Bringing Home the Bling
Kentucky Elite Archery S3DA
Ellen Keaton
The Ashland Beacon
The Kentucky Elite Archery Academy is one of Boyd County’s hidden gems. Located on U.S. Route 60 in Summit, KY, the academy resides in what was once a grocery store. The exterior is understated, marked only by a simple sign bearing the academy's name. However, inside, on any given day, you'll find a group of dedicated, focused young people eager to perfect their archery skills while forming friendships that will last a lifetime.
Now in its third year, the academy is home to more than 80 student-athletes. David Messer, owner and coach, explained, “The mission at the Kentucky Elite Archery Academy is to put the ‘Athlete First’ and focus on building character, teaching discipline, promoting sportsmanship, mastering shot technique, and applying life skills that will keep young archers focused for life.”
Kentucky Elite offers young archers the opportunity to test their skills in competitions across the region, state, and nationally through S3DA and USA Archery events.
From Feb. 7 to Feb. 9, Team Kentucky Elite Archery traveled to Hopkinsville, KY, for the State Indoor S3DA Archery Tournament. Scholastic 3D Archery (S3DA) allows archers to compete in various bow classes, including Universal Novice Class, Traditional/Barebow, Olympic Recurve, Compound Pins, and Compound Open classes.
The team's performance was nothing short of impressive! Five archers received top honors for individual high scores of the season: Sawyer Crum, JP Webb, Colt Limberis, Timber Thacker, and Eliana McDavid. Additionally, the team earned three bronze medals, with five shooters being named Shooter of the Year, four claiming the title of Rookie of the Year, and another five shooters being crowned Battle of the Bluegrass Champions.
A beaming Coach David Messer noted that, “It is such a joy to coach these amazing young athletes! We are entering our third year as a Junior Olympic Archery Development program at Kentucky Elite Archery Academy. These talented young archers have brought the total medal count to 87 Gold, 51 Silver, and 78 Bronze, with an astounding 216 platform appearances! I couldn’t be more proud.”
Ashlee Peterman, whose son Josiah is part of the team, commented, “Not only do the parents look out for their own kids, but for everyone else's as well. This is really a family, and we’re blessed to be a part of it.” This sentiment resonates with all the parents involved in the program; it’s not just a “team” – Kentucky Elite is a family.
Josiah, 13, earned a bronze medal at the tournament. He shared, “Archery is fun, and I enjoy making friends with other archers. I’ve placed in a few tournaments so far. I just go in with a clear head, have fun, and shoot.” It’s worth noting that just eight months ago, Josiah underwent spinal fusion surgery with rods. His parents give all the praise to God for bringing him this far.
Levi Kidd, one of the older shooters on the team, also earned a bronze medal. A sophomore at Russell High School, Levi has been shooting on the school’s NASP team for the last four years, in addition to competing with Kentucky Elite for the past two years. He shared, “Archery has many great mental health benefits. It allows me to stop, think, breathe, and focus on the problems at hand and how to fix them. Whether it’s improving my next shot or applying that to my life, this is the biggest benefit of shooting arrows. It’s great stress relief, and I’ve enjoyed making friends all across Kentucky. I’m looking forward to shooting at Nationals later this month.”
JP (John) Webb, a first-year team member, brought home Gold for individual high score, Shooter of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Battle of the Bluegrass Champion – all in his age group and bow class. JP said, “I was surprised that I won all those awards. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ve made new friends. Coach Messer has taught me a lot.” His mother, Niki Webb, added, “We are so thankful for the opportunities at Kentucky Elite Archery. In the past year, we learned that JP has an orthopedic condition he’s had since birth, which made it difficult for him to run. Sports like baseball and basketball were challenging for him. He has found a true love for archery, which allows him to be part of a team and excel despite his physical limitations.”
Timber Thacker is in his second-year shooting with team Kentucky Elite. “Last year my nerves got to me but I practiced all year and was ready for anything this year! I kept my composure and brought home the gold. I’m so thankful for my coaches and parents who have supported me. Nationals here I come!” Timber received Gold for individual high score, Shooter of the Year, and Battle of the Bluegrass Champion.
Another key member of the Kentucky Elite team is Coach Messer’s wife, Janie. She is present at every tournament, quietly walking up and down the line as the archers take their places. When an archer struggles or gets “in their own head” after an errant shot, Janie gently approaches them, placing a hand on their shoulder or sitting beside them to help restore their confidence.
The Kentucky Elite Archery team is open to all young people in the area. Coach Messer offers classes for all ages and skill levels. The academy participates in two National Youth Archery programs and competes on regional, state, and national platforms: Scholastic 3D Archery (S3DA) and USA Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD). Both programs are on the radar of colleges, with opportunities for archery scholarships.
So, what’s next for the Kentucky Elite Archery team? On to the Eastern Indoor National Championships! The team will compete in Owensboro from Feb. 27 to March. 1.
If you are interested in having your young person join this amazing team, you can contact Coach Messer at 606.316.7295 or email davidryanmesser@gmail.com.
Complete List of Winners2025 Kentucky S3DA Indoor GOLD CHAMPIONS:
Sawyer Crum, JP Webb, Timber Thacker, Colt Limberis, Eliana McDavid
2025 Kentucky S3DA Indoor BRONZE CHAMPIONS:
Abby Adkins, Levi Kidd, Josiah Peterman
2025 Kentucky S3DA Indoor SHOOTER OF THE YEAR:
Colt Limberis, JP Webb, Timber Thacker, Eliana McDavid
2025 Kentucky S3DA Indoor ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
JP Webb, Eli Felty, Abby Adkins, Paetyn Trusty
2025 Kentucky Battle of the Bluegrass CHAMPIONS:
Colt Limberis, Sawyer Crum, Timber Thacker, JP Webb, Emily McDavid
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