The first time Jodi Radaj watched her husband, Brett, shoot a bow and arrow, she brushed it off as a simple step of a simple sport.
“To this day, I still regret saying that,” said Radaj, director of scheduling and purchasing at Brookfield-based Superior Support Resources Inc.
More than 12 years after shooting her first bow and arrow, Radaj continues to face the challenges of archery.
“The sport is 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical,” Radaj said. It requires archers to confront their target without overthinking their process.
Despite the persistent challenges that archery presents, Radaj has managed to become a nationally-ranked competitor in indoor divisions. She has appeared in National Field Archery Association tournaments four times and in 2005 captured third place in an adult female division. She has also competed at the state level under the Wisconsin Archery Alliance and has come out on top four times. Additionally, Radaj has excelled at regional indoor and outdoor NFAA Great Lakes Sectionals.
Radaj also translates her precision to the Wisconsin wilderness each year to hunt white-tailed deer with her husband.
To prepare for tournaments and hunting outings, the two spend several of their weeknights and weekends at West Allis Bowmen, an archery club in Franksville, where they help run leagues, practice their techniques and chase victory in one-on-one competitions with each another.
“It definitely helps to shoot with people that are better caliber shooters,” Radaj said. “It just makes you strive to be that much better, yourself.”
