ST. GEORGE — Several Southern Utah athletes recently won medals in archery at the Utah Summer Games in Cedar City.
Coach June Montenegro, who along with his wife Nora, operates the Archer’s Cave training facility in St. George, said that eight of their youth students and two adults brought home a total of 13 medals in various events and classifications.
“Our goal, really, is for the kids to come home and bring honor to their families,” Montenegro said, adding, “When they win medals they give them to their parents, and they give honor to them.”
Archer’s Cave’s medalists were as follows:
- Atlas Young, 11, and his older sister Dagny Young, 13, each won both a gold and a silver in Olympic Recurve competitions. Cassi Bailey, 15, won gold in her Olympic Recurve division, as did younger sister Kate Bailey, 13. Their younger brother Regan, 11, took home a silver medal in Olympic Recurve.
- In addition, Dallin Wouden, 12, won gold in Olympic Recurve, while Whitaker Stevenson, 17, won silver in Compound.
- Sophie Rasmussen, 16, won a silver in Compound and a bronze in Team Shoot. Her mother Rebecca Rasmussen, 53, won bronze in her division in Compound.
- The other Archer’s Cave adult to medal was instructor Richard Snyder, 70, who took home the bronze in Barebow Recurve.
The competitions, which were held May 31 through June 2 in Cedar City, attracted dozens of entrants from all around Utah and even a few from out of state.
Montenegro, whose students also won a similar number of medals at last year’s Utah Summer Games, said he’s proud of all those who represent his “archery family.”
Montenegro is a former world champion and holder of multiple records and training certifications. He said he and his wife Nora have enjoyed teaching archery skills at their training facility in the Bloomington area of St. George over the past five years.
“We don’t just teach kids archery, we teach them life skills,” he said. “If you can pull a kid out of trouble, that is such an accomplishment in life. And that is basically what our policies and principles are.”
For more information about Archer’s Cave and its programs, visit the website.
Archery was but one of more than 40 sports and disciplines staged at this year’s Utah Summer Games. Most of the competitions have already taken place, although there were still boys volleyball and equestrian sports to be wrapped up this weekend. A few other events, including tennis, are scheduled for later in the summer, according to the official schedule.
Utah Summer Games Executive Director Jonathan Oglesby reflected on what he said has been yet another successful Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games.
“From my perspective, this has been kind of a renewal of the love affair that Cedar City and Iron County have with Southern Utah
University, through the Utah Summer Games,” Oglesby told Cedar City News earlier this week.
“We experienced double-digit growth in a variety of sports, like high school basketball, softball and a number of other sports,” he added. “We’re excited just to see the growth of not only mainstream sports, but also the more niche and Olympic style sports, for sure.”
Oglesby said at least 10,000 people are estimated to have attended the opening ceremonies on June 7.
“I think what that says is that, you know, almost 40 years into this grand experiment, the beauty of the official state games in Utah is still very much alive and growing,” he said.
“With new partnerships, new sports, new contacts and new partners that we keep adding to the fold, we’re as relevant now in the Utah sports landscape as we’ve ever been,” Oglesby added. “And I think we’re really going to continue to grow in relevance. There’s never been a better time to be part of the sports business and sports community in the state of Utah than right now.”
Oglesby expressed his thanks to all who have helped stage the games, including athletes, coaches, parents, sponsors and volunteers.
“I think the success of the games is directly dependent on the engagement of the city, not only city leaders, but also citizens in general,” he said. “It has been very encouraging, uplifting and almost emotional for me to see that connection displayed over and over throughout the past few months.”
Photo Gallery
Archer's Cave students (L-R) Atlas Young and Dallin Wouden stand atop medals podium after archery competition at Utah Summer Games, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024 | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
Archer's Cave students (in bright green shirts, L-R) Atlas Young and Dallin Wouden shoot at targets during archery competition at Utah Summer Games, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024 | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
Archer's Cave students (in bright green shirts, L-R) Dagny Young and Atlas Young shoot at targets during archery competition at Utah Summer Games, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024 | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
Archer's Cave students and coaches pose for a team photo during Utah Summer Games. Top row, L-R: Rebecca Rasmussen, Cassie Bailey, Regan Bailey, Dallin Wouden, Atlas Young, Whitaker Stevenson and Richard Snyder. Front row, L-R: Sophie Rasmussen, Kate Bailey, Dagny Young and coach June Montenegro, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024 | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
Archer's Cave students Kate Bailey (center) and Dagny Young (right) stand on medals podium after archery competition at Utah Summer Games, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024. Also pictured at left is silver medalist Madison Nielsen from Salem, Utah. | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
Sophie Rasmussen competes in archery at Utah Summer Games, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024 | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
Archer's Cave students (in bright green shirts, L-R) Whit Stevenson, Cassie Bailey and Kate Bailey shoot at targets during archery competition at Utah Summer Games, Cedar City, Utah, June 2024 | Photo courtesy of Archer's Cave, St. George News / Cedar City News
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