DAVID VS. GOLIATH: UDA ARCHERS STUN NATIONAL COMPETITION IN LOUISVILLE

LOUISVILLE, KY – The Upper Dauphin Area (UDA) archery program proved this weekend that size is no substitute for precision. Competing in the NASP 2026 Eastern National Bullseye and Centershot Tournaments, the "small school from Central PA" went toe-to-toe with athletic powerhouses three times their size, returning home with top-tier rankings that have shocked the national circuit.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: THE CENTERSHOT TOURNAMENT

The weekend kicked off with a dominant showing in the Arrows Centershot Tournament. The UDA Middle School team delivered a powerhouse performance, securing a 2nd place national finish with a collective score of 1688.

Leading the middle school charge was Ella Margerum, whose score of 286 earned her 9th place individually. She was bolstered by a disciplined squad including Jase Calnon (18th), Kaleb Weaver (19th), and Lukas Mauser (26th).

The High School team was equally impressive, firing a score of 1691 to secure 10th place. Olivia Kohler stood out among the elite, clinching 3rd place overall with a score of 291, while Ethan Kiesling delivered a strong 35th-place finish with a 288.

SATURDAY: BATTLE OF THE BULLSEYE

The scale of competition reached its peak on Saturday as a staggering 14,841 archers from 997 schools descended upon Louisville. In this massive field, UDA’s Middle School placed 17th out of 249 schools with a score of 3265. Ella Margerum continued her hot streak, shooting a personal best of 291 to take 11th place.

The UDA High School team finished the Bullseye event with a total score of 3326, ranking 49th out of 262 schools. Olivia Kohler once again showcased her national-level talent, placing 17th overall with a 291.

BY THE NUMBERS: THE GIANT KILLERS

To understand the magnitude of these achievements, one must look at the population gap. UDA, a school of approximately 1,000 students, competed against "Goliath" schools with student populations exceeding 3,000.

In divisions where each archer was shooting against an average of 2,600 other competitors, UDA managed to land three archers in the top 35:

• Ella Margerum: 11th Place

• Olivia Kohler: 17th Place

• Ethan Kiesling: 35th Place

THE FINAL STATS

• Total Archers: 14,841

• Gender Split: 7,247 Females / 7,594 Males

• Total Schools: 997

As the 2026 season draws to a close, the UDA archers return to Central Pennsylvania to reflect on a historic run. They have proven that they don't just belong on the national stage—they belong at the top of it.