PHOENIX, Ariz. – Challenging conditions tested the archers at the 2025 AAE Arizona Cup as U21, U18 and Para medalists were decided while senior and 50+ divisions battled their way through qualification.
The Ben Avery Shooting Facility had a little bit of lots weather-wise, with strong gusts of wind adding to the task at hand, before 16 champions were confirmed across barebow, compound, fixed pins and recurve.
Caelan Shanklin, who last month made his debut at the USA Archery Indoor Nationals Final, came through from third seed to win the recurve U18 men at this first USAT Qualifier Series event of the year.
Jack Krengel, another to feature at the Indoor Nationals Final in Las Vegas, finished with bronze in the recurve U21 men. Gold went to seventh seed Christian Garcia.
Gold in the recurve U21 and U18 women’s categories both went to archers who were seeded four after qualification, notably Kylie Oliver and Yeshaswini Tati.
Top seeds flourished in the barebow division, with gold going to Riley Adams (U21 women), Thor Pahl (U18 men) and Jamie DiGiacomo (U18 women). Gold in barebow U21 men went to third seed Caleb Scotch. Number one seed Bryce Henak fought back from 4-0 and 5-1 down to force a shoot-off, which was won by Scotch.
None of the top seeds could capture gold in the compound division. Caleb Quiocho came closest in the compound U18 men, but he was forced to settle for silver with gold going to Brody Wonch.
It was seventh seed Nathan Jackson who claimed Arizona Cup honors in compound U21 men; Katherine Krebs, the fourth seed, came out on top in compound U21 women, with fifth seed Raylie Seyler taking gold in compound U18 women.
The Fightmaster brothers were among the medals in fixed pins. Cody took silver behind Griffin Witty in fixed pins U21 men; David secured gold in fixed pins U18 men, defeating second seed Roman Kravchuk.
Gold medal matches in the fixed pins women’s division also involved the top two seeds, with the number one seed emerging victorious in both U21 and U18 categories. McKenna Boyle beat Jayden Azbill 138-133 for the U21 gold, while Maddison Stratton triumphed over Elizaveta Kravchuk at U18 level.
There were winners in the Para division. Among them were Paralympic champion Jason Tabansky in the W1 Open. KJ Polish, another Paralympian, took gold in the compound open men. Jordan White secured gold in recurve open men.
Local archer Brandi Jones won her home USAT event in compound open women, with Arizona Cup success also heading the way of Karen Sternfeld (recurve open women) and Kelly Thornbury (VI Open).
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Qualification for seniors and 50+ took place on Saturday morning. Those divisions return on Sunday morning for elimination matches. Among the highlights after qualification was that Christian Stoddard finished as top seed in recurve men, ahead of Olympians Jack Williams – the defending champion – and Brady Ellison.
This year’s Arizona Cup also formed Stage #1 2025 World Archery Championships U.S. Team Trials – Recurve. Stage 2 (of four will be held in conjunction with the Easton Foundations Gator Cup, which takes place later this month.
In the compound women’s division, 17-year-old Kaylee Gurney has continued the fine form which brought her gold at the Indoor Nationals Final, emerging as number one seed in front of reigning champion Olivia Dean and a whole host of talented archers, including Toja Ellison, Paige Pearce, Alexis Ruiz and Liko Arreola.
Silver medalists 12 months ago in the 50+ category included Kenneth Brunko (compound 50+ men) and Sharon Totton (compound 50+ women). They both enjoy a bye in the first round of eliminations as top seeds.
Diane Cochran, silver medalist to Cindy Czako last time out, has set the standard after finishing top after qualification in barebow women.
The senior gold medal matches in compound, barebow and recurve will be broadcast live on USA Archery’s YouTube channel from 2pm PST on Sunday.
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