Williamsburg, Ky. – UPIKE Archery opened their 2022-23 season over the weekend, starting with the USA Archery 3D Regionals on Friday, before the MSC 3D Championships on Saturday. The Bears totaled 22 medals over the weekend and placed third of 10 teams in the MSC Championships.

USA Archery 3D Regionals

London, Ky. was host for Friday's 3D Regionals, where the Bears pulled together a strong debut. Seven archers notched podium finishes, highlighted by Bella Barrett and AJ Clements who both secured gold in the men's and women's recurve events.

In the women's barebow, Allison Collinsworth claimed silver, totaling 317 (165, 152) and hitting three 12s which was the most in the competition. Teammate Kaytlyn Patrick totaled 293 to take bronze. In the men's barebow event, sophomore Logan Cunningham shot scores of 175 and 171, hitting four 12's to take silver. His round one score of 175 was second highest in the competition.

The top performers for the Bears came in the recurve where both Bella Barrett and AJ Clements claimed golf medals. Barret opened with a score of 206 in the first round which was the best amongst all archers, her second-round score of 198 secured the top spot, hitting seven 12's. Clements opened with the highest single-round score of the competition, a 210, repeating the same mark in the second round to take the win. Clements also led with an impressive 14 12's.

Nate Harper earned his first medal as a Bear in the fixed pins event, tying winner Connor Mullis with a total score of 422. Mullis managed one more 12, taking the top spot making Harper runner-up.

Newcomer Tim Smith excelled in his debut, taking bronze in the men's recurve where he scored 200 in both rounds and finished with 10 12's.

10 Bears finished in the top five of their individual events, qualifying them for the MSC Individual Shootdowns on Saturday.

MSC 3D Championships

In Williamsburg on Saturday, the Bears earned three gold, eight silver, three bronze, and four fourth place finishes to total 130 points as a team. The Bears finished second overall, behind Cumberlands who claimed the championship with 207 points.

Nine from UPIKE garnered medals in the team portion of the event, including the gold medal men's recurve trio of Tim Smith, Daniel Clayton, AJ Clements. After a bye in the first round, the team faced Cumberlands in the championship, winning 186-182.

Six of the team medalists claimed silver including Mixed Recurve, Women's Barebow, Women's Recurve, Women's Bowhunter, Men's Bowhunter and Women's Compound.

In individual shootdowns, it was the Clements and Harper who claimed the gold medals. Clements dominated the competition, posting the best scores in five of the six rounds to total 66 in the recurve. Harper shot scores of 10, 10, 12, 14, and 10 on his way to 66 total. He secured the gold over runner-up Hunter Larese of Cumberlands by four in the bowhunter.

Also in the men's recurve, Smith claimed bronze with a total of 54 with scores of 10, 8, 8, 10, 10, and 8.

The Bears claimed two of the top three spots in the women's recurve via Bella Barrett and Olivia Hale. Barrett continued to impress, shooting six straight scores of 10 to total 60 points and finish runner-up. Hale shot 10 in all but one round and earned the bronze medal with a 58 total.

After a solid performance on Friday, Collinsworth carried her success into the MSC Championship. The sophomore finished runner-up in the women's barebow with 51 points, six shy of the top finisher.

The Bears return to action on Thursday, October 13th as they travel to Foley, Alabama for the USA Archery 3D Nationals.