Madisonville, KY – The UC archery team totaled 205 points and 20 podium finishes en route to winning the 2023 Mid-South Conference indoor title Sunday afternoon at the Western Kentucky Archery Center.  Cumberlands recorded a competition best nine gold medals, including Madison Cox, Kennedy Sumpter, and Tyler Woosley capturing individual titles.

"This teams continues to impress and showcase they depth and determination," said Head Coach Kris Strebeck.  "They have worked hard to accomplish these goals and it continues to be a complete team effort."

Madison Cox went 4-0 en route to capturing the gold medal in women's fixed pins.  After winning her opening round match, the senior won a one-arrow shoot-off against Brooke Fannin (Pikeville) to advance to the semifinals.  Cox edged out Kimber Wheeler in the semifinals to advance to the gold medal match against Kaitlyn Shields, in a rematch of last year's final.  The McKee, KY native carded a 30 in three ends to finish atop the podium 148-146.  Shields, who entered as the second-seed, tallied at least a 146 in each of her first three rounds to advance to the championship match.

Julia Shepherd and Wheeler also scored points for the Patriots after squaring off in the bronze medal match.  After winning her opening match, Shepherd knocked off third-seed Anna Krampe (Lindsey Wilson) 146-142 to reach the semifinals.  The sophomore notched a 144-140 win in the bronze medal match to complete the podium sweep.

With three clean sweeps and only surrendering three points the entire day, Tyler Woosley successfully defended his MSC men's barebow conference title.  Entering as the top-seed, the Leitchfield, KY native won his first two matches 6-0.  He than took down Nathan Bush (Lindsey Wilson) 7-3 in the semifinals before defeating third-seed Kyle Sturgill (Pikeville) 6-0 in the championship match. 

In the women's barebow division, Kennedy Sumpter notched a perfect 4-0 record to claim conference honors.  The sophomore cruised to the semifinals with a pair of 6-0 victories.  In the semifinals, Sumpter faced Sierra Gray and with the match tied 4-4, the Cynthiana, KY took the fifth end 23-21 to advance to the finals.  In the gold medal match, Sumpter rallied to win the second and fourth end for a 6-4 win over second-seed Ally Collinsworth (Pikeville).

After earning the top-seed in the women's compound division Marissa Harding tallied a 3-1 record and captured a runner-up finish.  Harding won each of her first two matches by six points.  The Vestal, NY native edged out fifth-seed Ashley Coffing (Union) 144-143, to reach her second gold medal match this season.  Harding closed out as the runner-up after dropping the gold medal match 144-142.

Cumberlands had a pair of archers earn points in both the men's and women's recurve division.  Brianna Laux notched a silver medal on the women's side after she defeated Olivia Hale (Pikeville) in the semifinals 6-4.  Laux as now podiumed in the first two phases of the MSC championship this season.  Whitney Vandiver finished fourth to earn five points.
In men's recurve Jacob Valentini squared off with Kevin Wilkerson in the bronze medal match with Valentini coming from behind to win the last two ends for a 6-4 win.  Wilkerson knocked off third-seed Christian Blair 7-3 in the quarterfinals to earn points for Cumberlands. 

A pair of Patriot archers scored in the men's fixed pins division.  Colton Caudill, who entered as the 11^th-seed, earned a podium finish after earning the bronze medal.  The freshman won a one-arrow shoot-off over sixth-seed Elliott Cross to open the day.  In the quarterfinals, Caudill took down three-seed Hunter Larese in a one-arrow shoot-off, before he defeated fifth-seed Matthew England 144-141 in the bronze medal match.  England finished 2-2 on the day to place fourth and earn five points for UC.

Cole Zeug notched a fourth place finish in men's compound to be the top Cumberlands finisher.  Entering as the fifth-seed Zeug notched a win before knocking off fourth-seed Daniel Carlton 147-144 to advance to the semifinals. 

After earning the top-seed both the women's fixed pins and women's compound teams placed atop the podium.  The trio of Cox, Shields, and Wheeler dropped two points in each of their two matches en route to capturing the gold.  The trio defeated Pikeville 238-218 in the finals to earn ten points. 

Marissa Harding teamed with Amanda Newland and Jazmine Trinidad to finish atop the podium in the women's compound division.  The trio knocked off Lindsey Wilson in the semifinals before defeating Union 234-230 in the finals.

In the final round of the event, Cumberlands had their men's barebow team and women's recurve team post first place finishes.  The trio of Jonathan Morris, Elijah Crawford, and Woosley earned gold in men's barebow, while top-seed Laux, Ceridwyn Salyers, and Vandiver finished atop the women's recurve team podium.

UC's men's compound team and men's recurve team posted a runner-up finish, while the women's barebow team notched a bronze medal. 

Cumberlands has now won the first two legs of the MSC championship to extend their lead overall to four points.  Pikeville finished runner-up, while Lindsey Wilson earned a third place finish. 

The Patriots will return to Madisonville, KY on February 15-17 for USA Indoor National Championship.

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