AFlorida Polytechnic University’s Archery Team thrashed the competition at the 2025 Sunshine State Games in Gainesville, Florida, with its five-person squad earning nine medals at the June 7-8 event.
“They performed so well at the competition – even better than they do at practice,” said Bruce Hicks ’22, the team’s founder and coach. “The team competed against archers from all around Florida on both days and it was absolutely grueling, but we brought home three gold and two silver medals on the first day, and on the second day, another gold, two silver, and a bronze.”
The Sunshine State Games is an Olympic-style program with amateur athletes of all ages and skill levels competing in sports such as fencing, powerlifting, artistic swimming, and volleyball. Since 1980, thousands of its participants have scored their way to Olympic or championship glory.
“The competition was a lot of fun,” said Ethan Matthews ’25, the team’s captain. “We’re all pretty close friends and it was great to see everyone perform their best.”
Matthews received a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Florida Poly this May and is pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering at the University. This was his second year competing at the event.
“I practiced a lot during the last year, especially at longer distances. I did a lot better this time and dramatically improved my score,” the gold- and silver-medal winner said.
In addition to Matthews, the team’s roster was made up of two women and two men, including Hicks, who also competed.
Junior mechanical engineering major Ashli Sivalls joined the team last fall with no archery experience and walked away from the competition with a gold and a silver medal.
“I was nervous, and it was nerve-wracking at first, but by the second day I was much calmer,” she said.
While skill and athleticism draw many to the sport, the serenity and mental focus that archery cultivates are big reasons why many people stay involved.
“It’s very relaxing to me because you can just go and then everything completely clears out of your head and you don’t have to think about schoolwork or anything,” Sivalls said.
As she and others plan to return to the team this fall, their coach said he sees a bright future for Florida Poly archery, with plans to expand into more collegiate and professional competitions.
“The team shows a lot of talent and potential,” said Hicks, formerly a nationally-ranked archer. “In the next few years they will be top archers and I’m excited for that.”
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