Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — Erika Anschutz left from her home in Hamilton on Thursday, July 3, beginning a trip to the other side of the planet to compete in the World University Archery Championship in Taiwan.

It's another in a long line of prestigious but grueling tournaments for the 19-year-old who recently completed her sophomore year at Miami University.

The event will be held July 7-10 but she is scheduled to be there nine days.

"It's going to be really exhausting," she predicted. "It's supposed to be in the 90s with 70 percent humidity. We're going to be on the field all day, and we're not really sure our rooms have air-conditioning."

But Anschutz will gladly put up with the heat, the tedium and the drain on her energy. If she does well — and she has a knack for winning medals and setting records — it will be another step toward what she calls her ultimate goal.

"My ultimate goal — it sounds corny — is, 30 or 40 years from now, to be known as one of the best women archers ever," she said Thursday morning.

Anschutz is well on her way. She already has won 31 national championships and nine world titles, and has broken 150 national records and 20 world records in indoor and outdoor competition.

She qualified to be one of 12 men and women on the U.S. World University Team at the U.S. Intercollegiate tournament May 15-18 at Atlantic Cape Community College on Mays Landing, N.J.

Anschutz is one of three women on the team who will compete with the compound bow, her weapon of choice.

She will not compete in the Olympics because the type of bow used there is the recurve.

"There is a huge difference," Anschutz explained. "A recurve bow is more traditional. There's no scope, and when you pull back the string you're holding 40 pounds the whole time.

"With a compound bow," she said, "you hold 40 pounds when you pull back, but then it drops off to 12 pounds. The compound is a lot more modern."

Anschutz is toying with the idea of switching.

"I've just played around with (the recurve), but it's a lot of fun," she said. "I'll probably want to switch in a year or two. I've been saying that for the last few years, but I really do want to.

"If I switch," she added, "I'd do it in the next year or two so I'd have time to prepare for the Olympics."

Anschutz does not plan to return to Miami.

"I'm transferring back to Nebraska in the fall," she said. "I've pretty much lived in Nebraska my whole life. All my friends are back there. I really miss it."

Her family moved to Hamilton last year, and her parents, Steve and Jurita Anschutz, will remain here.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197

or pconrad@coxohio.com.