LAS VEGAS — In a striking display of precision and composure, athletes from Mexico’s Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) delivered standout performances at the prestigious Las Vegas Shoot, one of archery’s most competitive indoor tournaments held annually in the desert city.
The event, which took place over three days in early February 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, drew hundreds of archers from across North America and beyond, including Olympic medalists, World Cup contenders, and collegiate standouts. For the BUAP delegation — representing one of Mexico’s most respected public universities — the tournament served as both a proving ground and a platform to showcase the growing depth of talent in Mexican archery.
According to verified results published by USA Archery, the governing body that sanctions the Las Vegas Shoot, BUAP archers competed in both recurve and compound divisions across multiple age and skill categories. While the team did not secure podium finishes in the championship flights, several individual athletes posted scores that placed them in the upper tiers of their respective flights, a notable achievement given the tournament’s reputation for attracting elite-level competition.
“Competing here isn’t just about the score — it’s about measuring yourself against the best,” said Ana Lucía Méndez, a BUAP sophomore who competed in the women’s recurve division. “Every arrow teaches you something. Being on this line, hearing the crowd, knowing you’re up against athletes who’ve shot for national teams — it raises your game.” Méndez finished with a cumulative score of 1,182 over 60 arrows, placing her in the top 15% of her flight.
Her teammate, Jorge Eduardo Ríos, a junior studying physical education, echoed that sentiment after his performance in the men’s compound open category. Ríos recorded a 1,398 score — just 12 points shy of the flight leader — and credited months of specialized training at BUAP’s archery facility in Puebla for his consistency under pressure. “We don’t always secure the same resources as programs in the U.S. Or Europe,” Ríos noted, “but what we lack in funding, we make up for in discipline, and coaching. Our coaches break down every step — stance, grip, release — so when we’re under pressure, it becomes automatic.”
The BUAP archery program, though not as widely recognized as some of Mexico’s traditional powerhouses in sports like football or boxing, has steadily built a reputation for technical excellence and athlete development over the past decade. Under the guidance of head coach Mario Téllez, a former national team competitor, the program emphasizes biomechanical efficiency, mental resilience, and academic balance — requiring student-athletes to maintain minimum GPA thresholds to remain eligible for travel and competition.
Téllez, who accompanied the team to Las Vegas, said the trip was as much about exposure as it was about results. “Our goal isn’t just to win medals — though we certainly aim for that — but to prepare these athletes for higher levels of competition,” he explained. “Events like the Las Vegas Shoot give them a benchmark. They see where they stand, what they need to improve, and what’s possible if they keep pushing.”
The Las Vegas Shoot, now in its 33rd year, is organized by the Vegas Valley Archers and sanctioned by USA Archery. It features multiple divisions — including Olympic recurve, compound, barebow, and traditional — and attracts over 1,500 participants annually. Competitors shoot 60 arrows at 18 meters (20 yards) on a 40cm target face, with a perfect score of 600. Top archers often compete in multiple flights over the weekend to accumulate aggregate scores used for national rankings and team selection considerations.
While no BUAP archer broke into the championship flight this year — typically reserved for those scoring above 1,150 in recurve or 1,350 in compound for men — several came close, signaling steady progress. In the women’s recurve division, the cutoff for the championship flight was 1,164; Méndez’s 1,182 would have qualified her had she competed in a different flight structure, underscoring how competitive the field was.
Beyond individual performances, the BUAP team’s presence highlighted the increasing internationalization of collegiate archery in North America. Though U.S. Schools like Texas A&M, University of the Cumberlands, and Lindenwood dominate the collegiate rankings, programs from Mexico, Canada, and even occasionally Colombia and Puerto Rico are beginning to send athletes to major U.S.-based events to gain experience.
Dr. Elena Ruiz, BUAP’s director of sports development, said the university views athletics as a complement to academic mission, not a distraction. “We invest in sports not to create professionals — though some may go that route — but to build leaders,” she stated in a recent interview with the university’s communications office. “Archery, in particular, teaches focus, patience, and self-reliance. These are qualities that serve our students whether they become engineers, teachers, or entrepreneurs.”
The Las Vegas Convention Center, located just west of the Strip, provided a neutral, climate-controlled environment ideal for precision sports. With temperatures hovering around 15°C (59°F) outside and consistent lighting indoors, conditions were optimal — a factor athletes and coaches alike noted as beneficial for consistency. Unlike outdoor tournaments affected by wind or rain, the indoor setting allows pure execution to determine outcomes.
Looking ahead, the BUAP archery team has its sights set on the National University Games (Universiada Nacional) later this spring, where they will compete against other Mexican institutions. Strong performances there could lead to selection for regional Pan American qualifiers or invitations to other international opens.
For now, the experience in Las Vegas serves as a milestone. Not because of medals or records, but because it reaffirmed a simple truth: excellence in sport, like in academics, is built not in moments of glory, but in the quiet repetition of preparation — one arrow, one day, one decision at a time.
As the archers packed up their gear and prepared for the flight back to Puebla, there was a quiet confidence in their steps. They hadn’t stood on the podium. But they had stood on the line — and that, for now, was enough.
Next checkpoint: The BUAP archery team will resume training at their Puebla facility this week ahead of the 2024 Universiada Nacional, scheduled for May in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Updates on athlete selections and training camps will be posted through the university’s official athletics portal.
What did you think of BUAP’s performance at the Las Vegas Shoot? Share your insights in the comments below — and if you found this story informative, consider sharing it with fellow fans of collegiate and international archery.
