Students in the Y program excel in competition
(Oneida, NY)
Character Development is the focus of the YMCA’s “Character Development Through Archery Program,” which began in 2018. It was on full display at the NYFAB (New York Field Archers and Bow Hunters) Championships this weekend, held at the Mary Winder Center, Oneida Nation on Route 46 in Oneida.
The two-day NYS Championships draws interest and participation from around the State, this year being held for the first time at the new Center. The Oneida YMCA offered up its brand new, indoor range to serve as an official practice site for archers over the weekend. Several YMCA students either won their division or placed, while a few rose to the list of awardees who stood proudly on the podium. 17 year old archer and Whitesboro High School Student Averi Kraeger won the Young Adult Female Barebow division with a score of 420. Kraeger is a Junior Instructor at the Oneida Y. Kraeger was also the recipient of the Sal Cimbalo Memorial Scholarship, winning $500 for her studies. 11 year old archer Caden Lewin won the Cub Male Bareblow Recurve division with a total score of 504 for the weekend, the highest of all of the Y archery team. “Caden is an exceptional shooter. He is also an exceptional kid,” commented Hank Leo, Range Director and Coach. “He worked very hard to prepare for this tournament and it was his first. He even shot a Robin Hood,” Leo added. A “Robin Hood” is the term used when an archer shoots an arrow and the second shot splits the first arrow. “The fact that the first one was in the 10-ring and the next one split the nock is even more impressive,” Leo added.
Among the winners from the Y program were:
Hunter Crawford (Young Adult Female Barebow Recurve)
Nora Swan (Youth Female Barebow)
Caleb Mannix (Cub Male Barebow)
Pace Crawford (2nd Place, Cub Male Barebow)
Hank Leo (Silver Senior Male Traditional)
The Y team also participated in the NYFAB Indoor League, with the following:
Patsy Aversa (2nd Place, Adult Female Traditional)
Jon Chamberlin (2nd Place, Adult Male Barebow Recurve)
Amanda Chamberlin (1st Place, Adult Female Barebow Recurve)
Mike Kraeger (2nd Place, Senior Male Barebow)
Pauline Leo (1st Place, Senior Female Traditional)
Hank Leo (1st Place, Silver Senior Male Traditional)
Charlie Kline (1st Place, Master Senior Male Traditional)
Averi Kraeger (1st Place, Young Adult Female Barebow)
Hunter Crawford (1st Place, Youth Female Barebow)
Nora Swan (2nd Place, Youth Female Barebow)
Caden Lewin (3rd Place, Cub Male Freestyle)
Nora Swan (4th Place, Youth Female Barebow)
Caleb Mannix (1st Place, Cub Male Barebow)
Ian Gugnacki (2nd Place, Cub Male Barebow)
Pace Crawford (3rd Place, Cub Male Barebow)
Lillian Chamberlin (1st Place, Cub Female Barebow)
For their showing, the Y students raised $250 for their club, which will support the purchase of new equipment for the range. The YMCA thanks NYFAB, the parents, students and coaches for their hard work and dedication to the sport of archery.
About the YMCA: The YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley serves the greater Rome, Oneida and Whitesboro areas with programs and services for the whole family. We are a 501c3 charitable non-profit organization with two primary branches in Rome and Oneida and school-age childcare in the New Hartford area. The Y’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
