COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – World Archery Americas (WAA) has announced 12 regional tournaments for 2025, and the Technical Delegates at three of those will be from the United States in Curtis Balusek, Phil Graves and Robert Pian.
Balusek and Pian are also among 14 names listed by WAA as accredited to officiate at their world ranking events through 2026. Balusek is an international judge, as are Megan Tierney (who officiated at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris) and Andy Neville.
Jennifer Laux and Eric Davis are international candidates. Hannah Yi is a youth judge, with Pian, Leonardo Carrasco, Tracey Francis, Mandy Griego, Brent Harmon, Kristy Wapniarski and Wendy Whalen listed as continental judges. There are also two honorary judges from the USA, Tom Green and Marty Swanson.
Balusek will step in as Technical Delegate for the Pan American Field Championships in Mexico between October 1-5; Graves will be in Trinidad for the Caribbean Development Championships from October 23-26, with Pian at the Pan American Indoor Championships in Mexico between December 3-7.
For Balusek, like so many others, archery has been a lifelong passion. He said, “I have been in archery for over 30 years, first as an archer, then moved into judging in 2014. I received my continental accreditation in 2017, and my International Judge Candidate status in 2022.”
And he has certainly packed a lot into the last few years, working and/or assisting at Pan and Para Pan American Championship, World Cups, a World Cup Final, World Games, World Field Championships, Indoor World Cup Finals and a Pan American Field Championship.
There are a host of people that go into helping make a tournament a success. Field crew set up the event and keep things going. Results staff helps to ensure the event has a meaningful conclusion and record. Communications gets the word out to the archers and the world. Judges focus on tournament process and compliance. Leadership plans and then oversees the execution.
Many tournaments have transportation, lodging and catering as well as hospitality programs including vendors that are managed by event staff. There are awards, anti- doping, visas and more that all require attention.
“And then there is the role of the tournament Technical Delegate,” Pian (pictured) added. “They are focused on tournament success and focus on tournament success across the board.
“Behind the scenes the Technical Delegate makes sure that all the different tasks are completed and done so correctly.
“Depending on the needs, the Technical Delegate meets weekly to monthly leading up to the event.
“There is usually a site visit, and the Technical Delegate often arrives several days before the tournament to check and help and stays on well after the tournament to ensure that all the results and reports are completed and submitted.”
Balusek believes his recent experience with Field and engagement with World Archery Field (World Fields in '22 and '24, World Games '22, and PanAm Fields '23) made him an ideal candidate for what will be his first Technical Delegate role at next year’s PanAm Field Championships.
Admitting to feeling a little anxious, he outlined what he believes the role entails, “This person is responsible for bridging the gap between the Local Organizing committee (LOC) and the event personnel (judges/coaches/athletes/results/VIP/media/etc.).
“Their role is crucial in order to organize and orchestrate the logistics of the event, support the organizing committee, but also ensure the event has all the correct pieces in place to ensure a smooth and effective event is conducted in all manner aligned with world archery standards.”
If you are interested in becoming an archery judge, or taking that next step along the path, then the USA Archery Judge Certification Program promotes an international standard of event judging at all levels of competition within USA Archery.
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