2023 Indoor Nationals Final Lineup and Other Industry News

2023 Indoor Nationals Final lineup announced; Explore Archery program highlights; and Kevin Mather elected as Para Athlete Director on USA Archery’s Board.

2023 Indoor Nationals Final Lineup and Other Industry News

2023 Indoor Nationals Final Lineup Announced

USA Archery recently confirmed the 40 archers who will make up the five categories at the Indoor Nationals Final, which will take place inside the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville on March 23, 2023.

The top recurve, compound and barebow archers from 12 regional events of the 54th USA Archery Indoor Nationals will compete in head-to-head elimination matches. The Final has a total prize purse of $71,500, with payouts to all places.

The Indoor Final is open to archers of all ages and abilities as all categories in each of the male and female recurve and compound, and gender combined barebow divisions are combined for overall rankings.

Compound Women

  • Paige Pearce
  • Liko Arreola
  • Toja Ellison
  • Linda Ochoa-Anderson
  • Madison Cox
  • Olivia Dean
  • Leann Drake
  • Marissa Harding

Compound Men

  • Kris Schaff
  • Sawyer Sullivan
  • Braden Gellenthien
  • Dillon Thompson
  • Dave Cousins
  • Isaac Sullivan
  • Carson Sapp
  • Ethan Merrill 

Recurve Women

  • Casey Kaufhold
  • Molly Nugent
  • Catalina GNoriega
  • Samantha Ensign
  • Isabella Kim
  • Abigail Kippes
  • Erin Mickelberry
  • Alyssa Artz

Recurve Men

  • Brady Ellison
  • Jack Williams
  • Gabe Anderson
  • Christian Stoddard
  • Matthew Requa
  • Jackson Mirich
  • Matthew Nofel
  • Alex Gilliam

Barebow Male and Female

  • Robby Weissinger
  • Paul Donahoo
  • John Dawson
  • John Winker
  • Matt Yacca
  • Marcus Cooley
  • Nick Way
  • Steve Oakley

 

Explore Archery Program Highlights: Midland Archery Center

South Carolina has been a hub for archery growth in the last 3 years. Growing from 176 USA Archery members in 2019, to over 400 at the end of 2022, increased club leaders are leading the expansion.

Located in Lexington, South Carolina, Midlands Archery Center (MAC) has played an integral role in the state’s growth. Launched in 2019 by Teresa and Anibal ("Indy") Deliz, Midlands Archery Center was formed after being involved in the National Archery in the School Program (NASP) for 6 years. The program’s first archers came from the NASP program as well.

Midlands had its first Explore Archery camp in the summer of 2020 with 11 participants and have held camps each summer since. This year, MAC will host a spring break Explore Archery camp as well. In addition, MAC also holds 1-hour Explore Archery classes every month to introduce newcomers to archery and provide a solid foundation to advance to the Youth and Adult clubs.

Deliz commented, “The program utilizes the Explore Archery Instructor's Guide extensively and appreciates all the games and different schedule outlines that are included. For summer camps, students also earn the Explore Archery Achievement Awards. They really look forward to receiving their award at the end of each session, and proudly wear them to camp the next day!”

Utilizing these strategies has allowed Midlands to see classes and camps fill up quickly and also develop their athletes into next-step programs. Deliz stated, “Many of the camp and class participants have gone on to join the Youth or Adult clubs and have begun competing at various levels, including one of our original students who has received a college scholarship to shoot in the Collegiate Archery Program.”

Deliz shared, “One of the most frequent comments we receive is something similar to: thank you for offering this program; my son/daughter hasn't been able to find a sport they enjoy. Now they have a sport they love."

Midlands is also seeing an increase in adults interested in learning archery and competing. Deliz commented, “It's very rewarding to see the involvement from both youth and adults. We have also received positive feedback on the organization of the classes, for which I give credit to USA Archery for the excellent resources they provide.

“One of the most useful concepts I learned in coach training is the NTS ‘Software Steps’. They are easy to remember, easy to practice and easy to memorize. The highlight of summer camp last year was watching a group of three girls who had become friends at camp reciting the steps, on their own initiative, as they shot together on the line during practice.”

Since 2019, Deliz estimates over 200 students have participated in the Explore Archery classes and camps. Interest in MAC archery programs currently exceeds coaching capacity. The club has certified new instructors from interested students and hopes to add more in the future to support continued growth and expansion.

Click here to find out more about Explore Archery and search for a club near you to get involved.

 

Gold Medalist Kevin Mather Elected as Para Athlete Director on USA Archery’s Board

Paralympic champion Kevin Mather has been elected as the Para Athlete Director and will serve the remainder of the vacant 2022-2025 term on USA Archery’s Board of Directors.

Mather won gold in the men’s individual recurve open at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo two years ago.

Kevin Mather
Kevin Mather

“Archery and the archery community has and continues to give me so much. I’m excited to be able to give back by serving on the board,” commented Mather.

USA Archery is led by an elected 15-person Board of Directors, which includes 33.33% athlete representation. The USA Archery Board of Directors represents the interests of the archery community and its athletes by providing the organization with policy, guidance and strategic direction.

The Board focuses on long-term objectives and impacts, empowering the Chief Executive Officer to manage a staff-driven organization with effective Board oversight. Click here to learn more about the functions and responsibilities of the Board.

USA Archery thanks its outgoing Para Athlete Director, Eric Bennett, and it looks forward to a great quadrennial and to working to reach its goals and accomplish its strategic plans with Board oversight.



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