Lethal accuracy and self belief claims title

WHILE posing for a few photographs for The Courier, Mitchell Rogers decided he would show off.The up-and-coming archer fired two shots into the centre ring of the target, the second piercing it a mere half an inch from the first."I'm a pretty good shot. I'm not state champion for nothing," he said.It is this lethal accuracy and belief in his own ability that helped Rogers secure his third state honour.The three-peat encompasses his victories in the indoor and outdoor short-range competitions last year, before his outdoor long-range success at Morwell at the weekend.Rogers said he struggled with nerves on the opening day of competition, which saw him slip 30 points behind the leader in second position.And despite the poor conditions on Sunday, the 15-year-old turned his form around to run away with a comfortable victory in the event."I guess just a lot of the first day was just nerves and I just wasn't shooting properly and on the second day I just really took my time and really shot well," Rogers said.He said he gradually pegged back the leader across the four distance ranges on day two."By the last distance I was already winning and by the end of it I was 30-something points in front, so I overshot (the leader) by how much he was leading."The Ballarat High School Year 10 student is looking forward to heading to national championships next year.