Lycoming News

In its 15th season under coach Chad Karstetter, the Wildcats men's bowhunter team achieved first place at the national championships in Chula Vista, California. This marks their second consecutive year ending eighth in the country overall.

Team members Andrew Rupp from Dayton, John Kleinfelter from Lebanon, and Adam Thomas from Shade Gap competed strongly. Rupp earned All-American honors due to his performance in both indoor and outdoor events, while Kleinfelter placed eighth individually.

Coach Karstetter praised his team: "John shot very well in the elimination round, might have been the best all season for him. He fell just short to an archer that went on to win the class." He added about Rupp: "Andrew shot strong all season long with a good finish at nationals and earned a spot on the All-American team."

Karstetter noted challenges faced during the competition: "It was a long, very hot week. We shot well, but a point here or a point there kept us from bringing home more awards." The men's bowhunter team narrowly defeated Texas A&M for gold.

The compound teams finished fourth, missing podium finishes by narrow margins. The men's compound team included Markus Weber of La Plata, Maryland; Tim Lamont of Eldred; and Tyler Schoonover of Bradford. The women's compound team consisted of Chelsea Douglass of East Greenville; Sabrina Toplovich of Spring Creek; and Rylee Butler of Bellefonte.

As three key players—Rupp, Thomas, and Logan Booth from New Kensington—graduate this year, Karstetter acknowledged their contributions: "They were key players throughout the whole year and will be hard to replace for next season." He concluded with optimism for future competitions: "(Assistant coach) Dustin (Bartron) and I are already looking forward to next season."