By Douglas Maxwell Myer, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Alice Buswell, a senior at Westborough High School, has traveled across the country competing in archery tournaments and recently ranked as the second-best bowman in the United States within her age group. Last year at the Arizona Cup, Buswell placed second during team rounds shooting from 70 meters and then moved on to U.S. National Target Championship in Ohio where she made it to the podium for qualification rounds.
With all of these triumphs for the young archer, Buswell is now targeting a higher goal – to be a member of the American archery team competing in the Olympics in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Buswell is originally from a small town in France called Fernie-Voltaire near the Switzerland border, but moved to Westborough with her family at age 3. Buswell’s father is American and was also an archer when he was a teen.
When she was 7, her father asked if she would like to try archery at Teamworks, Inc., an indoor sports facility in Northborough. Buswell immediately fell in love with the sport and constantly practiced her unique hobby by going to local shooting ranges in Clinton and Lunenburg.
Buswell’s first archery teacher was an aspiring 2008 Olympic archer that finished in eighth place during the trial period. The former WHS graduate became Buswell’s first inspiring role model; she credits her for paving the way to her own dreams and success in archery. Once she began winning local tournaments over the course of several years, Buswell wanted to broaden her skills, so she engaged her new coach Teresa Johnson.
“Archery is very much a mental sport,” noted Buswell. “As you go up and start competing, good shots feel fantastic but the ‘needs work’ shots can get to you as you can overanalyze everything. As long as you are in control of your mind and are focused on having fun with the people around you, you’ll do fine.”
As Buswell entered high school she had the challenge of balancing school work with the demand of traveling throughout the country to take part in archery tournaments. Even though it was challenging at times, her principal and teachers were very supportive and allowed Buswell flexibility with the school’s schedule.
Buswell’s passion and determination has taken her far – from going to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., for three months to giving private lessons for beginner and intermediate level bowman at Baystate Archers. The first set of trials for the Olympics will be at the Texas Shootout in September at A&M University, followed by several other preliminaries, before four members of the American team are chosen. Buswell is working with Coach Dee Falks who lives in Nashville, Tenn., to help train her for the event.
“I live on the archery field and love the pressure of the tournaments,” Buswell said. “It helps me stay focused and I just become the real me, I don’t have to pretend anything. I love the self-awareness that is created within the fields as well as being aware of the things around you. The consistency of a target, your bow, and you is always there.”