Landy Launches CC Archery
CC’s lone Archer – from “Hollywood” to USA Nationals.
Olivia Xerras ’24
Max Landy ’24 is an archer.
By day, Max typically takes part in common Colorado College student activities like climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. And some nights, Max ventures to his part-time job at a local Colorado Springs archery range – an uncommon pastime for a CC student, to say the least.
A love built from on-screen action (the Marvel series Arrow got Max hooked), Max practiced nonstop throughout his high school years. He eventually joined the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) team when living in Brooklyn New York, “I got obsessed. I thought it was the coolest shit ever and then I just asked my parents for a bow on my birthday, and just got addicted to it,” said Max.
Archery has been a driving force in Max’s life, a constant amongst a chaotic high school – and now college – schedule full of other sports and rigorous academics.
“I think they kind of expected me to not know anything because, you know, I’m the liberal kid from Brooklyn who doesn’t exactly scream Archery knowledge”
Going into the 2021/22 school year, Max knew he needed money. He also knew he was a talented archer. With prior experience as a bow-tech and an instructor in his hometown archery range, Max was quickly hired at the Archery School of the Rockies, but the staff was skeptical at first.
“I think they kind of expected me to not know anything because, you know, I’m the liberal kid from Brooklyn who doesn’t exactly scream Archery knowledge,” he said.
Max Landy taking aim at USA Archery Indoor Nationals
Despite low expectations, Max turned out to be a skilled employee, working part-time, shooting whenever he wanted, and earning the nickname “Hollywood” mainly for his luscious, flowy hair and keen skill.
Max soon outgrew the facility and sought out opportunities to participate in a more structured, competitive setting.
“I talked to someone out of USA Archery which is run out of Colorado Springs and he was like ‘you should try to compete for your school’ and explained that it was pretty easy to do, just like talking to the Registrar.”
For Max, it really was that easy. Within days he was signed up as an official Colorado College Archer and soon after that he found himself driving to Albuquerque, New Mexico to compete in USA Archery Indoor Nationals.
“I didn't do as well as I liked but it was really cool to be back in that atmosphere. It was fun,” he said.
As opposed to the East Coast, the competition in the West is smaller. Max competed with around seven other students in a co-ed league. The range was massive, but the makeup of the archers was vast.
“You could be shooting next to a 65-year-old professional and a 12-year-old kid who is just trying it for the first time,” said Max.
He added, “In the tournament, I was competing solely against other college students (to get scored) so they were all enrolled and representing a college. The tournament had multiple different leagues of competitors from kids in JOAD programs to adults in the 60 plus masters.”
Representing Colorado College on such a unique stage is not an uncommon occurrence, but is extremely impressive.
Max is excited to see what will come of his love of archery next year. Although he has no finalized plans to compete in another tournament like this next fall, he says that he definitely wants to try more during his time at CC.
“I’m currently looking into some competitions and tournaments in the fall that I’ll hopefully be able to participate in,” said Max.
The opportunities are boundless for Max to rise in the ranks and rack up some bullseyes. He’s got his eye on the target. Who knows where arching for Max, CC, and the greater Colorado Springs community might lead?
