Local archer headed to world championships

KHS senior will compete with mostly pro women

By April Corwin, For the Gazette
Posted 7/17/24

KEMMERER — Maddy Ritter, a Kemmerer High School Student, is on her way to the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships in Mokrice, Slovenia. She is one of three women from the U.S. who will …

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Local archer headed to world championships

KHS senior will compete with mostly pro women

Kemmerer High School senior Maddy Ritter takes aim during a competition in London, Kentucky. She’s been chosen to compete in the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships in Mokrice, Slovenia.
Kemmerer High School senior Maddy Ritter takes aim during a competition in London, Kentucky. She’s been chosen to compete in the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships in Mokrice, Slovenia.
(COURTESY PHOTO)
Posted

KEMMERER — Maddy Ritter, a Kemmerer High School Student, is on her way to the 2024 World Archery 3D Championships in Mokrice, Slovenia. She is one of three women from the U.S. who will represent the USA team.

Ritter has been shooting archery since she was 13 years old.

“I started archery because of hunting,” Ritter said. She just recently shot a bear with her bow and has harvested other big game, including elk, deer, antelope and a mountain lion. She started shooting 3D and liked it so much she decided to shoot indoor archery tournaments.

At the world competition — starting Sept. 30 and ending on Oct. 6 — Ritter will shoot as an individual to make the qualification rounds and then will compete as a team with the other qualifiers.

“She will be competing with mainly pro women,” Maddy’s father and coach, Brett Ritter, said. “This world competition is held every two years, with 11-12 countries competing.”

Brett will be able to go in the competition with Maddy because he is a certified Level 2 USA coach. Otherwise, spectators are not allowed until the final competition.

“I’m really excited to go because it’s a level I’ve never competed at before,” said Maddy.

To prepare for the world competition, she plans to practice every day and she’s planning a workout routine. Part of her practice includes judging the range yardage. She must do her best to determine how far away her target is away. She sets her sights for the yardage and then hits her target.

Maddy will be a senior in high school this year. She also works at the Kemmerer Recreation Center and teaches archery classes there during the school year. Next week, she will be teaching a three-day archery camp for youth ages 8-12 at the Kemmerer Rec Center. She has a Level 1 USA coach credential. 

She said her future goals are to go to college on a scholarship and to become a factory staff pro shooter during college.

“My goal is to have a bow manufacture paying me to shoot,” Maddy said.

Three weeks ago, Maddy received an offer of a full ride scholarship to Southeastern Illinois College.

“She has a folder full of scholarship offers that she’s received in the last two years of competing,” Brett Ritter said.

Although Maddy has some sponsors, she will need to pay for all of her travel expenses and entry fees to attend the world championships. She is currently holding a raffle fundraiser and will hold a 3D shoot competition fundraiser at the Kemmerer Lions Club Park next month. The shooting competition is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 10-11.