Andrea got started in archery because her husband, Mike, was shooting at some local ranges and Andrea felt it would be something she’d be interested in trying. She picked it up and Mike and her have been shooting ever since. The competition was immediately attractive to Andrea, and it’s become something she absolutely loves.
Andrea has been enjoying archery since May of 2000 and currently competes in the Women’s Pro class. Her competition bows are the Conquest Triumph and the Monster Xlr8. She uses the Reezen 6.5 for hunting. Some of her most recent accomplishments include the following:
- 2010 – ASA August Pro Am – 2nd
- 2010 – ASA Kentucky Pro Am – 5th
- 2010 – ASA Illinois Pro Am – 3rd
- 2010 – ASA Classic – 3rd
- 2010 – ASA Shooter of the Year – 2nd
Her favorite achievement in archery was winning IBO Shooter of the Year 2 years in a row.
Andrea loves that archery gives her the ability to travel with her whole family and meet up with friends who share her love of archery. “It also helps to possibly make a little money, which helps when you have three kids and plenty of bills like all the other folks out there!” Andrea exclaims.
Andrea thanks her uncle and aunt, Tom and Patti Ice, for their support, and for watching Andrea’s children when she’s needed to practice or compete. “Tom and Patti would watch them anytime I would ask. They will never know how much I appreciate everything they’ve done for me.”
She also thanks her children, mother and sisters for being supportive and understanding, and her father for being her “biggest fan.” Andrea’s father was able to see her win her first World Championship in the IBO in the FBR class in 2004 before dying in 2005 from cancer. “I miss him a lot,” Andrea says.
To any new archers, Andrea’s advice is to “be patient. When learning to shoot, don’t expect to be perfect, NOBODY IS! Concentrate on what YOUR arrow is doing, not anyone else’s. When you shoot an arrow, accept it no matter where it hits. If you don’t like where it landed, think about what you need to do different to make a better shot, and then move on to the next target. Don’t think, ‘I need to shoot all 10′s on the next 5 targets,’ think, ‘I need to make a good shot on the next target.’”
When not competing, Andrea enjoys reading, writing, painting, drawing, singing, spending time with the family, working at her and Mike’s shop “Mufflers-n-More”, and doing almost anything else that involves the outdoors.
