by Melissa Fox
From the very beginning, twin sisters Stacey and Tracey have always had similar aims in life, but never more so than when they both were competing at the professional level in 3D Archery.
While their paths that led them to competing were not exactly the same, they both eventually took up the sport in 2004 and each were forces to be reckoned with in the field.
If you aren’t familiar with 3D Archery, it is when archers walk a pre-set course, usually in the woods to mimic a real-life hunting experience, shooting at three-dimensional foam animal targets at varying distances. All skill-levels can partake in the sport from family-fun enthusiasts all the way up to the competitive professional level.
Stacey began shooting archery in college, but after a bow-hunt with their dad she was injured and gave up the sport for about 10 years until Tracey excitedly asked her to go bowhunting for hogs in South Texas. The twins grew up participating with their mom and dad shooting firearms. Their dad also shot a bow and bowhunted. Their mom was very competitive in shotgunning and was considered one of the top shotgunners in Fort Worth at the time. She still shoots competitive pistol. Seeing the affection for shooting sports firsthand from their parents, it is easy to see why Stacey and Tracey fell in love with the sport themselves as adults.
Both sisters admit that they’ve always been competitive and desire to be the best that they can be. Tracey defines winning as “shooting better than I did the last time” and not necessarily just out-competing others, though both she and Stacey have experienced their fair share of wins. “I enjoy shooting my bow very much, so every day competing is a great day, even if I’m shooting terribly” and “when I’m not winning, I’m learning. I have learned so much through the years in this sport” says Tracey. This attitude is why Tracey kept pushing herself to more difficult challenges and within six years was competing in the Professional class because it offered the most difficult challenges. Conversely, Stacey chose to master each skill level before moving to the next level of difficulty class, so she competed for almost eleven years before landing in the same class as her sister. It is this perspective to keep learning and
improving that have made both Stacey and Tracey such a success in the 3D Archery world.
It is unique to have twins competing in the same sport, let alone for both to be so highly skilled and successful in their chosen field. Stacey says that “we have a lot of fun together, no matter what. But when it comes to being twins, the most amusing part is how many people get us confused.” While they state that they don’t really think of themselves as twins, and more so as close sisters and best friends, pretty much everyone else who has ever met them would disagree. It is difficult to tell them apart in appearance alone. There have been many instances at shoots where people mistake one for the other and the twins have learned to just accept it, because after all “when you are a friend to one of us, you are a friend to both” the sisters state.
While they no longer shoot in the pro class, neither twin has given up the sport entirely. Both are heavily involved in their local archery clubs – Stacey as president of the Tyler Archery Club and Tracey as a director with the Brazos County Archery Club, and both still compete at local and state-wide tournaments and shoots. When they aren’t competing they both enjoy bowhunting deer and hogs and even more so when that includes hunting with each other. Whether it is aiming at a 3D target or an animal in the wild, they are constantly searching for that perfect shot where, as Tracey describes it, “all that was and all that is, comes into harmony. The shot where your bow becomes a part of you and all that matters is the shot”.
It is this love of archery that they are passionate about not only participating in, but educating others about as well. Both are involved in teaching and coaching youth archery, teaching women one-on-one and in group settings, as well as the occasional private lessons to assist more advanced shooters to improve their shots. Archery is a sport for all ages and skill levels. “This is truly a family sport and people care about each other and when someone doesn’t shoot well, everyone offers support and hugs” says Stacey. The sisters both admit that when people aren’t able to shoot anymore, it isn’t necessarily the archery they miss – it’s the people that play the sport they miss the most. Thankfully for both Stacey and Tracey they aren’t out of the game just yet, they still have their sights set on the next target.
