YANKTON, South Dakota – Two-time Olympic Medalist Vic Wunderle has one of the most impressive careers in U.S. archery history. He was named to the United States Archery team 25 times, with many National, World and Pan Am titles. In his outstanding years in USA Archery’s Collegiate Archery Program, Wunderle won many titles at Texas A&M University.
Still an active competitor, Wunderle is returning to the collegiate scene as Head Coach of the Mount Marty Lancers. The Mount Marty University archery team has access to train at the NFAA Easton Yantkon Archery Center, where Wunderle will also assist with programs.
Wunderle shared: “This is a great opportunity for me to be involved in the collegiate archery program as a coach. I was very fortunate to participate in this program under the amazing guidance of coaches like Frank Thomas and Kathy Eissinger.”
Wunderle’s favorite part of competing in collegiate archery was the comradery. “It was fun competing as a tight-knit team and I enjoyed the friendly rivalries with other great archery friends and teams. There are many collegiate archers who didn't seriously pick up the sport until college. More experienced archers have the opportunity to help encourage the newcomers, who in turn contribute valuable support and points to the team scores. Archery also helps build new friendships and lifelong bonds among new students away from home for the first time.”
Mount Marty, part of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) has both a club archery team and a varsity team that offers scholarships. A newer program, the school has already racked up strong finishes at USA Archery national events and brought home All-American and All-American Academic honors.
Emily Ricke, who will be a junior at Mount Marty this fall shared her excitement for the team’s new coach: "I love the idea of Vic coming to our team! I've had the great opportunity of working with his sister, Sally, who is also an archery coach. I have loved working with her in the past so I can't wait to see what the two of them can bring to Mount Marty! I think his experience and background as an Olympian will help our team learn and grow unlike any other. I can't think of any other program that has an Olympic medalist as a coach!"
On Wunderle’s greatest excitement about returning to the program as a coach, he shared: “Students go to school to become educated in new skills and create a better future for themselves and their families. This is a critical time for personal development, maturing into adults, and learning how to function in professional settings. Archery can contribute valuable skills towards this process. A good coach has the opportunity and ability to teach values and sow seeds that have a reach far beyond the archery field. My hope is to see students graduate as both better archers and better people. I am thankful for the opportunities and support others gave me, and I look forward to the chance to give something back.”
Learn more about USA Archery’s Collegiate Archery Program.
