David Machart is no stranger to the awards stand. The charismatic 18 year old archer from Anamosa is the reigning Iowa 3D and Bullseye State Champion, the 2015 Wold Championship runner up, the 2015 National Championship third place overall and the first Iowa archer to shoot a perfect 300 in an event – the day before his 18th birthday.
“I was on that day,” he said. “Everyone was screaming, especially my Mom. She was all sorts of happy.”
Machart is one of the favorites heading in to the Bullseye and 3D National Tournament, May 12-14, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. Last year, he was edged out by an archer who scored 298, but who hadn’t previously scored higher than a 290.
“Anything can happen,” he said.
Machart is driving down Thursday night with his family, who will be joined by his grandparents and extended family living in the local area. The Anamosa archery team will also be going – some as participants and some as supporters – as well as other top Iowa archers and teams.
“It will be a lot of fun no matter what happens,” he said.
With his days participating the Iowa National Archery in the Schools Program winding down, Machart said he will miss hanging out with friends and meeting new people at shoots, like the friend from Georgia who he talks to monthly, or the friend in Des Moines who Snapchats him daily, and the coaches who contact him after competitions.
“You compete against yourself. It’s not a physical sport – anyone can do it. This has taught me that dedication can equal success,” he said.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the support, especially my parents and coaches,” he said.
State Champion Archer Bags First Turkey Using Bow
David Machart wasn’t planning to go turkey hunting that morning. The Anamosa senior usually hunted with his Dad but plans change and he found himself in their blind battling a seemly endless stream of wasps – he killed 14 – during the first half hour of the hunt.
He had just hit the side of his blind while killing a wasp when two Toms gobbled.
He called.
They walked closer.
He watched.
The turkeys came within a few yards of his blind and then watched him as Machart drew back his bow and released the arrow. “They took off, like a hundred yards,” he said. After a few minutes, he began to pursue the arrowed Tom.
At around 100 yards, he found the bird.
Bullseye.
“It was exciting. It was the first bird I called in alone,” he said.