Meet Michael Lowe.
He’s traveled the country, competed in international archery competitions, and has won countless trophies and awards. The Idalou resident says his father got him to begin practicing archery when he was four-years-old, and since then, he rarely skips a day taking the bow out.
“I shoot year-round, pretty much on a daily basis,” said Lowe.
Maybe it’s because he began the sport at a young age, or maybe he just has a knack for it? Either way, he has proven himself to be one of the best archers in the nation.
In January Mr. Lowe and his family traveled to Las Vegas for the “Vegas Shoot,” the largest and most expensive (meaning that the prize money for winners is bigger than any other tournament) indoor archery tournament in the world, where he placed second. And last February, he attended the National Field Indoor Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky where he walked away with a win.
“I’m very proud of that,” said Lowe. “It was a lot of time and effort, a lot of arrows shot preparing for a tournament like that.”
He hopes to do the same at this year’s Indoor Nationals, and is optimistic that he can make it back out there despite a minor setback: a broken left wrist. Fortunately, his doctor was able to mold the cast to where he can still shoot with a bow properly.
“We’ll kind of take that how it comes.”
Although being the only archer in the family, Mr. Lowe says his wife and daughters have become quite knowledgeable about the sport after having traveled with him to his numerous tournaments.
“They are my number one fans,” said Lowe. “My wife and daughters are very supportive of my archery. I’m very thankful for them.”
He owes his success to his family, as well as his friends at Lubbock Indoor Archery, where he frequently practices at and visits with the youth and other aspiring archers, young and old.
For him, it’s more than just about the competition. All awards and recognition aside, he says what he enjoys most about the sport is the simplicity of it.
“It is therapeutic for me, you know it can be a little tense in the tournaments to control the nerves, but I enjoy shooting in my backyard on a nice day,” said Lowe. ” Just clears the mind, it’s good for you.
