All-Decade Team: Women's Archery

Williamsburg, KY – The UC Athletic Department has built a strong reputation as a premier school in the NAIA and over the past decade, the Patriots welcomed seven new programs, which has expanded its total number of sports offered to 30. The first of these additions was the UC Archery program, which began competition during the 2012-13 season and just completed its eighth year as a program. Over those eight seasons, the Patriots have built the program into a perennial powerhouse within the USCA and USA Archery winning nine national championships.  The Patriots' success has come in part of having a slew of talented archers that have garnered countless honors at both the conference and national level. The women’s archery team has recorded 3 USA Archery Shooters of the Year, 18 individual national titles, 52 individual podium finishes at nationals, countless team podium finishes at nationals, 62 All-American honors, 46 All-Conference honors, two MSC Shooters of the Year, and one MSC Freshman of the Year. With all of these accomplishments, the one athlete that represents the women’s archery team program on UC’S All-Decade Team is Courtnie Carr.

Carr is one of the most decorated athletes in program history and is the program’s all-time leader in individual national championships (4) and individual podium finishes (9). Carr is one of just four women’s archers to earn multiple national titles and one of just two to win at least three.  Carr is also tied for the program lead in silver medals with three. In addition to her individual success, Courtnie has reached the podium 12 times as part of the team rounds, including taking home the gold medal nine times. Carr also played a vital role in UC’s first two Mid-South Conference championships as she was a ten-time MSC All-Conference Shooter. In addition to her success on the range, Carr was an academic standout as was named an Archery Academic All-American three times. 

Carr was a standout from the moment she stepped foot on campus in the fall of 2015.  The Waddy, KY native reached the podium at all three national championships during her freshman campaign.  Carr opened her Patriot career finishing third in the women’s bowhunter division at the 2015 3D national championships while teaming with Ellie Yocum and Haley Haygood to earn gold in the women’s bowhunter team division to help the Patriots capture the 2015 3D National Championships.  She followed that up by finishing runner-up at indoor nationals, before earning a bronze medal at the 2016 Outdoor National Championships.  Carr capped off her freshman season by partnering with Caleb Kirby for mixed bowhunter and Nicole Nivison and Haygood in the women’s bowhunter team both of which recorded gold medals at outdoor nationals.

Courtnie continued to excel during her sophomore year as she played a key part in Cumberlands capturing their first triple crown in program history, winning all three national titles in the same year. At the 3D championships, Carr teamed with Yocum and McKenzie Gaines to repeat at champions in the women’s bowhunter team division.  While Carr saw individual success during her freshman year, she reached the pinnacle of the bowhunter division during her sophomore year when she earned gold at both the indoor and outdoor national championships.  In addition to her gold medal at the outdoor national championships, Carr partnered with Haygood and Samantha Rayburn to earn gold in the women’s bowhunter team division.  It was the third straight year that Cumberlands placed first in the women’s bowhunter division.

The 2017-2018 season saw Carr continue her success at the national level, in addition to setting the bar at the conference level as it marks archery’s first season as a Mid-South Conference sport. During the year, Courtnie captured six gold medals at nationals and nine all-conference honors. The junior began the year notching by setting a program-best 3D qualifying score of 407 at the Regional Championships.  Carr followed that up with a runner-up finish in women’s bowhunter and two gold medals at the MSC 3D Championships.  The Waddy, KY native successfully defended her women’s bowhunter national title at both the Indoor National Championships and the Outdoor National Championships. Carr was part of four gold medal teams across the three championships that season and helped Cumberlands to a pair of national titles in addition to winning the inaugural Mid-South Conference Championship.

After notching an already remarkable career, Courtnie senior season didn’t disappoint as she set two program records, four podium finishes, All-American honors for the fourth time in her career, and first-team all-conference honors.  Carr shot a 412 during qualifying of the 2018 national championships to set a program record and she added the program record for indoor by shooting 1181 later that year. Carr helped the Patriots captured the 2018 3D National Championships as she paired with Caleb Dixon to earn gold in the mixed bowhunter division.  Individually, Carr finished runner-up at both the 3D and Indoor Championships, while capturing a team silver medal at both the indoor and outdoor championships. Carr’s performance also aided in UC’s winning all three legs of MSC Championships for the second consecutive season. 

Carr graduated from UC in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Communication Arts. She went on to obtain her Masters in Business Administration in May 2020. Carr served as a volunteer coach for the UC Archery team during the 2019-2020 season and will begin the next stage of her career in the coming months.

The UC All-Decade Team was determined based on stats, awards & honors received, and significance to the program in addition to input for members of the UC Athletic Department. It will include one representative from every sport and be comprised of 29 student-athletes. The all-decade team looked at everything from the 2010-2011 season through the 2019-2020 season.