With Three Returning All-Americans, Archery Coach Has High Hopes

If everyone stays healthy and shoots to his or her potential, the Pennsylvania College of Technology archery team should again be among the nation's elite.

After a best-ever third-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Outdoor Championships in 2003, the Wildcats fell to seventh last spring, due mainly to the fact that they were without their male recurve team. Going into this season, however, everything is in place and coach Chad Karstetter has high hopes.

When Penn College opens its season Jan. 29 at the Pennsylvania State Indoor Championships in Taylor, it will have three returning All-Americans in its lineup: senior Ryan Romberger of Pillow, junior Steve Liehr of Oakford and sophomore Michelle Wright of Kendall, N.Y.

Last season, Romberger, who is a two-time All-American, won the outdoor male compound championship while Liehr was third. Wright was fifth in the women's compound.

Also competing for the College in male compound are juniors John Mattivi (Southern Columbia) and Dustin Yocum (Morgantown), sophomores Jonas Glick (Lewistown), Ryan Benny (Burnham) and Nate Potteiger (Middletown), all returnees, and newcomers Jon Kay (junior/South Williamsport), Tom Klein (sophomore/Tamaqua) and Shawn Tappen (freshman/Wellsville).

After missing last season, junior Jason Kornbau (Red Lion) rejoins the male recurve team. Also returning are junior Rob McIntosh (Lockport, N.Y.) and sophomore Chris Adams (Pen Argyl).

Juniors Beth Robinson (Williamsport) and Karen Morse (Canton) and freshman Gwynne Buck (Milton) join Wright on the women's compound team.

Commenting on the male compound teamthat finished second nationally last spring, Karstetter said, "It should be pretty strong. With the experience of Romberger, Liehr and Benny, who finished fourth nationally in male compound, I believe they are going to do very well for us this year."

The College's women's compound team also finished second in the country a year ago its highest finish ever and Karstetter expects more of the same.

"With the experience they gained last year, hopefully they're going to give Texas A&M a run for its money this year," the fifth-year coach said.

"With Jason back, we're looking forward to having a team at nationals. Rob's a powerhouse for us, and Jason's not far behind. Chris is entering his second year and learned a lot over the summer and returns as a strong shooter," Karstetter said of his male recurve squad.

The difference between compound and recurve shooting, Karstetter said, is that a compound bow has a wheel, or cam, at the top and bottom of the bow to assist in drawing back a high-tension string. The string on a recurve bow connects directly to the limb, with no pulley system.

Although the Wildcats just started shooting together as a team this week, individually they have been practicing through the summer and fall.

"Our first two meets are right around the corner, so we have a lot to do in a short amount of time. We'll work on form and teach some of the newcomers what goes on during an event," the coach said.

This year, for the first time in four years, Penn College will host a major tournament the Eastern Regional Intercollegiate Archery Championship on April 22-24.