Liberty archers march amongst the field of collegiate competitors over the weekend in Foley, Ala.
Cassidy’s silver-medal showing highlights archery team’s trip to 3D Nationals in Alabama
10/10/2023 5:51:00 PM | Archery
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The Flames and Lady Flames combined to place 14th out of 29 colleges and universities in the field.
Members of Liberty University's archery team dealt with varying weather conditions and experienced mixed results at USA Archery 3D National Championships held this past Thursday through Saturday at the Graham Creek Interpretive Center in Foley, Ala.
"It was tough competition this year," second-year Head Coach and former Flames archer Jason Lynch said. "Our men's bowhunter team made it to brackets but got eliminated first round for an eighth-place finish."
Overall, Liberty tied Kentucky Christian University for 14th out of 32 teams with 10 points.
University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) captured its sixth consecutive team title with 226 points, twice as many as second-place University of Pikeville (Ky., 113). LU's Kayla Cassidy placed runner-up in women's barebow
Kayla Cassidy, a junior from Las Vegas, competed through heavy rainfall and placed second in Thursday's women's barebow event to highlight Liberty's individual performances. She totaled 371 through two rounds (164 and 179) and was edged by Maggie Brensinger (374) from the University of Pikeville (Ky.)
The weather improved as the day went on, but Liberty's individual and team performances did not.
Flames sophomore Nathan Wilkins finished in the top third of his 72-man fixed-pin competition, placing 24th with a score of 402 on the two rounds. He was followed by teammate junior Steven Loomans, who came in 29th with a score of 392, and senior Justin Lynn (37th, 381).
In the women's fixed-pin competition, senior Grace Wahl placed 30th out of 71 women with a score of 368.
Combined, the Flames and Lady Flames took ninth out of 19 teams in the fixed pin mixed team standings with 770 points.
Lady Flames junior Natasha Leininger placed 19th out of 30 competitors in the women's recurve division.
Practicing out of its Club Sports Olympic Training Facility located in the Candlers Station space that formerly housed the Liberty Mountain Skate Park, the Flames and Lady Flames will soon shift their collective focus to preparing for the 55th USA Archery Indoor National Championships, with the regional shoot set for Feb. 23-25 in Harrisonburg, Va.
