The Solon middle school and high school archery teams qualified for the 2022 State Tournament, on Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. 86 students are out for archery, and each team can send 24 members to state. Those middle school and high school archers with the highest season average were invited to compete. The middle school team finished third in the state, out of 47 teams, and the high school team finished 23rd out of 40.
Individual accomplishments include Treven Wilcox finishing third in the state for middle school boys; Wilcox, Eli Cash, Justin Moore, Michael Bigelow and MJ Haege were in the top 15 percent for middle school boys; Miranda Simison, Evann Freerks, Audrey Mack and Ashley Farnsworth finished in the top 15 percent for middle school girls; Weston Steinbrech, Drew Johnson and Logan Bishop were in the top 15 percent statewide for high school boys; and Andi Billerbeck and Sophia Miles were in the top 15 percent for high school girls.
Top scorers at the State Tournament qualify for Nationals in Louisville, KY in May.
On a related note, Head Coach Gary Mechtensimer, who started the program in Solon over a decade ago, announced he is stepping down due to medical reasons. Steve Madura supplants Mechtensimer, accepting the position of head coach.
Under Mechtensimer, the program has grown from roughly a dozen student athletes to nearly 90.
State Archery Tournament Qualifiers
Middle School— Trevin Wilcox, Elijah Cash, Justin Moore, Evann Freerks, MJ Haege, Miranda Simison, Cora Sutton, Michael Bigelow, Mackenzie Craig, Ashley Farnsworth, Audrey Mack, Allen Shima, Bailey Madura, Levi Mann, Owen Rekers, Spencer Michels, Caden Stull, Jack Steinbrech, Owen Young, Porter Ball, Aaron Greco, Caden Brock, William McAtee, Ashley Nicholson, Magnus Miles, Madison Singbeil, Deacon Waddell and Preston Raasch.
High School— Sophia Miles, Andi Billerbeck, Drew Johnson, Weston Steinbrech, Braydon Hoffman, Ryan Bilskie, Landon Hummel, Logan Bishop, Brody Cash Mike Yeomans, Cole Winders, Madison Craig Owen Erusha, Evzen Meza, Gabe Nicholson, Kassandra Rummel, Lucy Miller, Jayden Merrick, Elaina Miller, Coy O’Haver, Pierce Cummings, Audrey Michels, Jack Hosking and Daniel Tearse.
Archers aiming for state
March 3, 2022
About the Contributor
Chris Umscheid, Editor
Chris Umscheid is the editor of the Solon Economist.