USA rebounds to win bronze in compound men’s team event

USA archers Braden Gellenthien, Kris Schaff and Reo Wilde won compound men’s team bronze on Friday at the first stage of the 2021 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Guatemala City. Following an upset loss against Colombia, 232-228, in the semifinals, they rebounded to defeat France’s Sebastien Peineau, Adrien Gontier and Quentin Baraer by four, 235-231, and salvage a spot on the podium.

“I think it took us a little bit of time to find what we’ve always had as a team,” Gellenthien said. “It’s been almost two years since we shot a team round together. Unfortunately, we had a bye the first round, so we didn’t have that tournament pressure, and we didn’t have any experience in the wind. They beat us in the first match, but we came together strong as a team, and it’s really nice when we’re all shooting our best.”

The two squads were tied after two ends – 59-59 after the first, and 116-116 after the second. The USA eventually found some separation with a full slate of 10s in the third, building a three-point lead that was extended by one in the last.

Having seeded top with a combined score of 2126, led by Gellenthien’s 711, the normally dominant USA would have been eyeing an appearing in Saturday’s final entering this event. There is dust in the cams and cables after the long competition hiatus – and it’s going to take some time for top squads to regain the comfort level required for international results.

“We always want to win, that’s why everybody comes here, to win a gold medal,” Schaff said. “We’ll be back in Switzerland and take back what’s ours.”

Colombia will take on Mexico in the gold medal match.

In the women’s event, Colombia collected compound team bronze with a 233-231 victory over El Salvador.

Nora Valdez – still in contention for the individual gold medal tomorrow – combined with Sara Lopez and Alejandra Usquiano to defeat Paola Corado, Sofia Paiz and Camila Alvarenga. The experienced Colombians, who were world champions back in 2017, were surprised by Mexico in the semfinals.

“We knew it was going to be a very strong match. We knew it because Mexico is a very strong team, we shot together in Monterrey and we won, and here they took the victory,” Lopez said.

“They shot very well, as well as the girls from El Salvador,” the five-time circuit champion continued. “We can see how much the competition level has gone up, which is something that makes us happy because that’s all we want – to see the women’s level at its best.”

The United States will face Mexico in the gold medal match.

The remaining compound team medal matches will be decided on Saturday morning in Guatemala City. In a change from the schedule of previous years, the early finals session now contains the men’s and women’s team gold medal matches, and the mixed team bronze and gold medal matches.