MONTGOMERY, Ala. (August 23, 2022) — The Rend Lake College Archery Team pulled off a big win this weekend at the Buckmasters Top Bow Championship in Montgomery, Alabama. The team worked together to achieve the top spot, earning them a first place finish among the competitors and a new Mathews Compound Bow bundle for each of the archers.
In the photo: (L-R) Drake Barnett, Bryce Bieber, Alexia Roberts, Paige McKittrick, TJ Willis, Tanner Clark, Morgan Pearce.
This was the first ever collegiate Top Bow Competition held by Buckmasters. There were four teams, with a total of 24 archers competing for the top spot.
"With six shooters per team, we had to be strong all around to compete," said Head Coach Donnie Millenbine. "We started with three rounds with six targets each. The set-up was just perfect. Buckmasters put together an amazing display, and our players used their years of experience to do what they do best. Once we got to the fourth round for the finals, we knew we stood a good chance of winning. The players came out and shot solid. This wasn't easy for them because they weren't used to a lot of pressure. There was an audience of nearly 300 people watching and TV cameras recording them."
The shooting roster included Alexia Roberts, Paige McKittrick, TJ Willis, Bryce Bieber, Tanner Clark, Drake Barnett, and Morgan Pearce as reserve shooter.
Drake Barnett was in the top three individual competitors and competed in the Red Dot Challenge. Each archer had one shot at a red dot sticker on a deer target, and the one closest to the center of the dot won a gift package from Easton products. "Drake made us proud during this challenge," said Coach Millenbine. "He gave it his best effort and missed winning by just millimeters."
"Overall, this weekend was action-packed. The archers had fun, made new friends, and represented RLC well. We were able to put Rend Lake College on the map in the archery world," explained Millenbine.
The finals broadcast will be aired on September 17, 2022, on the Outdoorsman Channel.
To learn more about Rend Lake College Athletics, visit us online at www.RendLakeWarriors.com.