Plainfield Student Wins at State Archery Competition

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202

Photo: Dana Janiec, 11, receives her award for winning the state championship in her age division in the Illinois Junior Olympic Archery Development indoor compound bow competition from Tony Kaap, president of the Illinois Target Archery Association in January 2016. The Heritage Grove Middle School sixth grader also is the state champion in the outdoor competition. The Illinois Junior Olympic Archery Development group is designed to get young people interested in archery.

PLAINFIELD, IL — Heritage Grove Middle School sixth grader Dana Janiec has her bow and arrow set on the Olympics or becoming a professional archer someday, after winning a state championship.

Janiec, 11, has won several medals in archery, which she took up three years ago. Most recently she won her age division in the Illinois Junior Olympic Archery Development indoor compound bow competition in January. She also is state champ in the outdoor competition.

The Illinois Junior Olympic Archery Development group is a program of USA Archery designed to get young people interested in the sport.

Janiec is a member of the Shorewood Mission, one of the largest archery teams in Illinois. She became interested in archery after watching movies like “Brave,” “The Hunger Games,” and “The Avengers” all of which featured archers as lead characters.

“I like it because it’s different, it’s unique and it separates me from the rest,” Janiec said.

Archery also has helped Dana – who’s on the high honors roll at Heritage Grove -- in school because archery requires focus and discipline, said her mom, Lori Janiec.

Lori and Dana’s dad, Jeff, said they are very proud of their daughter for her hard work and accomplishments in archery.

Archery isn’t yet an Olympic sport so Dana Janiec’s immediate goal is to make the Illinois Junior Olympic Archery Development Dream Team.

Janiec advised other students who want to try archery or any other sport to stick with the activity even when it gets tough.

“It all comes with time, and practice makes everything better,” she said.