Slaughter shoots for stars
Last fall, Utah State University Eastern made a unique investment in their launch of an archery program, making it the only school in Utah with an official, school-sanctioned archery team.
Archery was chosen as USUE’s newest sport due to the growing prominence of local National Archery in the Schools Program teams. These programs have developed a pool of skilled archers, making the new university team a natural next step for students who are passionate about the sport.
“We want to create something meaningful and lasting,” USUE athletic director Jess Brinkerhoff said in a press release. “Our goal is to involve the entire community through workshops, demonstrations and events that showcase the incredible talent and potential of our athletes.”
Leading the new program is 19-year-old head coach Cheyanne Slaughter, a skilled and accomplished archer who has dedicated much of her life to the sport.
The young coach arrived at Eastern with a top-tier resume. Since taking up the sport in junior high, Slaughter dominated regional competitions, won two state championships and secured a national championship in 11th grade.
“I picked up that bow and fell in love with it,” Slaughter said. “It is a sport where you are competing for yourself and your team.”
By the time Slaughter was finishing high school, she had shifted her focus from competing to coaching. In her senior year, she returned the favor to the coach who had first introduced her to the sport, helping coach the middle school team.
Under her guidance, the middle school 3D archery team placed second at the world competition, and her high school team made history by qualifying for the world competition for the first time, also finishing second in 3D archery.
When USUE’s archery program began to take shape, Slaughter was approached to help develop it. Her passion for the sport, her wealth of experience and her dedication to the archery community made her an ideal candidate.
“Jess was like, ‘How would you like to be the coach?,’ and I was like, ‘That would be amazing’ because I’m very, very dedicated to it,” Slaughter said.
The archery program’s addition to the school marks a significant milestone for the community. As the only college in Utah to have a USA Archery-affiliated team, Eastern is quickly becoming a hub for archery in the state.
“We have so many great archers in the state of Utah and in the nation, and I’m getting the word out there,” Slaughter said. “I’m telling them ‘Hey, come to Eastern. We have an official team.’”
Unlike other sports often defined by rivalries and competition, archery emphasizes personal growth while also building team camaraderie. Slaughter said she’s looking for athletes who can abide by these values, along with some of the typical qualities sought after in any student-athlete.
“Be coachable,” Slaughter said. “Be willing to change your style. Be willing to hear feedback and take feedback. School work is very important. Stay up on your grades. Be a team member.”
The program will begin its first competition season in the fall of 2025. The official roster is still being determined, but Slaughter indicated she was talking to about 15 interested students and had three verbal commits.
“I have a lot of interest right now, and it should start growing here soon,” Slaughter said.
In spearheading the first program of its kind in the state’s history, Slaughter understands the challenge ahead, but just like she did as a competitor, she plans to face it head-on.
“These first couple years are going to be hard,” Slaughter said. “They’re going to be hard — like, you’re starting up a new program. I just want the program to grow and grow and grow.”