Flames archer snares Liberty’s 10th USCA national title in Las Vegas

After placing third at his first indoor competition, the Jan. 20 United States Collegiate Archery (USCA) South Regional championships in Kentucky, Liberty University junior Louis Boyd swept his way to the USCA Indoor National Championship late Friday night at the South Pointe Hotel Casino and Resort in Las Vegas.

Boyd demonstrated tremendous consistency, shooting total scores of 146, 147, and 146 in the quarterfinal, semifinal, and gold-medal rounds, respectively, to edge Mississippi State’s sixth-seeded Justin Rakestraw (144), Southeastern Illinois’ seventh-seeded Eli Bond (146), and Murray State’s fourth-seeded Brandon Shaw (143).

“For him to win it all was against the odds, being a rookie to this sport,” Liberty first-year Head Coach Ian Rigney said. “He just kept shooting 10s.”

Boyd fired bullseyes on his first three arrows on the 20-yard range, opening a three-point lead on Shaw after the first of four sets of three arrows before holding on to win by a 46-43 count.

It was the 10th national championship in the 10-year history of Liberty’s archery program, ranking it among the top five winningest collegiate programs in the nation. Rigney, who won three individual and one team title as a member of the Flames from 2011-15, guided Boyd and teammates Spencer Foster and Jason Lynch to a men’s bowhunting team title at the USCA 3D National Championships, Oct. 8 in Illinois.

Read complete coverage on Liberty’s Club Sports website.