PHOENIX, Arizona - The 2016 AAE Arizona Cup kicks off tomorrow and this event is going to be huge! Not only is this the first U.S. Archery Team (USAT) Series Event of the year, a World Ranking Event and Para World Ranking Event, but qualification Friday is also the first nomination shoot for the 2016 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials - Archery, and the U.S. Team Trials for World University Championships. Competition promises to be fierce as the nation's top archers take on each other, and international stars visiting from around the world for this intense event.
Fans will not want to miss local Arizona stars: 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Brady Ellison (Globe, Arizona), two-time Paralympian Eric Bennett (Surprise, Arizona) and Olympic hopefuls Brian Bullis Jr. (Glendale, Arizona), siblings Karissa and Nathan Yamaguchi (Phoenix, Arizona) and Chris Webster (Surprise, Arizona).
Webster commented: "Its awesome there are so many Arizonans in the running for Rio this summer. Having a tournament in our home state is going to be a lot of fun as we get ready for Trials."
Bullis said that in preparation for Arizona Cup and the Trials, he and Bennett have been shooting together in the afternoons after school. "We've been doing the Polar Pop challenge. We shoot a 36 arrow ranking round and an elimination match. Whoever wins both gets a Polar Pop from the loser. If we each win one, it goes to a shoot off."
He added: "It's been helping me, and I'm excited now to shoot in my home state, it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm excited for the second round of Olympic Trials next month and this is going to be good preparation - it's a great first outdoor tournament."
Arizona Cup competition will also draw fans of the 2012 Olympic men's team silver medalists, Brady Ellison, Jake Kaminski (Gainesville, Florida), and Jacob Wukie (Fremont, Ohio). 5-time Olympian and Olympic bronze medalist Khatuna Lorig (West Hollywood, California), and U.S. Olympic Team Trials leaders Mackenzie Brown (Flint, Texas) and Zach Garrett (Wellington, Missouri) will also be top contenders.
Top archers from Colombia, Japan, Mongolia, Canada, Mexico, Slovenia, and many other countries around the world are also here in Arizona for the exciting competition! Live scores will be available here. To join the action, use hashtag #Arizona Cup. For more, follow USA Archery on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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