The students were among several hundred archers from across multiple disciplines who competed for top honors in the “3-D” season – a strategic form of archery using foam targets with irregular scoring rings at varying distances, terrain, and lighting conditions. The Pioneers men’s hunter class had the strongest finishes with Jacob Pollock, mechanical engineering technology, Franklinville; Jacob Patanella, mechanical engineering technology, Churchville; and Nathan Summerville, mechanical engineering technology, Fulton, finishing 12th, 13th, and 16th respectively out of a field of nearly 80.
In the men’s compound division, archers Jacob Houseknecht, culinary arts, Candor; and Josh Harp, surveying and geomatics engineering technology, Farmington, had strong showings finishing 28th and 29th in arguably the event’s toughest division. The Pioneers men’s hunter team of Pollock, Patanella, and Summerville made the cut and qualified Alfred State for team elimination rounds on Sunday, but lost a close two-point match to Southeastern Illinois College, who ultimately went on to win gold in the hunter division.
A highlight for the Pioneers was the banquet shoot-off when the mixed team of Alfred State’s Jacob Pollock and Jacob Houseknecht, along with drafted female recurve archer Lauren Pearson from Emmanuel College, teamed up to beat the entire field of college teams to win the special banquet event.
Dr. Gregory Sammons, vice president for Student Affairs and coach of the Alfred State Archery Team, said of the championships, “This event is a high-pressure environment against some of the top varsity archery programs in the nation. I am particularly proud of our team members’ poise, their mental toughness, and their immediate resolve to get stronger on a return next year.”
The Alfred State Archery Team will now shift to its indoor season, an event shot from 18 meters at a standardized “bullseye” style ring. Their next national appearance will be at the USA Archery Indoor Nationals in Pennsylvania in February 2019.
