It’s about making what seemed impossible, possible.
One local archer wasn’t sure how it was going to happen, all he knew was he wasn’t giving up.
Josh Katish has always loved archery, but a car accident at the age of 12 changed how he would take part in the sport forever.
“I was born with mild cerebral palsy, but there was a car accident. That’s what damaged the one side of my brain,” explained Katish.
Katish’s right arm has limited mobility, but, it didn’t stop him from approaching the Beaver River Fish and Game Archery Club in December, with the hopes of once again picking up a bow.
“He came asking to be a part of the club and to see if we would try,” explained Monty Moore, archery club volunteer.
They tried having Katish shoot the traditional way, pulling the string back using his right arm, while holding the bow in his left.
When that didn’t work, they moved to plan B.
Josh Katish gets tips from Monty Moore.
“It’s taken about six weeks of really thinking about it. When he first came, we weren’t sure how it was going to work. We had him try and shoot like us, and that didn’t work, until I found some different techniques that worked out. Once I found that, we tried two different methods, one was a mouth tab… That’s how some Para-archers compete… but we didn’t think that was a long-term solution,” Moore detailed.
That was when they came across what Katish uses now. The adaptive release straps onto his shoulder, and using a hook for the string that holds the arrow, allows Katish to pull the bow away from him using his left arm.
“It’s a shoulder release. It’s the same release as if we would release it with our hands, but he triggers it remotely. He can’t use his one arm as well as the rest of us, so he triggers it with a remote switch,” Moore explained.
He continued, “This stuff is new to us… but there’s been people shooting through adaptive archery for many years.”
Although it’s still in its early prototype stages, Katish is amazed the club took the time to help him find a way.
“It felt great that the local club was willing to help me figure out... another way I can shoot instead of the hard way, which wasn’t working,” he noted.
Katish’s ultimate goal is to take his bow, which was donated by the Lakeland Sportsman Association, and hit the great outdoors.
“That’s what I’m working towards, so I can go hunting and enjoy the outdoors with that kind of experience,” said Katish.
Moore described Katish’s enthusiasm towards the sport as “addictive.”
“He’s just part of the club… That’s just the way it is. We’re all one, and it’s been great to see the progression and the smiles.”
Club volunteer Marcel Vasseur helped Moore in creating the adaptive release.
He said, “I think, for me, the enjoyment of helping make that happen, is no different than helping my grandkids and all of these other kids have the same dream. He, unfortunately with his circumstances, it just happened later in life. It’s the satisfaction of seeing someone fulfill their dream.”
Katish is not only new to the archery club. He also started going to the Dove Centre within the past year.
According to interim CEO Robert Goulet, hearing about what the club has done for Katish is inspiring.
Josh Katish takes a shot using his adaptive release.
“They didn’t shy away from the challenge. They were able to identify the barriers and do some research in order to develop mechanisms in order to smash those barriers,” he expressed. “This is what the Dove Centre does. We try to connect people with similar interests and passions together to try and make those natural connections.”
He added, “I think it’s outstanding. They all have strong and outstanding community vision. The fact that they didn’t shy away, that they let him in the door first of all, they didn’t just include him, they came to accept Josh as one of their own.”
This is a fact that Katish himself is overjoyed with.
“I really appreciate the club for helping me… for helping me find another way and for making it possible to do the things I like doing.”
He hopes his story inspires others to pursue their dreams, regardless of the barriers they may face.
“In any situation. I would encourage others to, no matter what situation they’re in, they can do anything they set their mind to,” he emphasized.
Goulet said this is “an eye opener that there are missed opportunities when we don’t allow people in our lives.”
“Everybody in this story, Josh, and all of the other players, including those at the association, are all benefitting from Josh’s presence,” he said. “I think if everyone in the community got the chance to know the people that we support, we could build a lot of these relationships in town, out of town, in every town.”
