After a highly successful World Cup Series and presently ranking 15th in the world representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, Nicholas D’Amour earned a silver medal (Senior Male Recurve Division – 70 meters) at the 2022 United States Archery Team (USAT) Buckeye Classic in Dublin, Ohio, against the best archers in the United States. The Buckeye Classic is part of USAT Qualifier Series. USAT established in 1982, consists of the top ranked male and female recurve, compound and barebow archers in the country. United States Archers earn national ranking points at USAT Qualifier Series events, all in an effort to earn one of four spots on the National team that competes internationally.
At the Buckeye Classic, on July 30, D’Amour qualified 6th with a score of 665, giving him a number 6 seed going into the eliminations the following day. As a number 6 seed, he faced Tristan Jones in the first round, winning 6-0. In the second round Nicholas beat Anthony Marino 6-0. In the third round he faced Shelby Hofmaster and again beat his opponent 6-0.
In the quarterfinals, the competition stiffened when he faced the number 3 seed and number 4 ranked archer on the USA national team. He beat Joonsuh Oh 6-5 in a one arrow shoot-off, with D’Amour scoring a 10 and Oh scoring a 9. This set up a semi-final match against Jack Williams, the number 2 seed and number 2 ranked archer on the USA national team and reigning World Cup Champion.
D’Amour beat Williams convincingly in a high scoring 7-3 match. He then faced a surprise competitor to the finals Jackson Mirach, presently the number 5 ranked archer on the USA team. In a close match against Mirach, who had a hot hand in the eliminations, D’Amour had to settle for a silver medal. Brady Ellison the number one ranked USA archer and number 6 in the world, was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
This silver medal for D’Amour is his second USAT podium against the best in the United States. He won a Bronze medal at the Gator Cup in 2020. This is his second USAT podium in as many tries. In this competition, the United States had several former Olympians, including Justin Huish, a two-time Olympian, who has two gold medals and one silver medal, Victor Wunderle and Brady Ellison an Olympic silver medalist.
Also representing the Virgin Islands, Bruce Arnold qualified number 17 in the Master Male Recurve division, out of 22 of the best competitors in the United States. Bruce did not advance out of the first round. Both D’Amour and Arnold used the Buckeye Classic as a warm up for the Copa Merenge in Santo Domingo next month, which will be the last qualifier for the 2023 Central American Caribbean (CAC) Games.
The Virgin Islands will be attempting to qualify a men’s team and/or a men’s individual quota position as well as an individual woman’s quota position in Santo Domingo. The Virgin Islands will be sending Anne Abernathy, Tatyana Muntyan, Bruce Arnold, Michael Gerard and Nicholas D’Amour to compete for qualifying positions at the CAC Games.
