2016 Team USA Qualification

The Story:

Branduin learned to shoot at UC Berkeley in 2012, where she quickly fell in love with the sport of target archery. She made Cal’s competitive team in her second semester, and brought home an All-American title at the end of her first year of competition. In her second year, she won the World University Trials, earning a spot on the US team to the World University Championships in Poland, and the first ever University Pan American Cup in Mexico. In 2015, with your help, Branduin was able to complete her first ever run of the Team USA qualifier circuit, finishing 10th among senior women in the United States. That same year, she became collegiate national champion, and again won the World University Trials to secure a coveted spot on the US team to the World University Games in Korea, an event rivaled in size only by the Olympic Games.

Next Steps:

While 2015 was a great season, a 10th place senior ranking was unfortunately not enough to make the cut for Team USA. Branduin is now ranked 9th among senior women, and in a great position to make Team USA this year, but we need your help! To be eligible for Team USA, athletes must compete in a rigorous circuit consisting of five tournaments. These tournaments take place all over the country, and the travel costs associated with them can be very high. Though Branduin was able to handle equipment costs and travel to two of this year’s Team USA qualifiers by herself, the full circuit is out of reach for an undergraduate student without outside funding. With your help, we can close the gap!

There are four tournaments remaining this year where Branduin can bring up her ranking: Gator Cup in May, SoCal Showdown in June, National Outdoor Championships in July, and the Buckeye Classic in August. The top 8 shooters at the end of the year will be nominated to Team USA, while the top 5 will receive funding to continue their training. Most importantly, Team USA membership opens the door to valuable sponsorships. In addition, Branduin is applying to train full time at the Olympic Training Center after graduation with the hope of shooting at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. A high national ranking will help her application to this program.

Expenses:

What makes tournaments so expensive? A typical cost-breakdown for each competition is as follows:

Registration: $150-200

Flight: $300-600

Baggage: $60-120

Hotel: $150-300

Rental Car: $200-400

These costs are projected, and it is possible Branduin will need less than we are asking for this season. If that turns out to be the case, any extra money raised will be set aside for use in case of emergency equipment replacement between seasons.

Thank you for your help in making Branduin’s Olympic quest a reality!