3 minute read
Going for Gold
By Stacey Walters
- Anna Scarbrough
University of Pikeville (UPIKE) freshman Anna Scarbrough recently took her archery skills to the international arena and competed on Team USA at the World Archery Youth Championships in Madrid, Spain.
Scarbrough’s love for archery began during childhood, in Arnoldsville, Ga., after she joined the archery 4-H program. She spent countless hours practicing and developing her skills, which lead her to start competing at age 13.
“Once I got started, I immediately fell in love with the sport,” said Scarbrough. “I love the feeling of shooting the bow and having the arrow go exactly where I aimed it.”
Anna’s mother, Joy Scarbrough, has always taken her to tournaments and has gained an appreciation for the sport over the last six years. “I saw Anna’s potential in the sport at a very young age,” said Joy. “She is really good at it.”
Scarbrough’s drive and determination helped her to advance into higher levels of competition.
When visiting colleges and choosing where to enroll, UPIKE was the most suitable fit for Scarbrough, and she immediately joined the university’s archery team. “I am very excited to be a part of the archery team at UPIKE,” said Scarbrough. “Everyone on the team is friendly and supportive.”
Head Coach Shane Hurt is pleased Scarbrough chose UPIKE to further her education as well as her archery career. Hurt said he immediately recognized her tremendous talent and outstanding work ethic.
“Anna is a terrific asset to UPIKE archery. She is very competitive and wants to win,” said Hurt. “I am looking forward to big things from her and the rest of our team in the future.”
This year, she has received first place in the Junior Olympic Archery Development, Outdoor National Championships and the Southern California Showdown event of the U.S. Team Trials for the World Archery Youth Championships. She also received third place in the Outdoor World Youth Team Trials and the 2019 Gator Cup, among other awards.
Scarbrough was named to Team USA’s Women’s Compound Team for the World Archery Youth Championship in June 2019 and traveled to Madrid to compete. Team USA’s squad featured incredible depth and talent and competed against other young archers from around the globe.
Scarbrough was one of three female Americans who competed in the junior women’s category during the championships against archers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Great Britain, India, Italy, Russia and Spain.
During the top-10 qualifiers, Scarbrough and her USA compound teammates, Savannah Vanderwier and Alexis Ruiz, were solid in first place, advancing them to the final round.
“It’s a situation where there is more pressure,” said Scarbrough. “I find it easier having the support of a team while on stage competing.”
The USA trio caught the lines they needed against Russia in the final round, clinching the win for the gold medal.
“The World Youth Championships was an amazing experience,” added Scarbrough. “Madrid was beautiful, but the best parts are the friends and memories I have made along the way.”
Beyond her interest in archery, Scarbrough has an even broader path for her future. She plans to major in accounting while at UPIKE and aspires to combine her archery career with money management to begin an archery organization.
Scarbrough believes to be successful you must be persistent and see yourself as the person you want others to see.
“Be bold,” said Scarbrough. “If you want to receive the success you are looking for, work hard. You must dig deeper than you believe you can to achieve your goals.”
