If Emmanuel junior, Amari Thomas could describe the 2023 Lions Archery team in one word, it would be perseverance. 
 
The Lions entered the season knowing they had a long road ahead of them. They were without a head coach and had seven active members on the roster, a program low. 
 
"Through everything, our mindset was to keep pushing," Amari said. "Following our program director's departure in the fall, we began working directly with the athletic department to schedule events and practices, which was a learning curve, but we made it work. By the end of the semester, the process was relatively seamless."
 
Although this was the smallest team Amari can remember being a part of, their bond was a special one.
 
"We not only had aligned interests, but we developed healthier relationships with each other and began to see that even in small numbers we can accomplish anything," he said.
 
One of his favorite memories from the season happened following the Lancaster Archery Classic.
 
"We discovered an arcade in the venue, so we went in and played every game they had," he remembered. "We earned hundreds of tickets and didn't want any of the prizes they offered, so we gave all our tokens to a child playing in the arcade. Seeing his excitement over a simple act of kindness made us feel great."
 
For Amari, archery is a metaphor for life. 
 
"It requires hard work and diligence in difficult times," he said. "Many times, I've found myself frustrated in practice because of a complex technical issue I may be having, but just like in life you have to take a deep breath, refocus, and keep moving forward."
 
After a successful trip to Nationals last month, the team reflected on the season and realized they hold the keys to next season's success as long as they remain perseverant.
 
"We've been through so much as a team the last two seasons," he said. "For us to still have the opportunity to practice and compete nationally is not something we take lightly."