Two SIC Archers to Compete in Las Vegas

Southeastern Illinois College’s Eli Bond of Galatia and Isaiah Conkle of Cave in Rock will be traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada Feb. 8-10 to shoot the Vegas Shoot. Bond will also compete for his chance to win a national title at the US Collegiate Archery Association’s (USCA) and National Field Archery Association’s (NFAA) national indoor collegiate championships.

The Vegas Shoot, known as the largest and most prestigious indoor archery tournament in the World, attracts over 3,500 novice to Olympic archers from around the Globe and includes 3-intense days of no error competition. The weekend competition includes the traditional 3-spot 20-yard “Vegas Round” that made this tournament famous.

To qualify for the collegiate portion of the Vegas Shoot, the competitors had to make top eight in their division for all of the USCA regional shoots combined. These shoots were held in New Mexico, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Bond competed at the regional in Madisonville, Kentucky earlier this month and was ranked #3 in the nation by USCA.

“Eli and Isaiah are two excellent archers,” said Head Archery Coach, Alli Armstrong. “Both are very capable of bringing home gold at the national level. The competition at Vegas will be tough but they have everything it takes to succeed. Calm nerves, consistency, and dedication is what will win this shoot.”

Bond and Conkle were part of the gold medal-winning men’s collegiate bow hunter team at the USA Archery National 3D event in Alabama. That competition took place in October.

USA Archery is the national governing body for the Olympic sport of archery and is the organization recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee for the purpose of selecting and training men’s and women’s teams to represent the U.S. in the Olympic, Paralympic, and Pan American Games. USA Archery also selects teams for World Championships, World Cups, and other international competitions annually.

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