FOLEY, Ala. – The USA Archery National 3D Collegiate Championship is returning to Foley for the seventh year in a row., bringing teams from across the country.
This national event is hosted in partnership with the Archery Shooters Association (ASA). ASA event director Mike Tyrell says teams will be coming from as far west as California and north as New York. The competition consists of eight classes: men’s and women’s compound bow with fixed pins and movable site classes, barebow recurve, and Olympic recurve.
ASA also conducts six Pro/Am competitions nationally each year, but this championship is different.
“This event focuses on individual, as well as team, competition, whereas our Pro/Am events are strictly individual,” Tyrell explains. “We kick things off with a team mixer on the first day, and Saturday features head-to-head team competitions.”
While there is a sense of friendly camaraderie during the event, USA Archery CEO Rod Menzer notes everyone still wants to win, and the athletes participating are no strangers to tough competition.
“The collegiate program is full of talent,” says Menzer. “And that will be on full display at the Collegiate 3D Nationals, with several archers who have medaled internationally this year. We are looking forward to being back in Foley and to an exciting few days where the quality of archery will be matched only by the rivalry, intensity, and drama.”
City of Foley Leisure Services executive director David Thompson says both the team aspect and the intense competition are things Foley Sports Tourism is used to, but this event brings something extra.
“Collegiate athletics are unique,” Thompson says. “Not everyone is blessed with the opportunity to compete at that level. These shooters get the chance to be a part of something special, and they know it. Traveling a distance to shoot on a national stage is an experience that will stay with them forever. We want to make sure every aspect of that experience is as remarkable as we can make it so in the future, they’ll want to return and relive some of those moments, maybe even at one of the ASA events we host.”
One of those memorable aspects is the Oct. 7 awards banquet and team final shoot at the Foley Event Center. Teams get to mingle and try one last time to nab the title. Tyrell said they want the teams to share this experience with their loved ones, so the event is open to public spectators, and the Saturday evening festivities are also streaming live on the Foley Event Center Facebook page.
