Based on her performances, in 2003, Sara is ranked 4th in the Nation in the Lady Junior Recurve Division by the NAA.

The four National Tournaments involved competitive shooting lasting 3 to 5 days per tournament.  Indoor tournaments are shot with 60 arrows, at 18 meters with the “bulls eye”, or “10” ring, being 1½” in diameter.  Outdoor tournaments use larger targets but are shot at much longer distances of 70, 60, 50 and 30 meters, with 36 arrows at each distance.  Archery requires a great deal of mental discipline, stamina, and muscle control.   Sara’s coach, Robert  Kaufhold of Lancaster Archery, describes the exertions of one outdoor  shoot (i.e. 36 arrows at each of the four distances) as being the equivalent of moving 2½ tons of weight and walking 1 1/2 miles.  Tournaments are shot in all weather conditions except when there is a danger of lightening.  Olympic recurve bows, with high density aluminum risers and carbon limbs, make excellent lightening rods! Unlike other sports, archery involves year round competition. Outdoor tournaments are typically shot in spring and summer, while indoor tournaments are shot in fall and winter.

In March, 2003, Sara competed in the NAA National Indoor JOAD ( Junior Olympic Archery Development) Tournament and in the NAA FITA (International Archery  Federation)  National Indoor Tournament in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Sara placed 2nd nationally in the JOAD Tournament and 4th in the FITA.  In June, she flew to Denver, Colorado and placed 6th in the NAA National Outdoor JOAD Tournament.  In August, she  placed 4th in the nation at the NAA FITA National Outdoor Tournament in Reading, Pennsylvania (which involved 5 days of shooting).

This past summer Sara also won the Pennsylvania State Outdoor championship for the Junior Lady Recurve Division.  On October 11, 2003 Sara won 1st Place in the Star FITA Indoor Tournament held at the Atlantic Cape Community College, in New Jersey, with a score of 554.  Recently, on November 8, 2003, she also won the FITA Eastern U.S. Regional Indoor Championship and in the process set a Tournament record score of 567 out of a perfect 600.  Her score was not only the highest in the Junior Lady Recurve Division, but was also higher than the winning scores in the Junior Men’s Recurve Division; Senior Lady Recurve Division, and the Lady’s and Men’s College Recurve Divisions. 
 Sara looks forward to her final year in the Junior Division in 2004 before competing in the College Division in 2005.  Sara not only won the Eastern Indoor Championship on November 8th but she also successfully attained her Indoor Olympian and Silver Olympian Medals. She achieved her Outdoor Olympian score this past summer. Because of her achievements she is now qualified to try out for the US Archery Olympic Team in 2004.  The tryouts are June 14th and 15th.  

Sara’s long-term aim, however, remains focused on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, which she views as a “once in a lifetime experience”. 

December 2003