The Archery Shooters Association’s (ASA) Hoyt/Easton Pro/Am is returning to Foley February 20 – 23 and three-time Paralympian KJ Polish will be back to compete in what he said is one of his favorite competitions of the year.
Polish, known to many as Kevin Polish Jr., first picked up a bow at the age of three in his dad’s sporting goods store. He was hooked. After being asked in school what he wanted to when he grew up, and he responded he wanted to be a pro archer, his teacher discouraged him saying he needed to be a doctor or a lawyer. That lit a fire in him to prove that teacher wrong. At the age of 11 Polish entered his first competition, the International Bowhunting Organization World Championship, and won. Four years later he succeeded in proving his teacher wrong and turned pro, making him the youngest pro ever.
In October of 1999, things changed. On his way home from a hunting trip, the sixteen year old got in a car accident and was paralyzed. Doctors said he may never be able to sit up, let alone stand again. Six months after the accident his dad asked if he wanted to pick up his bow. At first he was unsure, he could hardly pick up a two-pound weight, a bow seemed out of reach. But while the accident changed a lot for Polish, he discovered that fire to prove everyone wrong was still there. Within a year of the accident, he shot his first pro tournament utilizing a wheelchair and finished third.
“When I tell people archery saved my life, it really did,” Polish said. “I knew I couldn’t walk anymore. I knew I couldn’t run. I knew I couldn’t do a lot of what other people do but I could shoot a bow. You don’t have to be standing. I could still sit and shoot my bow and compete with everyone in the world. If I’m having a bad day, I go shoot my bow and everything goes away. That’s one thing that’s never left me no matter what.”
Polish did pivot mostly into target archery after the accident because the terrain of 3D archery competitions was more difficult to get around. He built an impressive resume including numerous World Championships and Paralympic trips. However, he did miss shooting 3D because it’s what got him started all those years ago. So he reached out to ASA and then President Mike Tyrell, who’d known him for years. Polish explained his longing to return to 3D and asked what ASA could do to get him back doing what he loved. Tyrell promised that he and the ASA staff would do everything in their power to assist him.
“ASA has gone above and beyond for people with disabilities,” Polish said. “Josh Grine, the new owner of ASA, has been life changing with what he’s done for the community and people like me. I can go to an ASA tournament and have no worries about getting around.”
Polish said it wasn’t just ASA striving to make archery more accessible for everyone.
“Foley, Alabama is my favorite tournament because it’s so flat and easy to get around,” Polish said. “Foley transitioned so much from the first time I went. They made the roads flatter, graveled the road, everything. It’s truly amazing the transition the last five years.”
City of Foley Sustainability and Natural Resources Director, Leslie Gahagan said accessibility has always been a major tenet of not only Graham Creek Nature Preserve, but also the City as a whole.
“We know the unique beauty of Foley and that beauty is meant to be shared,” Gahagan said. “We want to make our city as accessible as possible to people of all abilities. We’ve continued to make improvements to the nature parks. Recently we were awarded a grant from Gulf Coast RC&D Council for a wheelchair accessible golf cart that is set to arrive next month. This cart will help get more visitors up close and personal with the beauty of our Preserve.”
As the sport of archery continues to grow, Polish encouraged everyone regardless of their background, to give it a shot, it might just save their life someday.
“I tell people there’s nothing more than life at full draw,” Polish said. “Shooting a bow is just like letting go. Anybody can do it. It doesn’t matter. One of my teammates on the Para Team has no arms. Matt Stutzman just won the Paralympics with a bow, shooting with his feet. There’s so much more in this sport people can do. The ASA is making it so anyone with a disability can get out here and do this. They’re making it 1000% accessible. People looking for a new venture, a new hobby, a new love, a new passion- archery is where it’s at.”
The Hoyt/Easton Pro/Am is free for spectators and runs from February 20 – 23. For more information on this or any Foley Sports Tourism event, contact Stephanie Donald.