HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The Pearl River archery team made history Saturday as the Wildcats excelled in their first-ever competition at the Mississippi South Central Collegiate Regional. 

The men's team took home a first-place finish, and the women's team finished second.

"I could not be prouder of this group," head coach Jarib Castillo Salcedo said. "For many of them, this was their first taste of a 3D competition, and to walk away with a first-place finish in men's and a second-place finish in the women's group shows the heart and discipline they've brought to practice in just a short time. The results say a lot about their heart and willingness to learn."

Castillo Salcedo talked about being part of the history-making Archery program.

"It's incredibly special. We've only been training together for about a month, but they've already laid the foundation for what I believe will be something lasting and meaningful," he said. "What makes it even more meaningful is that they stayed humble throughout the whole process. They took on the challenge of shooting alongside some top-level archers from other universities, and instead of being intimidated, they embraced it and grew from the experience. So, I think they've already written themselves into Pearl River history."

Castillo Salcedo also mentioned what made his archers successful on the weekend.

"What stood out was their composure and mindset. They stayed focused shot after shot, but they also remembered to enjoy the moment and have fun while competing," he said. "That balance helped them shoot freely instead of being weighed down by pressure. 

"They supported one another, stayed grounded, and showed a maturity beyond their experience. More than just the scores, this weekend was about character, teamwork, and the way they carried themselves on the line. That mix of humility, courage, and joy is what carried them through, and if they keep that spirit, the results will continue to take care of themselves."

RESULTS
The men's fixed pin team of Trey Winston (Flowood; Northwest Rankin), Easton Shoemake (Collins; West Jones), and John Michael Harwood (Saltillo) secured first place with a score of 1,057, topping Blue Mountain's 1,037. Individually, Harwood placed third overall, Shoemake finished fourth, and Winston was seventh. Wheeler Chandler (Winona) finished eighth, Colby Brannan (Purvis) 11th, Daniel Martin (Silver Creek; Homeschool) 12th, Jack Felder (Picayune) 13th, and Santwaun Dantzler (Hattiesburg; Oak Grove) 14th.

The women's fixed pin team of Regan Brown (Mendenhall; Simpson Academy), Cherianne McCarter (Louin; Raleigh), and Abigail Robertson (Petal) placed second overall. Brown led PRCC with a ninth-place finish, followed by McCarter in 11th, Robertson in 12th, and EmaLeigh Privatte (Bogue Chitto; West Lincoln) in 13th.

Ashlynn Juneau (Picayune) was PRCC's lone competitor in the compound competition, finishing sixth overall.

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