AUSTIN, Texas — Kids of all shapes and sizes are coming together at Lamar Middle School in Austin.

It’s not because of your standard extracurricular activity like basketball or band, though. It’s the sport of archery, which is developing friendships that go way beyond bows and arrows.

“There’s this really cool team environment,” said eighth grade captain Amelia McRoberts. “I’ve met a lot of people here that I normally wouldn’t meet. You walk through the hallways and you see other people with that jersey on and you’ll say hi to each other or do activities with them.”

The camaraderie paid off in a big way this spring when the team won its first Texas state championship in school history.

“I knew in December that they had a real chance to win,” said Coach Jim DeLine. “It kind of took the rest of the state by surprise. I don’t think anybody really expected us to do it.”

The program began as part of the National Archery in Schools Program in 2012.

“When we first got started, I had no clue what I was doing,” DeLine said. “We are a great reflection of what can happen when a community comes together on behalf of kids.”

DeLine has coached the archery team in the 10 years since its inception.

“He’s really good with the things that aren’t just shooting,” said archer Ethan Leung-Liu. “It’s the little things, like how our attitude is.”

“We talk all the time about lifting one another up and supporting your teammates,” DeLine said.

Intangibles have kept this program hitting their collective bullseye each season. Up next are the Western Nationals in Salt Lake City.

“This is a huge opportunity. The goal is to place top five,” McRoberts said. “That’s what we’re working toward as a team.”

Together as one in archery.