08/19/2026
Centaurs Archery Club Finishes Season Strong at Western Nationals
The Centaurs Archery Club wrapped up an incredible tournament season with a four-day trip to Helena, Montana, to compete in the S3DA Western National Outdoor Target Archery Tournament and the S3DA Western National 3D Archery Tournament. With two days of Outdoor Target competition followed by two days of 3D archery, nine Centaurs stepped onto the national stage to represent their team and compete against some of the best young archers in the West.
Representing the Centaurs at Nationals were Steven Schenck, Jack Schenck, Baley Houghton, Areia Houghton, Rogan Hall, Haze Gardner, Nox Gardner, Kash Bastian, and Elliot Petty.
It was a fantastic weekend filled with national championships, podium finishes, personal accomplishments, clutch shots, and memories that will last well beyond this season.
Two Double National Champions
Elliot Petty had an outstanding Nationals, becoming a National Champion in both Outdoor Target and 3D Archery. Neither championship came easily.
In the Target competition, Elliot’s championship came down to a closest-to-the-center shoot-off, where he delivered under pressure to claim the national title. In 3D, the competition was just as close, with Elliot winning on a tiebreaker by having the greater number of bonus rings. By doing this Elliot was also named Eagle Open National Shooter of the Year.
Haze Gardner also had a tremendous weekend, becoming a National Champion in both Outdoor Target and 3D, and winning the Youth Open Runner Up National Shooter of the Year, giving the Centaurs two double National Champions.
One of the most memorable moments of the entire weekend came during a shoot-off involving Haze Gardner and Steven Schenck. Their strategies were incredibly well thought out, and watching the two of them execute those strategies under pressure was something special. It was one of the best shoot-offs of the season and a great example of the confidence and competitive maturity these young archers have developed.
Centaurs Fill the Podium
Steven Schenck put together an outstanding Nationals, earning 2nd place in Outdoor Target and 3rd place in 3D, putting him on the podium in both disciplines.
Baley Houghton also reached the podium twice, finishing 2nd in Outdoor Target and 3rd in 3D and earning her 3rd in the Youth Female Open National Shooter of the Year Status. Her sister, Areia Houghton, finished 3rd in both Outdoor Target and 3D.
What makes the Houghton sisters’ accomplishments even more impressive is that they have only been shooting archery for approximately 10 months. In their very first year of competition, both sisters traveled to Nationals and earned podium finishes in both disciplines—an incredible accomplishment and a sign of just how far they have come in a short amount of time.
Knox Gardner, Haze’s younger brother, added two more podium finishes for the Centaurs, taking 3rd place in both Outdoor Target and 3D.
Jack Joins the 400 Club
Not every victory is measured by a medal.
Jack Schenck entered Nationals with personal goals for the weekend, and he accomplished every one of them. One of the biggest was joining what we call the “400 Club”— shooting a score of 400, which means averaging a 10 across all 40 targets.
And Jack couldn’t have made it much more dramatic.
He came to the final target, needing a 10 to reach 400. With everything riding on one arrow, Jack stepped up, called the upper 12 and smashed the 12, accomplishing his goal and earning his place in the 400 Club with a 402 score. It was a great example of staying focused and performing when the pressure is at its highest.
Team Challenge Brings More Excitement
The Bowhunter Team Challenge provided some of the most exciting moments of the weekend as Kash Bastian and Rogan Hall teamed up with their coach and finished among the top teams.
Kash finished 2nd, and along the way earned some bragging rights by shooting one more 12 than his coach.
Rogan finished 3rd, but he saved some of his best shooting for when his team needed it most. Rogan closed out the competition by hitting three 12s in a row, helping carry his team onto a 3rd-place finish.
Those moments captured what the weekend—and really the entire season—has been about: competing hard, trusting your shot, supporting your teammates, and having fun doing it.
More Than Medals
The Centaurs came home from Montana with an incredible collection of National Championships and podium finishes, but the success of this trip cannot be measured by medals alone.
This team has become extremely close. They practice together, travel together, compete against one another, cheer for one another, and genuinely want to see their teammates succeed. Whether someone was shooting for a National Championship, trying to make the podium, chasing a personal-best score, or simply trying to accomplish a goal they had set for themselves, their teammates were there supporting them.
That is what makes the Centaurs special.
Montana was the final tournament of our year, and it was the perfect way to finish an incredible season. We spent four days competing, laughing, making memories, and watching these young archers accomplish things they have worked hard for all year.
We are incredibly proud of Steven, Jack, Baley, Areia, Rogan, Haze, Knox, Kash, and Elliot, not only for how they performed at Nationals, but for the teammates and young people they have become. We also are proud of the rest of the Centaurs who could not make it to Nationals this year. You were there with us in Spirt and are a big part of the team.
What a fantastic weekend. What an incredible season. And what a great group of kids to be a part of.
WE ARE… THE CENTAURS!!!
