US Collegiate Archery Program

On the heels of the resignation of our College Archery Program Director and advocate, Bob Ryder, the long-time coach from Atlantic Cape Community College, Helen Bolnick has also announced her retirement from the CAP. 

Dr. Bolnick, beloved by everyone in the college archery program leaves behind a legacy that will be hard to match any time soon. As the coach for the 2-year college, Atlantic Cape, Helen has coached numerous athletes to All-America (30+ athletes), All-Academic Archery Team and World Team awards. 

Helen’s commitment to archery is displayed by the many tournaments she has hosted over the years, including this past year’s USIAC and founding the Atlantic City Archery Classic. She was also named 2008 College Archery Coach of the Year. This was the 4th time Helen was awarded the Margaret Klann award.

Replacing Helen will be difficult — it’s hard to imagine not seeing our 82-year-old icon and her friend Saul at our tournaments. Wishing you all the best Helen!

Helen’s replacement will be named in the near future. Good luck to the ACCC team as they move forward this upcoming year.

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It is a sad day for College Archery today. My dear friend and mentor Bob Ryder, as tendered his resignation from the CAP due to health reasons. Without Bob Ryder, this program would not exist as it does today.  Bob is not only my friend and mentor, but he is the ultimate leader for the College Archery Program. The years of volunteerism not only for the CAP, but as coach of James Madison University and tournament director of several tournaments each year, makes Bob is irreplaceable — as an archer, a mentor, a leader, and a friend. 

Bob has been my friend since appointing me to the CAP publicist position not long after my son Clarke died four years ago. Bob rescued me by giving me something to do even though I was a stranger to him, and I in turn found the same passion for College Archery that Bob has had for the past 50+ years. Bob trusted me enough to move me to the registrar position and then when I wanted to resign he ‘promoted’ me to be the Assistant Director; a position that I only accepted because he was the Director. Together we have worked to bring the College Program back to being the premiere program for College Archery in the United States. Bob is someone I admire greatly and it is with a heavy heart that I move into the position, per the CAP handbook, of CAP Director.

I have considered what I would need to do in order to continue Bob’s strong leadership for the College Archery Program. Helen Sahi, Coach of Univ of Connecticut has accepted the appointment as Assistant Director. Helen has experience at organization, a love of the College Archery Program and a willingness to ‘do whatever it takes’ to continue the tradition of leadership that Bob has provided to many of us.

With luck and grace, we will see Bob at 2009 USIACs — and I expect and hope that my dear friend will be proud of the way we have all carried on in his absence. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your concerns and questions.  E-mail: lzsinclair@yahoo.com, phone: 760.384.8875 or Helen at sahi@charter.net.

Sincerely,
Lorretta Sinclair
http://www.uscollegiatearchery.org

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