The Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, PA played host to the largest Lancaster Archery Classic to date, with nearly 1,500 archers in attendance. Of those participants, four Elite Archery shooters earned podium finishes: Chance Beaubouef, Jillian Ballangee, Dee Wilde and Junior Sizemore.
Beaubouef, shooting the new Echelon 39 for Elite, endured round after round of incredible archery that earned him a second seed into the top eight brackets. He shot through some of the world’s best, and prevailed through a heartbreaking misfire during match play with Paul Tedford which landed him in third place and ended his impressive winning streak in the Men’s Open Pro division.
“Lancaster being my first tournament of the year I was a little nervous to see how I would handle my nerves and perform under pressure – I honestly couldn’t be happier with how my equipment is performing and I couldn’t have asked for more of the Echelon 39,” said Beaubouef. “I’m definitely going to focus on all the positive from this past weekend, learn from my mistakes and focus on Vegas.”
“Chance’s ability to bounce back and deliver consistent X’s after a misfire is a true testament to his ability, fortitude and character,” said Darrin Christenberry, Elite Archery pro staff manager. “The entire Elite team is proud of Chance for his performance and we’re excited to see him compete in Las Vegas in a couple weeks.”
In her first season as a pro, Jillian Ballangee showcased a solid performance in the Women’s Open Pro and earned a third-place finish.
"The Lancaster Classic was my first big tournament in the Pro Division which made it much ore nerve-wracking and exciting, knowing that I'd be competing against som eof the top female pros in the industry," Ballangee said. "My Victory 37 was super forgiving all weekend - even on some of my weaker shots when I got nervous. Having confidence in my setup helped me get through my elimination matches and shoot even higher scores than I did in qualification."
Other notable wins from Team Elite were archery-industry-veteran Dee Wilde’s first place finish in the Senior Open, and Junior Sizemore’s second place triumph in the Men’s Open.
"What a wonderful time at the Lancaster Classic competing along with my sons," Wilde said. "How often can you win a tournament with a bow directly out of the box. My Elite bow did just that."
“The Lancaster Archery Classic has become one of my favorite indoor tournaments, as it offers both great competition and great vendors," said Sizemore. "I really prefer the format in which this tournament is scored, but my Elite Victory 37 was key in my success for this event. I was proud to steadily climb the brackets, and know I represented Elite well.”
“It’s always a treat to watch the Wilde family compete, and just as much so to see athletes like Jillian on the rise, and a newcomer in Sizemore impress through this tough competition,” Christenberry said. “Elite Archery proves time and time again that its product line is made for every compound archer at every level.”