Archers from the VI Archery Federation proudly took the international stage at the Vegas Shoot 2026—one of the largest and most prestigious archery tournaments in the world, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Competing among athletes from over 60 countries, the team traveled not only for a shot at prize money, but also to gain valuable experience, training, and certification opportunities while celebrating the sport they love.
Representing the federation in the Open Compound Flights division were Ritseeniyah Georges Buxo and Khailic Georges-Cruz. Kasadiyah Baird competed in the Young Adult Female division, while Kerry Ottley entered the Bowhunter division. Each archer delivered a strong performance: Kasadiyah finished with an average score of 8.2, Khailic with 8.1, and Ritseeniyah posted an 8.8 average. Kerry Ottley, competing internationally for the very first time, impressed with an outstanding 8.9 average.
What began as a family trip for Ritseeniyah has grown into something much bigger—an emerging tradition within the federation. The Vegas Shoot experience is quickly becoming a rite of passage for developing archers, offering them the chance to sharpen their skills, gain competitive exposure, explore the latest equipment, connect with vendors, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with professional athletes from around the world. The event regularly attracts elite competitors, including world champions such as Bodie Turner- who scored a history making perfect score of 90 X’s, Sara Lopez, and Paige Pearce, further highlighting the caliber of competition and the unique opportunity it provides. 
Also traveling with the team was Xavier Buxo of the VI Field Archery Federation, who had a different mission in mind. Xavier successfully completed the rigorous practical assessment required to earn his ATA Certified Compound Bow Technician credential. This certification demands both comprehensive online coursework and a hands-on evaluation, where candidates must demonstrate proficiency across a wide range of technical skills. A passing score is 34 out of a possible 36 points—Xavier achieved a perfect score of 36.
These skills include understanding proper shooting form, mastering compound bow mechanics and design, safely using specialized tools such as bow presses and draw boards, and performing complete bow setups. Technicians must also demonstrate the ability to install peep sights and D-loops, replace strings and cables, adjust cam timing, fine-tune performance through paper tuning, and build and select arrows.
This achievement marks a significant milestone for the local archery community, as the territory now benefits from having an ATA Certified Compound Bow Technician within its ranks.
Overall, while the archers may not have placed to win prize money on this trip, the experience proved to be invaluable—both on and off the shooting line. With renewed confidence, enhanced skills, and stronger connections to the global archery community, the team now sets its sights on the upcoming VI Field Archery Federation Outdoor Championships, scheduled for April 10–12 in the beautiful Virgin Islands. As the federation prepares to host this inaugural event, archers of all levels are invited to take part in what promises to be an exciting new chapter for the sport locally.