SPORTS BY ROB MORRIS
Northmoor Archery Team Wins Back-to-Back State Championships Call it a dynasty in the making. Northmoor Elementary School didn’t even have an archery program before the arrival of Edgar Fowlkes in 2017. Northmoor’s Principal, Vernona DeCarlo, hired him to teach physical education and asked Fowlkes to introduce Northmoor students to the sport. “I had a couple of donors, Drill Right Technology and Triple S Systems, step up and help purchase half the archery equipment,” said Fowlkes. “The kids loved it and started talking about winning state that very first year.” The All-Stars archery program went full-time for the 2018-2019 school year and won the Oklahoma State championship that very first year. After accomplishing such a remarkable feat, the team traveled to Tulsa for the 2020 state competition with high expectations. “The Northmoor All Stars took first place, notching a very impressive score of 3208,” said Fowlkes. “This score would have place 7th in the high school division.” Fowlkes says the All Stars have worked hard to achieve such a high level of success in a short period. Team members start practice in October with an hour-and-fifteen-minutes before school, five days a week. They return for practice after school three days a week for an hour-and-a-half. The students even volunteer to come in for training during their recess time three-to-four times a week. “The kids on the Northmoor archery teamwork at their sport just as hard as any high school sport in Moore,” said Fowlkes. “In February, they prac46 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020
ticed five days a week in the morning and 4 days a week in the afternoon. They still were begging to come in and practice during their recess time. I couldn’t keep them out of the gym.” The team is made up of both boys and girls. Fowlkes says that one of the unique aspects of archery is that the sport levels the playing field for boys and girls because it demands a mastery of focus and discipline over strength and athletic ability. “These archers learn a lot about life,” said Fowlkes. “When you ask kids to practice 12 to 14 hours a week on top of school and other commitments, it takes a special internal drive and passion to practice like they do.” Because they maintain such a high level of commitment and dedication to practice, it helps the students bond together. “These kids become a family,” said Fowlkes. “Archery breaks down barriers that normally keep kids from associating with each other. Northmoor Elementary They become one unit instead of a bunch of individuals.” coach Edgar Fowlkes The requirements to be involved on the Northmoor archery team are exacting but straightforward. Team members must carry a “C average” and be a model student at school. Everyone in school knows who the archery students are because they earn a shooting shirt and an archery jacket.
