Paralympic archer aims high

When he lost his right arm in a car accident at age 15, Eric Bennett, heartbroken, resigned himself to giving up archery, a hobby he shared with his family.

But after a nine-year hiatus, Bennett, with the encouragement of his father, began the journey to return to shooting.

"I regret I didn't try sooner," Bennett said. "But I didn't want to break my heart again."

Bennett and his father figured out a way for him to shoot while sitting down and using his feet.

After a year, he found a way to shoot by holding a release between his teeth. He has adapted that further by using a camera shutter release, which allows him to release the arrow from the bow with his mouth.

Now, nine years later, the 34-year-old Surprise resident, holds 14 of the 20 U.S. national paralympic records. And he recently spent three weeks in Beijing competing as part of the U.S. paralympic archery team, finishing ninth overall in the world.

He was eliminated in an early round, losing to the man who went on to win the gold and set a new paralympic record.

Bennett said he regrets not trying archery again sooner. He was an athlete before his accident and continued to play tennis, softball and basketball after losing his arm.

Bennett, who teaches physics at Mountain Ridge High School in Peoria, said he enjoys the gadgetry involved in archery.

And having the option to shoot as a solitary activity or with a group is also appealing.

Bennett competes nationally in paralympic competitions, and he competes locally and throughout the state against able-bodied competitors.

Competing in Beijing was a dream come true, Bennett said. He was one of 20 shooters from Great Britain, Korea, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy and elsewhere who competed in front of about 1,000 spectators.

"I felt proud representing my country," said Bennett, a married father of one, with a baby on the way. "We got to stay in the athlete's village. The Chinese people did an amazing job."

Now that he has adjusted from his three weeks in Beijing, Bennett participates in a shooting league at the archery shop, where he has learned his craft and taught youngsters in the Junior Olympic Archery Development Program for the past nine years.

Rhonda Crabtree, owner of Corner Archery in Glendale, where Bennett is a staff shooter, said Bennett has high expectations of himself and she has seen him grow as a shooter over the years.

"He has a lot more confidence, without being cocky," Crabtree said.

Bennett's eagerness to learn and a lack of self-pity is an inspiration for many shooters, she said.

"He shoots against able-bodied shooters and beats them," Crabtree said. "And half the time he's beating guys who are shooting with releases."

Crabtree credits his natural teaching ability to connect with the young shooters, who he coaches in the level 2 classes and through private lessons.

Brandon Winchester, 15, a member of the Junior Olympic Archery Development Program, said Bennett is an inspiration.

"On his bad days he shoots better than half of us," Winchester said.

Joy Slagowski may be reached at 623-876-2514, or jslagowski@yourwestvalley.com.