Growing Up Country: A Farm Girl’s Roots in Indiana

Gracen Fletcher grew up under Indiana skies, where the wind danced across hayfields and horses ran free. A farm girl through and through, she learned to saddle up almost as early as she could walk. Her days were filled with muck boots, fiddle strings, and the steady hum of country life. Whether she was training one of her family’s Arabian horses, casting a fishing line at the pond, or hitting bullseyes with her bow, Gracen lived wide awake to the world around her.

Discovering a Passion for Archery Through Family and Focus

Her brother got into archery first, and the rest of the family followed. At first, Gracen just tagged along. But the more she shot, the more she found herself hooked. The quiet focus, the feel of the release, the rhythm — archery used the same discipline she’d learned from horseback riding. And just like that, she discovered a lasting passion.

Breaking Barriers in Archery: Gracen’s Road to the Olympics

By the time she turned 10, Gracen was competing. At 17, she made history in Las Vegas, shooting a perfect 900 — something only a handful of women had ever done. The spotlight turned to her quickly, and, as a result, the Olympic door stood wide open.

But another door opened, too.

Balancing College and Olympic Training With Online Education

Gracen had long dreamed of earning a degree from Cedarville University, a school with a commitment to faith that matched her own. She thought she'd have to choose: train for the Olympics or attend college. But Cedarville’s new fully online accounting program made it possible to do both.

Now, from her family’s farm in Boonville, she balances Olympic-level training with online studies. Her days start early with chapel, continue with coursework, and end with hours of practice in the barn or the field. It's a full life, but one anchored in purpose.

Gracen doesn’t see archery as her identity — it’s a gift. She competes with grit, but her aim stays fixed on something higher. Through every arrow and every assignment, she’s living to honor God, knowing He’s the one who gave her these passions to begin with.

She recently shared more of her journey on the Cedarville Stories podcast, reflecting on how faith, family, and focus have shaped her both on the range and in the classroom.

About Cedarville University

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offersundergraduateandgraduateresidential and online programs across arts,sciencesand professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more atcedarville.edu.