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Raymond Jr. celebrates after he shoots his 11th Bullseye under pressure on the final target of the tournament competition to put the top score out of reach and cement his first place victory (after a highly competitive shot for shot tie with good friend and competitor 90% of the course and being up one single point going into the last target) for the fourth and final event and the state championship overall.
Raymond Anthony Denogean Jr., son of Raymond Denogean of Superior and Julie Judd of Kearny, just finished a successful 2017 season of 3D competitive archery series events in Arizona, capping off his 24th career tournament win.
Raymond Jr., who won the 2016 Arizona 3D Championship Series Triple Crown Overall last year in 2016 and with conclusion of the final event win in Chino Valley, on May 21 became the 2017 Triple Crown State Champion Overall in “Back to Back” years in the 9 and under division.
Raymond Denogean Jr. with his multiple medals and trophies.
Raymond Jr. competed in and won the Overall Championship in three different series this year: The ABH Traditional Triple Crown, The ABH Buckle Series and the Arizona 3D Championship Series Triple Crown. All three series targets consisted of two course rounds of 20 3D type animal targets having an official IBO and/or ASA scoring areas where archers are only allowed to shoot one arrow per target. In the ABH Traditional Triple Crown Series you are only allowed a recurve or longbow, shot with fingers directly contacting the bowstring using a glove, finger tab, or bare fingers. No stabilizers, counterbalances, or weights of any kind are allowed. This was the first year for the 9 and Under Division and Raymond finished off all three traditional events and used a Samick Polaris Recurve and received a Handmade Custom Leather Championship Engraved Field Quiver for the overall series prize.
Raymond won all three buckle series events and received his first championship belt buckle for the overall inaugural series along with cousin Stevie Denogean, who won his Division overall and first buckle as well. Raymond Jr won three of the four events during the AZ 3D Championship series events with one second place (Event 1) in where Raymond used his compound with a pin sight, stabilizer and switched between a finger and T handle release. Raymond also received his second overall championship buckle for the Triple Crown after Event 4.
It’s a family thing. Ten of the Denogeans travel together to multiple events every year where they all compete in these tournaments in different divisions. Raymond Jr. has been shooting a bow since he was 2 years old and loves to spend time shooting and practicing in with his Grandfather Dico and Uncle Brandon who got him into archery and taught him how to shoot. Raymond’s very first tournament and win was in 2014 when he was 5.
Raymond Jr. shoots his bow every day and practices with his dad on targets at home when he is not playing other sports. Raymond Jr. Idolizes and aspires to be like Arizona Native Olympic Archer and Medalist Brady Ellison. Next year moving up to the next division 10-13 year olds, Raymond Jr. is motivated to work hard to move up the ranks with the support of his family will continue to compete in local and travel events and possibly a couple national events to chase his dream of becoming a sponsored archer for the years to come.
Raymond Jr. practiced and worked extremely hard this year to repeat back-to-back years. He dedicated this year’s State Championship to his Great Grandmother Virginia “Nans” Garcia who tragically passed away last year. Raymond shoots with a stabilizer on his compound bow that “Nans” got him for his bow. This year was for her.
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