spouses and dependents).

“We’re doing very well. We’re trying to get as many new members as we can. I’m very proud of what we’ve done. We’ve been trying to attract youth. Once they get out there, it’s really a family sport,” he said.

St. Upery, BBAC president, competed and along with other club members helped the tournament run smoothly. His wife, Toni St. Upery, is the club’s secretary/treasurer.

The BBAC’s vice president, Neecie Falgout, was everywhere, even snapping beaucoup photos of the archers on and off the line. With the help of fellow club member Laurie Segura, Falgout entered the official scores while seated at the registration table.

Both St. Uperys went home with a first-place medal, Ricky in Silver Senior Male Bowhunter Freestyle, where he outshot fellow club member Dwight Derouen, 831-820, and Toni in Silver Senior Female Bowhunter Freestyle with a 771.

Thirty-seven men and women, young and old, converged on the local outdoor range to compete despite the passage of a storm a day earlier and forecasts for more inclement weather on tournament day. The archers included a family from Little Rock, Arkansas, and others from Shreveport, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Metairie, according to St. Upery.

“I think the tournament turned out well, weather permitting. I expected 20 to 25 with the weather and we got 37. I was really pleased with that. The weather really worked out well,” he said, noting rain held off until long after the archers were on their way home.

The BBAC president said he assured each of the callers the previous night the contest would go on, even if it was raining, with any stoppage only due to lightning. There were very few cancellations, he said.

St. Upery cooked a pot of pork chop jambalaya and white beans to go with it at the site early tournament morning for all to enjoy later. The archers apparently enjoyed the tasty meal as it started disappearing around midday.

Other winners from the local club included Peyton Crochet, who shot 705 in the Young Adult Male Bowhunter Freestyle Class. It was his first outing in a “900” round format.

BBAC was playing host to its fourth tournament of the year. After the annual Chad Stansbury Memorial Combination (3D and Field together) on April 6, an ASA Qualifier was held May 11 and the Bayou Bowmen Field Invitational took place May 19.

The Bayou Bowmen Archery Club has four more tournaments left on its schedule to be held on the club’s site near Spanish Lake. Another ASA Qualifier is set for June 15, another BBAC Field Invitational is scheduled to be held June 29, and a 3D Shoot is set for June 29 before a BBAC 3D and Independence Traditional 3D wraps up the home slate on July 20.

RESULTS

Name Score Xs

ADULT MALE BOWHUNTER FREESTYLE

Dustin Maxwell 866 31

Scotty Segura 863 19

Josh Poindexter 843 24

Jade Derouen 809 12

Chance Crochet 779 8

ADULT MALE FREESTYLE

Clayton Moore 887 45

Murphy Olivier 0

ADULT MALE TRADTIONAL

Michael Taylor 454

CUB FEMALE BAREBOW

Landry Blakey 637 5

MASTER SENIOR MALE FREESTYLE

Chris Comeaux 832 10

Donnie Romero 790 5

MASTER SENIOR MALE FREESTYLE LTD RECURVE

Mitchell Broussard 712

Roland Robicheaux 663

Charles Maraist 597

MASTER SENIOR MALE TRADITIONAL

David Taylor 647 9

SENIOR FEMALE FREESTYLE

Tammy Rose 818 9

SENIOR FEMALE TRADITIONAL

Jessiva Corbett 478

SENIOR MALE BAREBOW

Emite Rose 881 31

SENIOR MALE FREESTYLE

Jody Maxwell 825 18

SILVER SENIOR FEMALE BOWHUNTER FREESTYLE

Toni St. Upery 771 7

SILVER SENIOR MALE BOWHUNTER FREESTYLE

Ricky St. Upery 831 14

Dwight Derouen 820 12

SILVER SENIOR MALE FREESTYLE LTD RECURVE

Jerry James 686 2

YOUNG ADULT FEMALE BAREBOW

Charli Long 576 2

YOUNG ADULT FEMALE FREESTYLE

Savannah O’Donohue 876 32

YOUNG ADULT FEMALE FREESTYlE LTD RECURVE

Sophie Gibbons 427

YOUNG ADULT MALE BOWHUNTER FREESTYLE

Peyton Crochet 705 4

YOUNG ADULT MALE FREESTYLE

Sam Moore 889 44

Wyatt Conleay 846 21

Dylan Michelli 837 14

YOUTH FEMALE FREESTYLE

Jewel Blakey 884 44

Katie Poindexter 778 2

GUEST

Jamie Hanna 876 31

Jordan Andrepont 847 17

Mike Mabini 815 15

Kody Dennis 576 2