Southwest Florida archers win gold on international stage

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. - Two archers who train in North Fort Myers are bringing home gold medals from an international competition in Colombia.

Mark Williams and Melissa McAvoy, both members of Lee County Archers, competed this week for Team USA at the Pan American Youth and Masters Championships in Medellín, Colombia.

Williams capped his week Thursday by winning gold in men’s individual recurve 50-plus. He had already won gold in men’s team recurve 50-plus and mixed team recurve 50-plus, where he helped post two world-record scores.

McAvoy also won gold Thursday in barebow 50-plus women.

Bob Nichols, an instructor at Lee County Archers, said McAvoy came to the sport after serving in the U.S. Air Force and getting involved in archery through the Wounded Warrior program.

“The best archers in the world can put six arrows in an area the size of a grapefruit,” Nichols said. “Melissa is one of those. Yeah, she is very impressive.”

Nichols said McAvoy competes in barebow, a discipline that does not use the same sights or stabilizer bars as other forms of archery.

Tim Walker, a longtime Lee County Archers member and former national record holder, said Williams’ performance stood out even at a club filled with accomplished shooters.

“To see the level that he's shooting at is pretty amazing,” Walker said. “I've been doing this for 55 years, and I have quite a few state records, but nothing that compares to what Mark is doing right now.”

Walker said Lee County Archers has become a strong training ground because of the experience at the range and the willingness of members to help others improve.

“We donate all our time teaching new people that want to come out,” Walker said. “Anything you need.”

From first-time shooters to Team USA medalists, members say that shared knowledge is part of what has helped a North Fort Myers range make its mark on the international stage.