Based in Tampa, Florida, Thunderstruck Archery is growing into a powerful home for para athletes who want more than a place to shoot - they want a team, a purpose, and a sense of belonging.
What started as a response to athletes needing consistent support has become a focused para archery program built around commitment, trust, and long-term development.
For coach Matt Hall, the turning point came when he saw athletes experience a lack of continuity from other coaches. Rather than allow that cycle to continue, he stepped up. From there, the idea unfolded naturally: create an environment where para athletes could count on their coach, their teammates, and the program around them.
Another defining moment came when future Paralympian Tracy Otto asked Matt to coach her. He made several commitments to her, including helping her pursue the path to Paris. That relationship helped shape the foundation of Thunderstruck and set the tone for what the club would become.
Today, Thunderstruck caters for athletes with disabilities who have a passion for sport, are looking for an outlet, or simply want to be part of something meaningful.
The growth of Thunderstruck has not come from a flashy campaign or a single breakthrough moment. Instead, word of mouth has been the club’s biggest vehicle for bringing new archers onto the team. Athletes talk. Families talk. People notice when a program feels different.
At the heart of that momentum are two simple but essential values: trust and communication. For Matt, coaching para athletes is not only about form, equipment, or scores. Sometimes it is about creating a safe space where athletes can talk openly, process challenges, and feel supported beyond the shooting line.
That environment has become one of Thunderstruck’s greatest strengths. When athletes feel safe, heard, and understood, they are more willing to learn, adapt, and grow.
Archery is often described as an individual sport, but Thunderstruck proves how powerful the team element can be. The athletes practice together, communicate with one another, and push each other forward. They work through challenges as a group, creating a culture where ego is set aside and learning becomes possible.
“Adapt and overcome” is more than a phrase within the program - it is the blueprint. Athletes are encouraged to stay open to new strategies, equipment changes, and adaptations that allow their accuracy and confidence to develop. Monthly team meetings help the group set goals, plan practices, discuss upcoming tournaments, and stay connected as a team.
One of the most powerful parts of Thunderstruck’s story is the range of athletes who have come through its doors. Some arrived with elite goals. Others had little or no archery background. Some were unsure whether archery was even possible for them. Over time, the club has helped turn uncertainty into belief.
Tracy Otto was the first para athlete Matt coached and the first to join the team. After everything she has been through since her injury, Tracy has become an inspiration to the athletes around her. She works hard each week, has been a consistent presence on the USA Archery Para Team, made the team in Utah this year, and competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Catalina Bustamante was the second athlete to become part of the program. She began competing seriously in 2021 with the goal of making the USA Archery Team (USAT), then joined Thunderstruck in 2024 with dedicated focus and unwavering determination.
Her scores have continued moving in a positive direction and she has indeed made the USAT, most recently featuring in para compound women at the World Archery Para Series Stage #2 in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.
Ryan Lindstrom came to Thunderstruck with very little archery experience, though he was already an accomplished para athlete in other sports. Through focus, determination, hard work, and the right equipment, Ryan made the USA Archery Team in less than a year and is another representing the United States in the Czech Republic.
Chris George (pictured below) also arrived with little to no experience. He has faced multiple medical setbacks over the past few years, but he continues to refuse to give up. As he grows stronger, his confidence continues to build.
Robert Fecteau came to the program from Virginia with zero archery experience. In just one intense week of learning, he prepared for the Easton Foundations Gator Cup, found the right equipment, and began competing. He has now taken part in two USAT Qualifier Series events and improved his score by 40 points.
Mike Haley is newer to the program, joining shortly before the Easton Foundations Salt Lake Summit in May. He is working hard to make his MQS and continues to improve with every tournament.
Together, these athletes show what Thunderstruck does best: it meets people where they are, helps them find the right path forward, and gives them a team that believes in their potential.
Thunderstruck’s blueprint for growth is rooted in community. The club is actively working to reach more people through different channels and introduce archery to individuals who may not yet realize the sport is available to them.
The success of Thunderstruck is measured in medals, team selections, improved scores, and tournament results - but it is also measured in confidence, connection, and changed mindsets.
When athletes begin to believe that archery is not only something they can do, but something they can do well, everything changes.
“I feel that as a coach in this demographic, the most important things are trust and communication,” Coach Matt said. “These athletes have already been through a lot that those who are able-bodied struggle to conceptualize.
“Their reality, and the way they experience the world around them, is full of consistent struggle, and for some this is their way to escape that. Some use this as a way of therapy, so to speak. They must be able to trust us as coaches for far more than what’s on the surface.
“Some can be pushed further than others. Some just want to be part of something. They should always feel safe amongst their peers and feel like they are welcome. When they have a better positive mindset, the scores will come and their success will grow.”
Thunderstruck is still growing, but its identity is already clear. It is a club built on trust, communication, adaptation, and belonging - and for the athletes who find their way there, it is proving to be much more than a place to shoot arrows.
Whether your goal is to just get out and socialize or be active, or to make a U.S. Paralympic or World Championship Team, archery is a sport that lends itself to any need. Those wishing to get involved, or determine what steps are needed to get classified, you can head here to learn more about adaptive archery.
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