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In a recent tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Paige won medals in every event she entered for a total of 13. |
Paige Pearce
This up and coming archer is also the new generation of NWTF committee member
Just 16 years old, Paige Pearce of Red Bluff, Calif., is well on her way to becoming one of the most recognizable names in competition archery.
Paige recently competed in a tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she won a medal in every event she entered, including a sweep of six gold medals in the Junior Division, plus three gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the Senior Division. She got one more gold medal with Team USA. If that isn't enough, Paige is the Cadet World Champion, and in 2010 she won the California Triple Crown in the Senior Division.
A quiver of opportunity
Paige won her first tournament at age 11, and has since won too many times to list them all here. She competes in different types of events with equal success, including 3D marked and unmarked, indoor, field and FITA (International Archery Federation) tournaments.
Her mother, Stacy, who is also an archer, is in awe of her daughter's ability and coolness under pressure.
"Putting herself on the line in a contest doesn't seem to bother Paige at all," Stacy said. "I'd be on pins and needles in front of judges, television cameras and spectators, but she's fearless and thrives on pressure."
The young lady loves to compete whether it's close to home, meaning anywhere in the United States, or halfway around the world.
"Because of archery, I've been to several different countries, and I've got friends all over the world," Paige said. "We keep track of each other on Facebook."
On target family
Paige's parents, Stacy, a schoolteacher, and Kevin, a county worker, were raised in northern California's Tehama County, where the outdoors is right out the back door. Both are avid hunters and archers, so it's no surprise that their daughter was indoctrinated early on into their lifestyle, as was their young son, Kaden.
Paige was given a small plastic bow and foam arrows when she was just 2, and, according to her parents, she shot at targets with them.
Paige laughed and said, "My dad and mom would push me around in a stroller and stand me up in front of a target and I'd shoot at it, then they'd load me up and take me to another one."
She must have liked the routine, because she's still shooting at targets, only now she uses Easton arrows and Hoyt bows and is on the pro staff of both companies.
"My folks both shoot very well and so does my 12-year-old brother, Kaden. He's really good, but he and my dad are more into hunting than competition."
Her own Hunting Heritage
When Paige was 8 she passed the state hunter safety course and started hunting big game with her dad and mom at age 12. She uses rifles and shotguns at times, but prefers bowhunting because of the special challenges involved. With her bow she has taken a couple of turkeys, a huge black bear, a mule deer and, just last fall, a drool-over, velvet antlered 4x4 black-tailed buck that came too close to her tree stand.
Last summer, Paige and her mother taught archery at the Kids Outdoor Sports Camp hosted by Red Bank Outfitters in Tehama County. Owner Brian Riley told Paige about the NWTF, and she immediately joined the organization and became a member of the planning committee for the Red Bluff Chapter dinner in May.
"That's one impressive young lady," Brian said. "She's unassuming, well spoken and smart. I think she's going to go far in archery and hunting."
When asked why she got involved with the NWTF Paige said simply, "I wanted to join an organization that promotes conservation as well as hunting for young people like me and everyone else."
Living at full draw
Paige already has her sights set on the future. She intends to compete for a long time and is also thinking of becoming a lawyer. While keeping up with her busy tournament schedule, she maintains a straight-A average at Red Bluff High School, where she's a sophomore.
"I don't know where I'll go to college yet, but wherever it is I'll keep up with archery," Pearce said. "Archery isn't an NCAA sanctioned sport so basically colleges call it a club. I'm thinking I'll go to whatever college is going to fit what I want to become in life, and if I have to I'll start my own club." — John Higley