Chula Vista, CA - USA Archery has conducted its first-ever selection camp for the Junior Dream Team (JDT), a program developed to bridge the gap between Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) and the Resident Athlete Program in an effort to fast track 12-18 year old archers who show early potential.
The selection camp, held at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center, was used to fill 10 open team member positions and 5 alternate positions; the alternates will be used to fill 2011 spots as members graduate from the team. The new team members and alternates are:
New JDT Members:
Jeremiah Cusick (Scandia, MN - Rapids Archery JOAD) - Cadet
Jake Ohlendorf (Chula Vista, CA - Roadrunner Archery Club JOAD) - Bowman
Jenna Kim Ahn (Coto de Caza, CA - Joy Lee Archery Academy) - Bowman
Collin Klimtchek (Victoria, TX - South Texas Archery JOAD) - Cub
Alyssa Posecion (San Antonio, TX - Austin JOAD Archers) - Cadet
Dillon McMenamy (Smithtown, NY - Proline Archery JOAD) - Cub
Stephanie Kim (Fullerton, CA - Joy Lee Archery Academy) - Cub
LaNola Pritchard (Lehl, UT - Datus Nock-Offs JOAD) Cadet
Hunter Conley (Newbury Park, CA - Conejo Valley Archers JOAD) - Bowman
Nancy Kim (Broomfield, CO - Untouchables JOAD) - Cub
Alternates:
Dugan Denton (Joliet, MT - Utah Hotshots JOAD) - Cub
Clayton Gregory (Bartlett, TN - Virtual JOAD) - Cub
Eliot Simon (Sayville, NY - Smith Point JOAD) - Cadet
Andrew Mateo (Chandler, AZ - Paseo Vista Archery Club JOAD) - Cub
Daniel Cunningham (San Diego, CA - Roadrunner Archery Club JOAD) - Cadet
Selection for the 10 open and 5 alternate positions was based on both quantitative criteria such as camp FITA score, physical fitness and competition experience, and qualitative criteria such as the archer's grasp of the National Training System (NTS), progress at camp with NTS, work ethic, motivation and positive attitude.
The coaching team evaluating the archers consisted of coaches Steve Caufman, Terry Laney, Alex Meyer, Guy Krueger and Linda Beck. National Head Coach Kisik Lee provided guidance to the coaching team. He also interviewed each candidate individually. The schedule for this selection camp consisted of a half-day of practice, a one-day full FITA round, two days of coaching, which included physical fitness testing. Archers were divided into groups, and worked with all selection camp coaches over two days.
"Overall this was a very talented group of archers," noted Elite Coach Linda Beck, JDT Coach and member of the USA Archery Board of Directors. "It was very difficult for the Coaching Team to select ten new members and five alternates. My sincere congratulations go out to all 25 archers trying out for the team. They all worked very hard at camp."
Prior to attending camp, all archers were provided with a packet of information including JDT Determination and Commitment letter, which outlined the expectations for each team member. Athletes commit to attending a certain number of Junior USAT tournaments, attending JDT training camps, show continuing technical progress in their shooting form, and display exemplary sportsmanship and respect to others at all times, along with meeting practice and physical fitness requirements while at home.
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