Alfred State Archery Team brings home seven medals

The Alfred State Archery Team competed in the USA Archery East Region Outdoor Championships in Mt. Crawford, VA, this past weekend, netting an impressive seven medals.

In team events, Alfred State won the gold in men’s compound led by Jacob Houseknecht, technology management, Candor; Koji Burdic, mechatronics technology, Fulton; and Dylan Krise, surveying engineering technology, Gillett, PA. The mixed bowhunter team of Chloe Miles, veterinary technology, Canisteo; and Robert “Jay” Lawrence IV, surveying and geomatics engineering technology, Fort Ann, took the bronze. The men’s bowhunter team of Jay Lawrence; Jacob Pollock, mechanical engineering technology, Franklinville; and Simon Bond, mechanical engineering technology, Orchard Park, captured the silver medal.

In the individual elimination matches, Alfred Archery added four more medals including a pair of first-place finishes. In men’s compound, Krise marched through the bracket to win gold, with teammate Burdic taking bronze. Miles earned a bronze in women’s hunter class. In the men’s bowhunter class, Lawrence worked through the head-to-head elimination matches to capture gold.  

At the conclusion of the tournament, East Region Awards were handed out. Lawrence was again named to the All-Region Team for his combined performance at Indoor Nationals and this regional championship. One year ago in 2020, Lawrence had his scheduled finals appearance among the top eight archers in the country canceled, as COVID-19 forced postponements of championship events.

Coach Greg Sammons had praise for the team, noting, “Many archers shot personal bests for score this weekend. As the head-to-head elimination matches began, wind became a major factor with unrelenting gusts forcing archers to quickly adapt their aiming and release execution – something our team was prepared to do and had practiced.”

The Alfred State Archery Team faced James Madison University, Liberty University, and Atlantic Cape. The team wraps up the COVID-shortened season with an appearance at the USA Archery National Outdoor Championships in a few weeks.