History of Archery at UNH

Archery started at UNH before World War II. A club of 6 women learned to shoot for recreation, using wooden longbows. When WWII broke out, the club was discontinued so that more focus could be put on the war effort.

In 1996, a group of students created the UNH Archery club under Campus Recreation as a club sport. Pam Williams (Class of 2000) started the club with the assistance of Marcia Wyman, the head of the New England School of Archery to provide students with a sport that the non-athletic and differently abled could enjoy just as fully as other students.

By the year 2000, they were shooting in the Field House, and had about a dozen steady members. Midway through the year NAA Level 4 Coach Mark Olson became the new head coach for the team.

In 2001, the group hosted their first archery tournament inside the field house and invited some local archers to participate. The club met once a week to practice during this year.

In 2002-2004 the club began to participate in regional competitions in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The club also began practicing two days a week, to accommodate a growing membership.

In 2004, the club's numbers grew, and archers from the UNH team were sent to the Indoor Nationals competition for the first time. This was also the first year of the unique Cabin Fever Shoot, a 30 meter indoor shoot open to many different disciplines.

Since 2004, each year several club archers have competed in the NAA Indoor Nationals in Andover Mass. (See photo galleries for pictures!) The club continues to grow, and the Cabin Fever Shoot is now in its 5th year. The club equipment has been upgraded to suit the needs of its members. 

 In 2006 the club received the UNH Parent's Association Grant and has used the funds to build competitive rigs to outfit serious shooters.

The 2007-08 season was one of the team's best ever as we both the Cabin Fever Shoot and the first New England Intercollegiate Championships in history. Our archery team also won the men's and women's New England Championships and the trophies are in the case in the Hamel Rec Center.