Each brisk fall semester and frigid winter, Rowan University holds a university wide club fair. Clubs of all kinds line tables up and educate students about their clubs, in hopes to gain new members. 

These club fairs are events where students across the campus can explore and join clubs and sports teams that peak their interests. This reigns true for Rowan University’s Archery Club. 

Profs Robert Robinson, Jacob Apicella, and Ryan McGrath are just a few of the students who have found a home at the archery ranges.

While the Archery Club may not be the most well-known club team on Rowan’s campus, they have continued to grow and make strides since the COVID-19 pandemic and the large group of students who graduated that year. 

“Basically we lost everybody because of graduation, so we were desperate to get fresh blood…I started talking to the president at the time, which was Brian Winkler. It was just him, our head coach, Joel, and just a few other stranglers that shot recreationally. They helped start from scratch, and me getting involved really spearheaded, trying to just word of mouth, speeding up social media, and just trying to get our name out there, to try to come to these events and try to stay competitive. And over time, we’ve had a lot of great archers come and go, mostly just because of graduation, of course. And now this year, I would say it’s probably going to be our strongest year as a team on record,” said graduate student and fourth-year veteran of the team, Robert Robinson. 

The club has seen immense growth since 2020, and this is due to the hard-working archers of all different levels. Unlike a variety of other club sports teams at Rowan, the Archery Club welcomes archers of all levels, from beginners to experts.

“If you are new, it makes no sense to worry. We’ve had plenty of people in the past that have had zero experience. We coach them in the right direction, and we try to offer rental equipment and make sure that it’s accessible for all and for everyone to experience this great sport recreationally or competitively,” said Robinson. 

Jacob Apicella, a junior supply chain logistics major and first-year archer, is just one of many students who jumped right into the club with no experience. 

“Being someone that started in late September, in the past six or so months…I’ve already almost caught up to some of the people who have been doing this for a year or more. Being able to go from no experience up to that level that quickly, to me, it just shows how much of this peer coaching aspect, where we were always there, there’s always somebody next to you, and behind you,” said Apicella. 

It is no secret that clubs and teams become a safe space for students to connect and build relationships with like-minded individuals. The Archery Club is no different. 

Ryan McGrath was a transfer student trying to find his community on campus when he noticed the club’s table at the club fair. 

“I came in as a transfer student, so it was very difficult to try and meet people, and try to figure out what groups to be part of. So I was able to go up to the sports event, and go up to the table and try to see some new people. And thankfully, because of these two fine gentlemen over here, I was able to create a very, very strong connection with them, and basically, a very strong friendship. And it’s not anything like I’ve experienced with any other clubs,” said Ryan McGrath, a senior transfer student and Rowan archer. 

No matter their background, a handful of students have found a connection and a second family with their fellow archers. Despite competing individually, the team is there to support each other and uplift each other regardless of the circumstances. 

“Archery is more or less an individual sport, but at the end of the day, it’s our team as a whole that just wants to see each one of us succeed, whether it’s us or somebody else on the team,” said Apicella. 

While the Rowan Archery Club may not be as well known as other club teams at Rowan, it is one of the most easily accessible teams for Rowan students of all kinds to join. 

“Time-wise, it’s accessible to most people. Financially, it’s accessible to pretty much everyone. We have probably the lowest dues of all the sports clubs that have dues. I think for a recreational person to rent our equipment, it’s 50 bucks a semester. It’s extremely accessible to kind of get your feet wet,” said Apicella. 

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