Foley, AL – The Cumberlands archery team took to the range notching 22 top-ten finishes, including having 11 scores ranked in the top five of their respective division on the opening day of the USA 3D National Championship Friday afternoon.  The Patriots have seven archers advance to tomorrow's individual shoot-offs, including a pair that finished the day leading their respective division.

UC place five archers in the top-ten of both the men's fixed pins division and the women's fixed pins division, while the Patriots had four of the top five qualifiers in the women's compound division.  The day was also highlighted by a trio of school records, all of which were surpassed by at least 12 points.

Freshman Jaden Taylor led the men's fixed pins division wire-to-wire today to hold the top-seed entering tomorrow's final shoot-off.  Taylor carded a 224 in the first round to hold a ten point lead and followed it up with a 220 to close out the day with a 444.  The Barbourville, KY native hit 22-12's on the day to hold the top spot by 16 points and broke the school record by 12 points.  Teammate Brandon Durham rallied in the second round with a 222, the highest score of the road, to be sitting in second place with a 428 including 17-12's.

Elliott Cross led a trio of top-ten finishers with a 420.  The senior placed sixth after connecting on 14-12's, while Connor Mullis and Hunter Larese finished seventh and eighth respectively, with 419 and 418 points. 

Just like Taylor in the men's fixed pins division, Madison Cox led the women's fixed pins division wire-to-wire to hold the top-seed.  The McKee, KY native stayed consistent throughout the day carding a 210 with 6-12's in both rounds to finish with a 420 and 12-12's.  Cox posted the two highest round of any archer in that division to put herself in position for her ninth career podium finish.  Her 420 is the fourth best qualifying score in program history. 

UC had four other archers post top-ten finishes, including Kaitlyn Shields who finished just off the podium in fourth place.  The senior notched a 405 and hit 12-12's to post her third consecutive top-five finish.  Newcomer Ela Smallacombe carded a 204 in the first round to propel her to a top-five finish after finishing with a 403 with 16-12's.  Cammie Shuman notched a seventh-place finish after recording a 395 with 10-12's, while Julia Shepherd finished one place back with a 388.

Tyler Woosley and Brianna Laux both shattered their respective school records and are sitting in second place of their respective division.  Woosley opened with a 179 and improved his score to a 193 in the second round to qualify second with a 372.  That score shattered the school record of 331, set by Jacob Stidham in 2019 and puts Woosley in position to become the first Patriots men's barebow archer to podium as an individual at a 3D National Championship. 

Laux is continuing her strong freshman campaign which has already included three gold medals at the MSC 3D Championship.  The Lowell, MI native tallied a 206 in the first round and followed it up with a 210 in round to finish with a 416, breaking the women's recurve record of 401. Teammates Lidia Quezada and Ceridwyn Salyers scored a 375 and 372, respectively, to finished ninth and tenth.

Cumberlands took four out of the top-five spots in the women's compound division.  The reigning 3D National Champion Hannah Moose stayed consistent carded a 214 in both rounds to close out the day with a 428 including 17-12's.  Brooke Miller notched a 218 in the first round to propel her to third place with a 425 hitting a team-best 20-12's.  Moose and Miller advance to tomorrow's individual shoot-downs and are in position for their fourth and seventh individual national podium finish.

Marissa Harding and Amanda Newland were the other duo that posted top-five finishes.  Harding placed fourth with a 425, including 20-12's, after opening the day with a 222 in the first round.  Newland tallied a career-best score of 424 to notch her first career top-five finish at a national championship.  The Douglasville, PA native carded a 216 in the second round to help her climb into the top-five.

Four other UC archer notched top-ten finishes on the day.  Fresh off a runner-up finish at the MSC Championships, Elijah Crawford tallied a 356 with 6-12's to place sixth in the men's barebow division.  The junior posted a career-best score as his 356 is also the second highest score in program history.  Jacob Starnes placed sixth in the men's compound division finishing with a 450.  In the men's recurve division Jacob Valentini and Reed Goodpaster finished tied after the both carded a 410, however, Valentini placed ninth with the tie-breaker.

Cumberlands will return to the range tomorrow for the final day of competition at the USA 3D Archery National Championships.  Saturday's schedule will include the finals of the individual shoot-downs, team rounds, and mixed disciplinary event. 

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