A Schuylkill County elementary school teacher was on the mark at a recent archery competition.

Amy Bachert, a fourth-grade teacher at St. Jerome’s Regional School in Rush Township, placed third twice at the International Bowhunting Organization’s World Championship at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Somerset County.

“It was awesome. Surreal, but awesome! I’ve worked harder this year at archery than I ever have before. It’s encouraging when all that work pays off,” Bachert said.

It was Bachert’s first time in the IBO championship in 17 years. She competed as a youth but stepped away when she was in college.

“It took me this long to get back into the competitive side of archery, but I’m thrilled to be back,” she said.

The event began with two days of qualifications. Bachert finished in seventh place on the first day, and moved up to third place on the second day, earning her a spot in the shoot-off.

“I was nervous going into Saturday. At 36, I was almost double the rest of my competitors, but there’s something to be said for experience,” she said. “At least that was my mind set. It paid off. I was thrilled to walk out of the shoot-off targets still in third. Going in, I knew moving up would be next to impossible, so I wanted to concentrate on not losing ground.”

Bachert, who grew up in Quakake and still lives in the town, competed in the Female Bowhunter Unlimited class, and participants shot from a maximum of 40 yards. The distances were not marked.

“They are all unmarked yardages. It definitely gives an extra element to the competition. You can be a brilliant shot, but if you don’t know how far the target is, you won’t hit it,” she said.

Targets are stationary, 3-dimensional foam animals positioned on courses in fields and wooded areas.

“All sorts. Regular stuff like you’d see in our woods, like bears and turkeys and deer, to antelope, gazelles, caribou, wolverines and alligators, just to name a few,” Bachert said.

Each target has a scoring ring, and Bachert won the bronze.

She also participated - and placed third - in the Eagle Eye Shoot-off. It had 200 competitors from kids to adults, and from amateurs to professionals, she said.

“Honestly, I was happy to qualify. I may have joked about winning, but I don’t think I actually ever believed I would. It’s definitely an experience I won’t soon forget and will definitely be looking forward to next year,” she said. “Truthfully, I’m still in a little bit of shock over this one. I beat out quite a few pros to earn my spot. Once in a while, everything comes together and clicks. This weekend was it for me.”

Bachert said she was about 12 when she started entering competitions.

“My dad (Karl Bachert) always shot a bow, but one of his friends got him into the competitive side. He pulled my brother (Adam) in. Then me. Then my mom (Lynn),” she said. “Before long, the four of us would be heading out to archery shoots on weekends. We traveled the country shooting when we were in middle school and high school. What a great way to grow up.”

She said her father has a lot to do with her success.

“It all adds up to - my dad rocks. He works with me on form and judging and makes sure my equipment is perfect,” Bachert said. “I attribute these wins to him just as much as to myself. I never would be at the level I am at without him.”

Bachert also teaches piano lessons and coaches archery with her father at the West Penn Archery Club.

She thanked her parents, grandparents, students, co-workers, equipment sponsors and others who have supported her.

“It’s wonderful when your work smiles on, so to speak, your passions,” she said.