The JDT program was created to cultivate the talent of archers who show potential into top level shooters with the goal of making an Olympic or international team.

Athletes selected for the Junior Dream Team are evaluated at a yearly camp and chosen based on a number of criteria including individual scores, teamwork, work ethic, progress at camps, motivation, grasp of the National Training System, potential, ability to maintain a positive attitude, ethics, and ability to make form changes.

Past graduates of the team include 2016 team silver medalist Zach Garrett, 2016 Olympian Mackenzie Brown, and 2012 Olympian Miranda Leek as well as several World Archery Youth Championship Team members and several USA Archery resident athletes.

Swidryk is a currently a member of two archery clubs, WA-XO-BE Archers and Two River Archers. He has been shooting for three years, starting in the summer of 2014. He says that he has had many great experiences as a result.

“One of the best things about this sport for me is the places I’ve been able to travel to,” Swidryk said. “I’ve been all over, whether it be down south in Harrisonburg, Virginia and Decatur, Alabama or out west in Salt Lake City, Utah and San Diego, California. Each new state has given me memories that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

Another aspect of the sport Nikolas enjoys is meeting fellow athletes, including Olympians.

“As a result of traveling to so many national competitions, I’ve been able to meet several Olympians — the most unforgettable one being Jacob Wukie, team silver medalist in the London 2012 Olympics, at James Madison University back in March 2016,”  he added. “I remember picking him out of the large crowd of shooters that day, and all I could think was ‘Wow, that’s really Jacob!’ But what surprised me the most was how nice he was; as I eagerly approached him and asked him for a picture, he smiled and replied without hesitation saying he would be more than happy to.”

In addition to being selected for the for this year’s Junior Dream Team, Swidryk’s achievements also include a recent first place finish in the New Jersey State Indoor championships, giving him the title of number one in the state for the Olympic recurve cadet division.

He also received a bronze medal in 2016 at the JOAD National Indoor Championships in the Olympic recurve cadet division at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is currently ranked as one the top 20 cadets in the country in the indoor rankings, and in the top 30 cadets in the outdoor rankings.

Swidryk hopes to continue his archery career once he graduates from RFH with the ultimate aspiration of eventually being able to represent the U.S. by making an Olympic team.

— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH)