Derek Davis to Lead U.S. Team at World Archery Event in Taipei
7/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Archery
Columbia head coach Derek Davis, quickly becoming a national figure in American collegiate archery, has been selected as one of three people to lead the United States team at the World University Archery Championships. The major tournament will be held July 7-10 at Chang Jung Christian University in Tainan, Chinese Taipei.
Davis has been designated the Team Leader of the American team. As such, he is responsible for all logistical aspects of the trip, serving as the official liaison and administrator. He will work with the two coaches, Sheri Rhodes of Stanford and Bill Cody of Texas A&M. He also was chosen to accompany a U.S. team last season, serving as assistant coach to Rhodes with the Collegiate International Team at a world-ranking event in Valencia, Venezuela.
"I was honored last year to be selected as assistant coach to Sheri Rhodes for the trip to Venezuela," Davis says. "This year, I'm even more honored to be selected as Team Leader for the U.S. team in the World University Championships. While the responsibility is huge, I'm up for it 100% and extremely excited."
Davis admits to a feeling of shock the first time he learned everything the Team Leader would have to do.
"I was a little overwhelmed at first. Not that I didn't think I could do it, but the scope of everything was so broad. From knowing the international rules and representing an athlete in a dispute to being responsible for bringing a cassette with our national anthem.
"Now that it has all settled in, though, I'm confident things will go well."
The presence of the two coaches, Rhodes and Cody, has helped ease Davis's transition.
"I have to say it's a comfort to be teamed with two great coaches," he noted. "Sheri has been somewhat of a mentor for me and Bill was one of the instructors in my Level 3 coaching certification training at Lake Placid. We're all experienced, level-headed and resourceful. This is a good staff."
Davis also is impressed with the 12 members of the American team. He is particularly familiar with the six women, all of whom have faced the Lions in national competition.
The team is made up of current college athletes and those who are no more than one year out of college, such as Stephanie Miller, Columbia's two-time All-America who graduated in 2007 as possibly the Lions' all-time best shooter.
"I'm very happy to be reunited with Stephanie," Davis said. "USA Archery designated the recent U.S. Intercollegiate Championships as a qualifying event for the World University Championships, so Stephanie shot with us in the FITA round. We were rooting for her to make the team." Miller had spent most of the preceding year training and trying out for the Olympic Team. She finished fifth in the Olympic Trials, just short of making the Team.
The World University Championships Team:
Women's Recurve
Annette Gorelik, Harvey Mudd
Danielle McCullough, Westminster (Pa.)
Stephanie Miller, Columbia
Men's Recurve
Jeff Anderson, Washington
Tim Meyers, Texas A&M
Dakota Sinclair, Arizona State
Women's Compound
Erika Anschutz, Miami (Ohio)
Jessica Fasula, James Madison
Brittany Lorenti, James Madison
Mens Compound
Steve Gatto, Atlantic Cape
Jed Greshock, James Madison
Stephen Schwade, South Carolina
Davis has been designated the Team Leader of the American team. As such, he is responsible for all logistical aspects of the trip, serving as the official liaison and administrator. He will work with the two coaches, Sheri Rhodes of Stanford and Bill Cody of Texas A&M. He also was chosen to accompany a U.S. team last season, serving as assistant coach to Rhodes with the Collegiate International Team at a world-ranking event in Valencia, Venezuela.
"I was honored last year to be selected as assistant coach to Sheri Rhodes for the trip to Venezuela," Davis says. "This year, I'm even more honored to be selected as Team Leader for the U.S. team in the World University Championships. While the responsibility is huge, I'm up for it 100% and extremely excited."
Davis admits to a feeling of shock the first time he learned everything the Team Leader would have to do.
"I was a little overwhelmed at first. Not that I didn't think I could do it, but the scope of everything was so broad. From knowing the international rules and representing an athlete in a dispute to being responsible for bringing a cassette with our national anthem.
"Now that it has all settled in, though, I'm confident things will go well."
The presence of the two coaches, Rhodes and Cody, has helped ease Davis's transition.
"I have to say it's a comfort to be teamed with two great coaches," he noted. "Sheri has been somewhat of a mentor for me and Bill was one of the instructors in my Level 3 coaching certification training at Lake Placid. We're all experienced, level-headed and resourceful. This is a good staff."
Davis also is impressed with the 12 members of the American team. He is particularly familiar with the six women, all of whom have faced the Lions in national competition.
The team is made up of current college athletes and those who are no more than one year out of college, such as Stephanie Miller, Columbia's two-time All-America who graduated in 2007 as possibly the Lions' all-time best shooter.
"I'm very happy to be reunited with Stephanie," Davis said. "USA Archery designated the recent U.S. Intercollegiate Championships as a qualifying event for the World University Championships, so Stephanie shot with us in the FITA round. We were rooting for her to make the team." Miller had spent most of the preceding year training and trying out for the Olympic Team. She finished fifth in the Olympic Trials, just short of making the Team.
The World University Championships Team:
Women's Recurve
Annette Gorelik, Harvey Mudd
Danielle McCullough, Westminster (Pa.)
Stephanie Miller, Columbia
Men's Recurve
Jeff Anderson, Washington
Tim Meyers, Texas A&M
Dakota Sinclair, Arizona State
Women's Compound
Erika Anschutz, Miami (Ohio)
Jessica Fasula, James Madison
Brittany Lorenti, James Madison
Mens Compound
Steve Gatto, Atlantic Cape
Jed Greshock, James Madison
Stephen Schwade, South Carolina
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