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NFAA News
Nov 24, 2025
William Carey University Wins Inaugural 2025 Collegiate Cup Invitational
The inaugural 2025 Collegiate Cup Invitational brought student-athletes from across the country together in a four-week virtual format. Running from October 13 to November 15, the event allowed teams to compete remotely while maintaining a standardized structure, scoring system, and a virtual head-to-head finale. The top two teams earned personalized pennants for their clubs, and the first-place team received a $500 scholarship to support program expenses.
Five collegiate teams from across the nation participated in the event, including William Carey University (MS), Muskingum University (OH), Pennsylvania College of Technology (PA), Michigan State University (MI), and Mount Marty University (SD).
The qualification session unfolded in two phases. Archers completed two NFAA 300 Rounds during the first two weeks and two Vegas 300 Rounds in weeks three and four. Though each school could register an unlimited number of archers, the team total only counted scores from the top archer in each of the four disciplines: Freestyle, Freestyle Limited Recurve, Bowhunter Freestyle, and Barebow Recurve. This format emphasized team depth across equipment styles, with only the top two teams advancing to the virtual finals.
The finals were the tournament’s highlight, run in a head-to-head format on the Vegas 3-spot target. Each team selected one archer from each discipline to represent their school in the all-new virtual team round. BBR and FSLR archers shot ends one and three, while FS and BHFS athletes took ends two and four. With a two-minute clock per end and a maximum of 240 points, every arrow mattered.
The championship match between William Carey University and Muskingum University delivered a high-energy showdown. William Carey University claimed the Collegiate Cup title with a decisive 223–205 victory, earning the championship pennant and $500 team scholarship. View highlights from the virtual match!
Members of the winning team shared their experience. Emmie Purcell gushed, “The Collegiate Cup was a great virtual experience! It showcased what was possible in virtual tournaments for archers who either cannot travel or who want something fun in between in-person tournaments. It was a fun way to jumpstart the indoor season and practice shoot-offs. I would definitely participate again!” Elias Reyes continued, “I really enjoyed being part of this Collegiate Cup. It gave me the opportunity to feel that tournament rush while shooting in my University! It was also very fun to shoot alongside my teammates even though we were all from different bow classes.”
Beyond the scores, the 2025 Collegiate Cup Invitational showcased the value of hybrid and virtual formats, allowing teams to compete nationally from their home ranges. The multi-week structure promoted consistency, discipline, and team cohesion, while the finals added the excitement of a true championship. As the event continues to evolve, the NFAA is expanding participation, supporting collegiate clubs, and refining competition formats, demonstrating how flexible and competitive structures help programs grow and athletes excel.