Dibrell is the home of two of the best archers in the nation.

Chance Whitlock and Keeli Esparza will represent the Wildcats in a national tournament in May after finishing among the state’s best in Murfreesboro two weeks ago. Whitlock, 10, was the top elementary boy out of 244 shooters, while Esparza, 13, finished third in a field of 299 middle school girls.

Dibrell coach Mike Mullins was proud of his top shooters at the state. Whitlock and Esparza have been locked in since joining the program years ago, using consistency to set themselves apart from top competitors in the state.

“They’re both able to repeat what they’re doing. They have a routine and they don’t get out of it,” said Mullins. “It’s all about their focus and concentration.”

Esparza, who went to the nationals last year as well, dazzled in Murfreesboro with a score of 286 (out of a possible 300). She hit the middle 17 times out of 30 shots, giving her the sixth-best score of the 736 girls shooters in all age groups.

Whitlock wasn’t far behind. A national qualifier in the last two years, the fifth-grader punched his third ticket to Louisville with a score of 282. Half of Whitlock’s 30 shots were dead center, ranking him as the top elementary shooter, top fifth-grade shooter and the 13th-best shooter among 858 boys.

Brad Hennessee, who also helps coach the Dibrell archery team, marvels at the duo. No matter the situation, Whitlock and Esparza keep their poise and fire away.

“They have ice water in their veins. Nothing fazes them – they shut everything out,” said Hennessee.

Whitlock and Esparza have looked like naturals since picking up a bow and arrow. Whitlock was the state’s top shooter in third grade – his first season competing – while Esparza has been among the team’s top performers since fourth grade.

Whitlock stepped into some big family shoes when he started, while Esparza had a chance encounter with a flier to find the archery program.

“My sister Mackenzie [a national qualifier with the WCHS archery team] introduced me to archery,” said Whitlock.

“I saw a sign-up form on a door,” Esparza added. “I wasn’t doing any other sport so I thought I would try it out.”

Both credited their ability to concentrate – a word Mullins uses daily in practice – to perform at the highest stage. “Just take a deep breath and let it go,” said Whitlock.

Hennessee believes their competitiveness, along with concentration, is just as important.

“We have a place in the gym which is prime real estate for the shooters and they go by their scores. Keeli had owned that spot all year and I challenged the rest of the team to knock her out of it,” said Hennessee. “Somebody knocked her out of it and I saw a tear in her eye and thought, ‘What have I done?’ She got fired up and came back out with 290, 290 and 293.”

Both expect to compete for a national title May 9-11 in Louisville. The Wildcat sharpshooters fire over 1,000 shots a week. Whitlock doesn’t expect anything to change when they arrive in Kentucky.

“I’ll act like I’m at home."