Lycoming News

Competing at the Adam Wheatcroft Memorial/U.S. Archery East Regionals held at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Penn College secured a second-place finish overall and had six archers named to the All-East team.

The archers earning All-East honors based on their combined indoor and outdoor regional scores included Rylee Butler from Milesburg in female bowhunter, Sapphire Naugle from Jersey Shore in female compound, Trevor Quarry from Lebanon in male recurve, Sidney Alpaugh from Pennsdale in male bowhunter, Nathan Haefka from Wyalusing in male bowhunter, and David Fox from Coburn in male bowhunter.

"We had a great showing placing six archers on the All-East team. It takes many arrows to get there. It's a great honor and I was proud to see so many Penn College archers up there," coach Chad Karstetter said.

Individually, Butler and Zach Williamson from Mill Hall in male compound placed third. In team rounds, Alpaugh, Haefka, and Fox were second in male bowhunter; Butler and Alpaugh were second in mixed bowhunter; Burk and Quarry were second in mixed recurve; and Sabrina Toplovich from Spring Creek and Williamson were third in mixed compound. These results contributed to the Wildcats' overall second-place finish behind James Madison.

A total of 14 teams with 105 archers participated in the event.

"It was a short weekend of shooting due to the weather," Karstetter explained. "The weather stations were calling for severe thunderstorms on Sunday so the tournament was cut in half. This means that instead of having 72 arrows to qualify you get 36, and also less arrows for the elimination round and team rounds. We also shot the qualification round, mixed team rounds and eliminations on Saturday, which made a long day. I felt it hurt us a little because just when you start getting into a rhythm the round was over. We were pleased with the team rounds. They were close in scores when we were knocked off. If we had full rounds the results could have been much different," he added.

"There were many talented teams competing this weekend, and even though we did not field all the events, we shot strong enough for a second-place overall finish. Coaches and archers were very pleased," said Karstetter, who is assisted by Dustin Bartron.

Next for Penn College will be the U.S. National Outdoor Collegiate Championships at Darree Fields Park in Dublin, Ohio, scheduled for May 16-19.