A year ago, Penn College saw its five-year drought of All-American archers end when Casey Keiter became number 44. This season, coach Dustin Bartron expects what had previously become an annual tradition that produced 43 archers earning the coveted status 88 times to continue.
Fifteen Wildcats will be among those competing from across the country Thursday through Sunday at the USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals in East Lansing, Michigan.
Official practice is scheduled for Thursday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with opening ceremonies at the Hope Sports Complex from 3:15-4 p.m.
On Friday at 8 a.m., men’s and women’s 72-arrow qualifying in 70-meter recurve and 50-meter compound, fixed pins, and barebow will be held, with mixed team rounds that afternoon.
Individual single elimination rounds through third place (bronze medal) will be staged starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, with team rounds that afternoon.
On Sunday, recurve, compound, fixed pins and barebow gold medal finals are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., followed by mixed team gold medal finals and the awards ceremony.
“We look strong going into this week. Sessions have been strong, making some minor adjustments that hopefully payoff when it counts. Everyone is excited to go and compete. I look forward to seeing the results,” Bartron, in his sixth season as the coach, said.
“There are some exceptional archers shooting collegiate archery this year. This will be the best competition we see all year. There is a lot of talent in this group,” Bartron continued.
Representing the college will be Eli Bartron, of South Williamsport, the coach’s son; Colby Dell, of Great Neck, New York; Elam Salvador, of Glenmore; and Cannon Youndt, of Denver, in the men’s compound event. Haylee Parker, of Millville, in the women’s compound. Dante Cruz, of Williamsport; Josiah Hinojos, of Groton, Connecticut; Anthony Olenchak, of Valhalla, New Jersey; Tayton Roys, of Port Allegheny; Kaden Stokes, of Williamsport; Rylan Tillotson, of Williamsport; and John Scarborough, of Loganton, in men’s fixed pins. Cooper Goldring, of Boca Raton, Florida, in men’s recurve. Liz Gruodis, of Milford, in women’s barebow. And Roman Moss, of Stillwater, in men’s barebow.
Keiter, of Dornsife, in fixed pins, and Emery Gunsallus, of Mill Hall, in men’s compound, are walking in their commencement exercise and won’t attend nationals.
In the team’s last outing on April 11-12 at the East Region Outdoor competition, taking individual gold were Moss and Hinojos. Claiming silver were Dell and Gruodis. Bronze went to Roys, and fourth was awarded to Olenchak.
In team competition, Dell, Youndt and Eli Bartron won in men’s compound, as did Hinojos, Olenchak and Roys in men’s fixed pins. Gruodis and Moss placed second in mixed barebow, and Bartron and Parker were fifth in the mixed compound.
Named to the All-East Region team were Hinojos, Moss, Bartron, Olenchak, Youndt and Goldring.
In February, at the indoor nationals, taking gold were Youndt, Hinojos, Gruodis, Goldring and Moss. Earning silver were Eli Bartron, Parker, Stokes and Hailey Penner, of Millerton, in women’s fixed pins. Keiter captured bronze in men’s fixed pins.
All-Americans are determined by combining indoor and outdoor national scores.
“We have been working hard on physical and mental preparation. We have been having shooting sessions five times a week on the practice field. The weather has proven challenging but should have us prepared for anything Michigan can throw at us,” coach Bartron said.
The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-50s to low 70s, with light to moderate winds and occasional gusts.
“We should have a strong showing (top 10) in men’s barebow, men’s compound and men’s fixed pin. Our male recurve shooter does not have a lot of experience in competitions at this level, but has been putting in a lot of extra time and is looking to have a strong showing,” Dustin Bartron said.
“Our men’s compound and men’s fixed pin teams should be in it until the end. I expect both teams to go far and should be on the podium when it’s over,” the coach added.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website . For more about the United East, visit the conference website . Learn more about the Collegiate Target Nationals on the USA Archery website.
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