It was a great start for first-year UPIKE archery coach Ellie Yocum.
The Bears totaled eight medalist finishes and crowned a pair of conference champions at the 2021 MSC Indoor Championships over the weekend.
UPIKE earned two gold medals, two silver, and four bronze to finish fourth out of 10 teams.
One of the weekend’s top performers was junior A.J. Clements, who earned a conference title in the men’s recurve event. He claimed the gold medal defeating both opponents in the bracket 6-0. Clements takes a place in the UPIKE record books, topping previous top marks set in both the 600 and 300.
The Bears’ second gold medal victory came in the Mixed Recurve event where freshman Anastasia McFarland teamed up with Clements to defeat Cumberlands in the championship round.
In her debut, she also grabbed a fourth-place finish in the women’s recurve event, breaking a previous school record by 44 points.
UPIKE’s men’s barebow team earned a silver medal on the day as well, defeating Lindsey Wilson 5-3 to make it to the gold medal match. Team members are Mason Hess, Jacob Suffridge and Andrew Blackburn.
Catelynn McKnight, Brooke Fannin and Emily Dendinger made up the women’s bowhunter team which earned UPIKE their second silver medal of the day.
McKnight found success in individual competition as well, breaking her previous school record in the 600 and earning herself the bronze medal in the Women’s Bowhunter bracket.
UPIKE tallied three bronze medals in mixed competitions.
The Bears will hit the range for the USA Outdoor Regionals in Williamsburg on April 7-10.