WUXI, China - Throughout the USAT Qualifier Series this past year, youth archers have been rocking senior podiums and making big splashes in the archery world. Finally taking their own stage in this extremely prestigious biannual event, cadet and junior teams are off to Wuxi, China to compete at the World Archery Youth Championships (WAYC).
Resident Athletes Ariel Gibilaro, Lanola Pritchard, Mackenzie Brown, Jeremiah Cusick, and brothers Daniel and Sean McLaughlin, all hailing from Chula Vista, Calif., benefit from training together year-round and will comprise two strong junior recurve teams that will be tough to beat.
Expected competition includes Olympian Gael Prevost (FRA), team silver medalist at last week's senior world championships; Sjef Van Den Berg (NED); Olympic bronze medalist, Mariana Avitia (MEX); strong international competitor, Kristina Timofeeva (RUS); and highly anticipated newcomer to the international stage, Jeon Sungeun (KOR).
Cadet double-gold medalist in the team and mixed team events in the 2011 WAYC and 2012 individual and team junior world indoor champion, Bridger Deaton (Pella, Iowa) will lead the junior compound men's squad together with rising compound talent Alex Wifler (Chicago, Ill.) and returning medalist Danny Button (Monona, Wis.)
Paige Pearce (Red Bluff, Calif.) is headed to her fifth world championship with junior compound teammates Kailey Johnston (Dublin, Ga.) and Lexi Keller (Omro, Wis.). Their toughest competition will most likely come from senior team world champion, Sara Lopez (COL).
Emily Fischer (Corpus Christi, Tex.) is a defending triple champion from the 2011 World Archery Youth Championships. Together with teammates Danielle Reynolds (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Sonia Taniguchi (Chula Vista, Calif.), Fischer will compete for the US compound cadet team.
The cadet compound men's squad is comprised of Chris Bee (Hartland, Mich.), Justin Dixon (Yoakum, Tex.), and Tyson Pruitte (Hamlet, N.C.). Historically, the US performs well in these categories and with strong archers on both teams, fans can hope for impressive performances next week.
The cadet recurve archers include an impressive roster consisting of Andrew Mateo (Chandler, Ariz.), Collin Klimitichek (Chula, Vista, Calif.) Geun Woo Kim (Valencia, Calif.), Lauren Clamon (Chula Vista, Calif.), Eliana Claps (Everett, Wash.), and Anna Miscione (Ramona, Calif.).
Join in the World Archery Youth Championships 2013 online conversation: tweet, post or share with the hashtag #WAYC2013. Check the World Archery and USA Archery webpages, Facebook and twitter for news, results, photos and videos. Live scores will be available at worldarchery.org.
Some information courtesy of World Archery Communications.
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