Rodger Willett Jr.

Lore & Background

Rodger Willett Jr. took up archery in 1987 and first represented the United States senior team in 2007. He has since been ranked number one in the world and has won individual and team golds at the Arizona Cup, as well as an individual World Cup final (including three of the four qualification stages) and a team World Archery Championships title. He is an active hunter, having successfully hunted elk, deer, and turkey, and now focuses primarily on predator hunting, helping neighbors with coyote and bobcat problems. Willett is also a free-diver who enjoys spearfishing and can hold his breath for up to four minutes. He is a part of the Mathews Bow company and continues to compete nationally, with a recent focus on revisiting 3-D archery, where he started before FITA tournaments. In 2018 he made the podium twice at ASA and IBO tournaments and placed third at the Redding shoot in California. He started the 2019 season strong, being the only archer in his class to clean the first day at the ISAA Pro Am tournament in January, and later made the shoot-down at the first ASA shoot in Foley, Alabama. His full-time day job is as an arborist, a highly skilled tree climber often called upon for dangerous jobs.

Reader's Guide

Rodger Willett Jr.'s significance lies in his achievements as a compound archer who reached the world number one ranking and won a team World Archery Championships title, along with an individual World Cup final and multiple Arizona Cup golds. His career spans from taking up archery in 1987 to representing the senior U.S. team from 2007 onward, demonstrating longevity and sustained high performance. Beyond competition, Willett's background as a hunter and free-diver informs his approach to archery, and his work as an arborist highlights a practical, hands-on lifestyle. His recent return to 3-D archery and strong showings in 2018 and 2019 indicate continued relevance in the sport. As a member of the Mathews Bow company, he remains active on the national stage, balancing professional archery with a full-time career as a tree climber. His legacy is that of a versatile athlete who has excelled at the highest levels of compound archery while maintaining diverse outdoor pursuits.

Did You Know?

• Rodger Willett Jr. can hold his breath for up to four minutes while spearfishing.
• He took up archery in 1987 and first represented the U.S. senior team in 2007.
• He has successfully hunted elk, deer, and turkey, and now focuses on predator hunting.