NEWBERRY, Fla. – Youth and Para podium places were determined on Saturday on the day that the world record was equaled in the compound senior men’s competition at the 2025 Easton Foundations Gator Cup.
Before medals were handed out, Mike Schloesser (NED) was putting in a golden performance of his own, firing in 718 from his 72 arrows during qualification in compound men. This is not the first time that Schloesser, whose nickname is Mister Perfect, has matched the world’s best score, which was originally set by Braden Gellenthien in July 2016.
Schloesser also managed 718 at the Netherlands National Championships in 2021 and again at the European Games in Poland two years ago.
He will be top seed in compound men when eliminations get underway on Sunday morning. Elsewhere, Akshara Vijay topped qualification in recurve women, two points ahead of Olympians Catalina GNoriega and Casey Kaufhold.
Cindy Czako will be eager to defend her Gator Cup title and set the standard in barebow women, albeit just four points better than teenage talent Ava Jones.
Recurve men will have a familiar name as number one seed on Sunday. Brady Ellison – who won the AAE Arizona Cup earlier this month – was 10 points better than Nicholas D’Amour after 72 arrows, with Trenton Cowles third.
Seven points separates the top three seeds in compound women, with Liko Arreola leading the way, followed by Alexis Ruiz and Olivia Dean. Arreola took silver at the 2024 edition, with Dean claiming gold.
Another seeking to retain their title is Brian Way. He was 20 points better than the next best in barebow men, with Patrick Fisk and Cheyenne McBride second and third.
Mark Williams and Ali Gungoraydinoglu were gold and silver medalists in recurve 50+ men last year, as well as being first and second seed. They will again start as the top two seeds after Saturday’s qualification.
In recurve 50+ women, Jamie McCarrison will be aiming to go one better than 12 months ago. Top seed in 2024, she took silver. She is second seed this time around, behind Janis Grellner.
Richard Burkett Jr. is well-placed for a repeat at Gator Cup. The 2024 champion in compound 50+ men was the second-best score after qualification, behind George Ryals IV.
Another defending champion topped the scores after Saturday. Tamara Fontenot finished two points ahead of Wendy Gardner, with last year’s silver medalist, Brenda Bond, in third.
Melissa McAvoy was well clear of the field in barebow 50+ women after qualification, though Vickie Johnson will be doing all she can to claim back-to-back gold.
And in barebow 50+ men, four points was the gap between Sanjeh Lok and Jim O’Shea. Gold and silver medalists from 2024, Randall Addington and Scotty Beach, will also be in the mix come Sunday morning.
Medals were won across the youth and para divisions on Saturday afternoon. Gold medals went to Jack Krengel (recurve U21 men), Kylie Oliver (recurve U21 women), Nicholas Kim (recurve U18 men), Ye-eun Whang (recurve U18 women), Jacob Merkel (compound U21 men), Lillie Aguilar (compound U21 women), Caleb Quiocho (compound U18 men), Savannah O’Donohue (compound U18 women), Keegan Benton (barebow U21 men), Sarah Kate Jentsch (barebow U21 women), TJ Kole (barebow U18 men), Medina Otajagic (barebow U18 women), Luke Shaeffer (fixed pins U21 men), Piper Colantone (fixed pins U21 women), Isaac Mayer (fixed pins U18 men) and Maddison Stratton (fixed pins U18 women).
Krengel, Whang, Merkel, Quiocho and O'Donohue were all named earlier this week in the USA's 24-strong team for the World Archery Youth Championships, taking place in Canada in August. Teammates were also among the medals in Florida, including Hailey Franzone (recurve U18 women), Brody Wonch, Suraj Nalam (both compound U18 men), Joshua Baek (recurve U21 men) and Khloe Markle (compound U18 women).
Whang was also a gold medalist on Thursday in the mixed team competition, which formed part of this year's Gator Cup. She won in the 60m recurve category alongside Carson Chan.
In the para division, Paralympian Jordan White finished well clear of the field in recurve open men to take gold. There was a similar story in recurve open women, with gold going to Candice Caesar.
KJ Polish – a Paralympic teammate of White’s in Paris last year – claimed gold in compound open men. Wendy Gardner finished top in compound open women.
In the W1 division, Paralympic gold medalist Jason Tabansky struck gold in Florida. Among the medalists was Ryan Lindstrom, featuring at his first USAT event having only taken up archery in December, while Tracy Otto returned to the USAT scene – this time as a mom – with gold in W1 women.
You can follow the latest scores from the final day of Gator Cup, with photos found HERE. The senior gold medal matches will then be broadcast live on USA Archery’s YouTube channel from 2pm EST.
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