Evansville, IN – Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) celebrated a milestone this summer as youth archers and their families traveled to Evansville, Indiana, for the 10th Annual S3DA Eastern Target National Championship. The event marked a first for the community, with Evansville proudly serving as a new host city for an S3DA national tournament.
Held at the Goebel Soccer Complex within the Evansville Sports Complex, the three-day championship welcomed approximately 262 archers representing 80 teams from 15 states. Families, coaches, and supporters filled the venue, creating an atmosphere that balanced high-level competition with the camaraderie and sportsmanship that define the S3DA program. Explore Evansville helped enhance the championship experience by providing inflatables, entertainment, and a Friday evening fireworks display at the adjacent Deaconess Sports Park.
The championship also introduced S3DA’s inaugural Team Mixer, a new optional event designed to bring archers together beyond traditional competition. Participants were randomly assigned to three-person teams made up of mixed age divisions and equipment classes, encouraging new friendships, teamwork, and plenty of fun as teams created their own names and competed in a fast-paced, family-friendly atmosphere. The weekend’s strongest moments, however, came through the experiences shared by S3DA families.
“I am so proud of both my daughters and their determination and grit,” said archery parent Caren Bush. “My oldest daughter, Ella, is a senior this year and we counted up about twenty national tournaments that she has competed in, and this was her first national podium finish. Her very last S3DA tournament and she left as a National Champion. S3DA is the organization that taught her to love archery. Archery is the sport where our family found our people. What a blessing it was to be surrounded by our people as they cheered for Ella and followed every arrow right along with us. Archers, keep those memories with you – not the medal, podium moment, or the crazy climb to the top, but the feeling of having the right people around you and how it feels to support people when they have the same goals as you.”
S3DA extends its appreciation to the Indiana Archery Corporation and Explore Evansville, whose partnership helped welcome hundreds of visiting families to the region. “We were incredibly proud to host the 2026 S3DA Eastern Target National Championship in Evansville,” said Aaron King, Director of Sports Development for Explore Evansville. “While Evansville has long been known as a destination for youth sports, we’ve seen tremendous growth in archery over the past several years, and we’re excited to play a role in that momentum by welcoming premier national events like this one. To families considering a future S3DA National Championship in Evansville, we want you to know that you’ll be welcomed with genuine hospitality and a community that truly values your experience. We look forward to hopefully welcoming the S3DA families back to Evansville for years to come.”
The S3DA National Championship season continues August 6-9 with the 2026 Western 3D & Target National Championships in Helena and Marysville, Montana.