With a roster that includes a three-time All-East Team honoree among four key returnees and a program-record 25 freshmen loaded with talent, Pennsylvania College of Technology archery coach Dustin Bartron has plenty of reason for optimism.

The Wildcats are scheduled to open their season on Saturday at the Easton Collegiate Tournament in Manheim.

“It’s great and refreshing to have students that want to be involved again!” Bartron said of the turnout for his fifth edition.

“Practices have been going well, very productive. We have the largest number of student-athletes (30) since I have started coaching in the range every day, working hard. These athletes have made a commitment to the school, team and themselves. Their hard work, along with endless hours of studying, training, practicing and working on equipment, prove this commitment,” the coach said.

Leading the returnees is senior Matthew Byrnes of Manahawkin, New Jersey, who was selected to the All-East Team in each of the past two seasons as a Wildcat and his first time as a freshman at Atlantic Cape Community College in 2021 when he shot a then record-setting score of 695 of 720 possible points in the men’s compound event during the Eastern Region Collegiate Championships.

Other key returning archers from last year’s squad are juniors Emery Gunsalls of Mill Hall and Atley Cooper of Coatesville, and sophomore Ben Malehorn of Selinsgrove. Gunsallus competes in men’s compound, and Cooper and Malehorn in men’s fixed pins.

Among the leading freshmen are Casey Keiter of Dornsife, a 2024 Pennsylvania National Archery in the Schools (NASP) state champion; Brady Buriak of Herndon, a 2020 NASP Middle School state champ; and Eli Bartron of South Williamsport, a member of the 2024 US Archery Under-21 Team, and the coach’s son. Keiter will compete in men’s fixed pins and Buriak and Bartron will compete in men’s compound.

Coach Bartron also expects big things from freshmen Liz Gruodis of Milford (women’s compound), Wyatt Steigerwalt of New Ringgold (men’s fixed pins), Travis Lilly of Newport (men’s fixed pins) and Josiah Hinojis of Groton, Connecticut (men’s fixed pins).

“This group has endless potential. If all the pieces can come together at the right time, lookout, we will be strong,” coach Bartron said. “We will still be one of the smallest teams traveling, but our strengths are in work ethic and talent, not in numbers as some of our competition.

“This group has endless drive and work ethic. The talent is deep. There is no other college program that is working as hard as our student-athletes are this year. There is a chemistry I have never seen before among this group.

“I believe we will field a top ten team mixed team compound. Our men’s compound team and men’s fixed pin team are very strong at the top and show some depth. I believe they will be in the top five, if not on the podium for the national championship.

“As individuals, I would expect All-American finishes from Keiter, Byrnes and Eli Bartron. Gunsallus, Buriak, Hinojis and Steigerwalt show potential to be named on the All-American team as well.

“This will be our year to end our All-American drought (in its history since 1997, 43 Penn College archers have earned that recognition 88 times, although none since 2018). The possibility for us to bring home a national championship is real.

“This (2025) is a World University Games year; how great would it be to see Penn College represented in July in Germany! We have the talent and dedication it takes.”

Looking to the team’s opener, coach Bartron said, “(It) will be great to knock the competitive dust off. Many of the archers have not competed in a large tournament this year. There will be 600-800 archers shooting this weekend.”

Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 25 — at Easton Collegiate Tournament.