A teacher from St. Jerome Regional School in Hometown was on target this summer, bringing home two first-place wins in national archery competitions.

Amy Bachert, of Rush Township, earned top honors at the Archery Shooter’s Association (ASA) Classic in Cullman, Alabama, and the International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) World Championships in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

It was “a crazy two weeks to end the Competitive 3D (archery) season,” Bachert said.

She and her father, Karl Bachert, loaded up his Chevy on July 30 and set out for a 14-hour drive to Alabama for the ASA Classic.

“It’s 3D archery’s biggest shoot of the year,” Amy Bachert said.

The two arrived just before noon July 31, and settled into their lakeside rented cabin. Team rounds would begin the next day.

“We were both paired with fun groups,” she said. “Mine happened to also be a group of excellent archers because at the end of our 10 targets, we came away with a second-place finish, giving me a boost of confidence going into Friday’s and Saturday’s individual rounds.”

The start time was set for 1 p.m. Aug. 2.

“So, of course, at about 12:30, the sky opened up and poured buckets of water over us and our equipment,” Bachert said. “I battled through the first few dark, wet targets, and was very happy with how I shot.”

As scores for the first day were tallied, Bachert was leading her class by 3 points.

Mother Nature was more cooperative on Aug. 3, and competitors started — and finished — in beautiful sunshine.

“At the end of the 40 targets, I was able to stand on the top podium as ASA Classic Champion in Women’s Open 45,” Bachert said.

It was her first first-place finish at the national level since 2004.

“It was extra special for me because my dad was there,” she said. “He’s really the reason for my archery success. He is my bow mechanic, coach and sounding board when I think something is wrong with me or my equipment. But it’s usually something wrong with me, my form or shot execution.”

He also taught his daughter how to shoot a bow, and oversees a youth team with her at the West Penn Archery Club.

“My job as a coach is to help everyone realize their dream, although it isn’t always possible to achieve it,” Karl Bachert said. “I want my students to be proud of doing their best, no matter how they finish. Sometimes their best will be a win and sometimes not.

“Amy learned that from a very young age, and I think it has helped her cope with the highs and lows of tournament archery. I am very proud of Amy and her archery accomplishments.”

On Aug. 4, the two reloaded the Chevy and took turns driving home to Quakake. They returned just before midnight.

Laundry needed to be done, and Bachert needed to make adjustments to her equipment.

And then it was off to Berkeley Springs for the IBO World Championship. This time, Bachert would travel alone.

“Hurricane Debbie certainly threw a wrench in the weather, as we shot in the rain with our peer groups Thursday (Aug. 8),” she said. “It seems I’ve shot in the rain more this year than the sunshine, so I was not too worried. I just hoped it would be drizzle and not a downpour.”

After the first day, she was sitting in a strong second, with just 2 points separating her from the top spot.

“Luckily, the IBO has a built-in rain day for the World Championships, so the decision was made to push everything back a day and take Friday off because of flooding and incoming weather,” she said.

That Saturday was beautiful.

“We shot in the sunshine and laughed our way through the woods,” Bachert said. “After results were tallied, I was sitting in first place by 7 points, putting me in a very good position for the shoot-offs Sunday, where the top five in each class battle it out for the podium on a 10 target course.”

And then it happened.

“When the dust settled on our range, I was IBO World Champion in FBO (female bowhunter open), a dream I had been chasing for most of my life,” she said. “It was such a surreal moment to be standing on the top spot of the podium holding the champion belt buckle.”

Bachert returned home, but still thinks of the recent wins.

“I still can’t believe I went back to back with two of the biggest shoots in 3D archery. It was the best week of my summer for sure,” Bachert said. “It still hasn’t really sunk in.

“I wish I could tell that girl shooting youth classes in the early 2000s her dreams came true. I don’t know how I can top this, but I am certainly going to try.”

Bachert said it wouldn’t be possible without the support of her parents, including her mother, Lynn Bachert, other family, friends and sponsors.

“I’m grateful for their confidence in me, even when mine is shaky,” she said. “It takes a village, and mine is the best!”