RedStorm claims 4th place finish at 3D Nationals

Rio Grande Sports Information
     FOLEY, Ala. - The University of Rio Grande archery team posted a fourth-place finish overall in the 2024 USA Archery 3D Collegiate Nationals, which wrapped up Saturday at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve.
     Head coach Jonathan Clemins' first-year program tallied 90 points collectively in the 30-team competition.
     The University of the Cumberlands easily won the overall team title with 173.5 points, while Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College was second with 109.5 points and the University of Pikeville finished third in front of the RedStorm with 101 points.
     Rio Grande did have a national champion, though, in the Mixed Compound division. The freshman duo of Colton Green (Bloomfield, OH) and Matteja Metcalf (Piedmont, S.C.) finished first with 870 points, edging Blaine Kostrzewski and Grace Moore from the University of the Cumberlands by two points.
     "We've shown everyone what we're capable of from the very beginning," said Clemins. "We might be the new kids on the block, but everyone now knows who we are and recognizes us as a serious competitive threat."
     Individually, Rio Grande post eight Top 10 performances during the competition.
     Green placed second in the Men's Compound, while senior John Sarazin (Onalaska, WI) and sophomore Danielle Pollard (West Pittston, PA) finished third in the Men's Barebow and Women's Fixed Pins, respectively.
     Metcalf took fifth place in the Women's Compound, while freshman Madison Hurst (Lucasville, OH) and sophomore Morrighain Nyer (Pottsville, PA) did the same in Women's Fixed Pins and Women's Barebow, respectively.
     Junior Zoe Woods (McHenry, IL) also finished seventh in Women's Compound, while junior Alyssa Nelson (Draper, UT) was ninth in Women's Olympic Recurve.
     In addition to the championship won by Green and Metcalf, the Mixed Team rounds also saw Sarazin and Nyer give the RedStorm a third-place showing in Barebow and the duo of Pollard and junior Braydin White (Zanesville, OH) was sixth in Fixed Pins.
     Rio Grande's big weekend also included eight Top 10 showings in the team rounds.
     Metcalf, Woods and junior Emalee Wooldridge (Vernal, UT) were the runners-up in Women's Compound, while Pollard, Hurst and senior Alicia Aviles (Tamarac, FL) placed second in Women's Fixed Pins.
     The trio of Green, Pollard and Nelson took third in Mixed Equipment, while Sarazin, freshman Dylan Brumfield (Gallipolis, OH) and freshman Scott Fisher (Mauk, GA) were fourth in Men's Barebow and the combination of Green, sophomore Braden Reed (Grayson, KY) and senior Matthew Russell (Loganville, GA) were fifth in the Men's Compound.
     Seventh-place outings came from White, freshman Ephraim Tonn-Bourg (Boerne, TX) and freshman Nathan Bennett (St. Albans, WV) in Men's Fixed Pins, while Nyer, freshman Ashlynn Peters (Hundred, WV) and freshman Alexandria Dingus (Flatwoods, KY) did the same in Women's Barebow.
     In Women's Olympic Recurve, Nelson, freshman Madison Abel (Buckhannon, WV) and freshman Ayla Fry (Cabin Creek, WV) posted an eighth-place showing.
     "We're looking to carry this momentum forward," Clemins said. "This tournament has only fueled my belief in what we can accomplish in our first year. We'll continue to build on this experience and strive for even more success."
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action at the Lancaster Archery Classic, Jan. 23-26, 2025.