Citrus Archery Club Members Stand Out in May Tourneys

May was a busy month for the Citrus Archery Club. The organization competed in a handful of events, including the Citrus Archery 2024 Spring League and the FAA Central Florida Regional Championship (May 18). The spring league was eight weeks long and concluded with awards on May 11. One of the events took members as far as Gainesville to test their skills.

Of the seven participants who made the two-hour trek to the archery championship in Gainesville, five placed first in their respective divisions, while the other two placed second and third in theirs. The members-only, family-oriented club did more than just compete. The club’s president, David Ireland, congratulates all of his competitors who attended this year’s Florida State Archery Association Annual Field Archery Championships on May 4 and 5 in north Florida. “Way to go guys!”

Florida State Archery Association Annual Field Archery Championship Results:
Rick Hickey – 3rd Adult Male Freestyle
Dave Ireland – 2nd Senior Male Freestyle
Bekem Papa – 1st Youth Male Freestyle
Kaleb Ayala – 1st Club Under 12 Male Freestyle
Nikolai Kaleschenko – 1st Youth Male Bowhunter Freestyle Limited
Gina Regazzi – 1st Youth Female Freestyle
Vera Regazzi – 1st Young Adult Female Freestyle
Citrus Archery 2024 Spring League Results (Score):
Dave Ireland – 1st Freestyle (2399)
Bryan Diaz – 2nd Freestyle (2389)
Pat Herbert – 3rd Freestyle (2382)
Scott Stewart – 1st Traditional/Barebow (2342)
Ellie Parker – 2nd Traditional/Barebow (1110)
Bekem Papa – 1st Youth Freestyle (2403)
Kaleb Diaz – 2nd Youth Freestyle (2106)
Vera Regazzi – 3rd Youth Freestyle (1771)
Most Improved: Bekem Papa and Pat Herbert
FAA Central Florida Regional Championship Results (Score):
Dave Ireland – 1st Freestyle (441)
Pat Herbert – 2nd Freestyle (370)
James Holmes – 3rd Freestyle (355)
Scott Stewart – 1st Traditional (353)
Bekem Papa – 1st Youth Freestyle (366)

The club’s archers emerged victorious in the FAA State Indoor Championships that took place earlier this year as well. Four of their members took the gold over that weekend: Christopher Nagy, Lilli Posey, James Miller, and Bekem Papa. The Citrus Archery Club also recently held the 4H Championship, with Kaleb Ayala taking the top spot. Archers Eucebia Quintana and Shelby Marshall took second and third, respectively.

Ireland and company will be participating in a variety of competitions moving into the summer months. In June, the organization will be holding its third annual Summer Youth Days program on the first. It will begin at 8 a.m. and take place on each Saturday of the month until June 29.

The club president’s goal for the June event is to have 50 youths attend and to get 10 sponsors, which is a goal that Ireland notes is “almost there.” The first hour will be getting the attendees signed up and the festivities should be happening in full by 10 that morning. The Citrus Archery Club is always excited to have more young Hernando residents come out and discover the joys of archery.