Vanderheiden creates legacy for local archers

Winning two national championships, and around 12-13 state championships, Norfolk native Sam Vanderheiden has found his passion in archery.
“I started archery mostly for hunting and stuff, but it really turned into more,” Vanderheiden said.
A member of the National Guard and ROTC, Vanderheiden said that he chose to come to CSC because of the range program.
Currently a senior studying range management, Vanderheiden transferred from Northeast Community College in Norfolk. There, he studied precision agriculture and participated in the archery club.
Vanderheiden turned the archery club at Northeast Community College into a more competitive group, and is currently in charge of the unofficial archery club here on campus.
Vanderheiden mentioned that the club is looking for someone to take over the club for next year, and that he has hopes the group will become an official club once again at some point in the future.
Favoring his compound bow, Vanderheiden has competed in competitions across the nation, and has a love for traveling, especially to Las Vegas.
“My uncle was the first one who introduced me to archery, but for the competitive stuff, my mentor from the Game and Parks mentor deer hunting program shoots professionally, so my mentor got me into that and then it just spiraled from there,” Vanderheiden said.
Due to the lack of places to shoot in Chadron, Vanderheiden usually ends up driving around five and half hours home every weekend to either go to tournaments, or even just to practice.
When asked what advice he would give to those looking to get into the sport, Vanderheiden simply wants those interested to just give it a try.
Vanderheiden is hoping to be selected for the U.S. World Archery Team next year.
While he hopes to continue shooting professionally and pass on his knowledge to the next generation of archers, he also aspires to become a game warden some day.
“As long as I’m able to shoot my bow, I’m happy,” Vanderheiden said.
For more information about the archery group on campus, either Dr. Perlinski or Sam Vanderheiden himself, should be contacted.