Price Walker and Justin Liveoak will compete in the 2016 National Archery Tournament on May 14 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Ky.

Walker is a junior at Chilton County High School, while Liveoak is an eighth grader at Clanton Middle School.

Both are members of the Clanton Archery team and qualified for nationals after finishing in the top 10 in their respective divisions during the state competition.

The event will be divided into separate high school and middle school portions.

According to Walker, this is the first time since he joined the team that an individual has advanced to the national level.

This will be the third time that Walker will compete at nationals, competing the other two times as a member in the team competition. This will be the first national event for Liveoak.

Each participant will have 2 minutes to shoot five arrows with three competitive rounds and one practice round from 10 meters away. The process repeats once again at the 15-meter mark.

A bull’s-eye is worth 10 points with each the point total lessening with each ring farther away from the center.

A perfect round would consist of five bull’s-eyes and 50 points. The highest possible total is 300 points.

Walker’s best score during a competition format is 292.

Near the end of the 2015 season, Walker began to gain confidence in his abilities at the highest level after falling one point shy of tying for first place.

“Last year, I realized that I had a chance at being a contender,” Walker said.

Shooting styles can range depending on the competitor with some choosing to take a rapid-fire approach compared to a more methodical method.

“Consistency is key,” Walker said. “You always want to start from the same point for each shot.”

According to Walker, the participants with the top three point totals at nationals will be awarded a large amount of college scholarship money.

Just like most sports, too much can lead to injuries. Although practice makes a difference, an athlete’s shoulder can get worn down over time.

Liveoak has shown plenty of potential as an eighth grader, with a trip to nationals as a result.

“When we shoot against each other, its neck and neck,” Walker said.

Walker looks to use the experience at nationals to set the tone for his senior year, while Liveoak will look to maintain a bright future of success within the Clanton Archery program.

“I try to help out all the new shooters because I was in their shoes” Walker said. “The main message is about trying not to get discouraged. It’s a lot of fun once you get use to it.”