What started in her backyard, learning to shoot with a bow and arrow with her dad, has led Elyse Matus of Palatine on a journey of a lifetime. She heads Friday to the Pan American Youth and Masters Tournament in Medellín, Colombia, where she will be one of 48 archers — ranging in age from 13 to 76 — competing as Team USA.
Elyse Matus takes aim. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Nielsen Photography)
While Elyse has competed across the country in USA Archery sanctioned competitions, being chosen to compete in the Pan American Games will be her first international competition. She says simply: “I’m overjoyed.”
“Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to represent the United States and feel the honor it is to wear the jersey with my last name on the back,” says Elyse, a 2025 Palatine High School grad and freshman at Texas A&M, currently ranked 5th in the country.
Elyse will be one of three Team USA archers in the U21 Compound division, shooting at a 50-meter target. They compete using a compound bow, which was introduced to the sport in the 1960s and uses a series of levers and cables to bend the bow’s limbs. Consequently, it is lighter to use and leads to greater accuracy.
“What hooked me on archery was definitely my first tournament experience,” Elyse says. “I had just turned 9 years old at the Midwest Open, where I medaled 3rd. I loved the competition, getting to spend time with my dad, and of course the feeling of winning.”
Elyse Matus, left, placed second at the SoCal Showdown in Chula Vista, CA
Elyse’s dad is Dr. Marty Matus, an Arlington Heights-based optometrist, who will be traveling with her to the Pan Am Games in Colombia, along with her coach, Jesse Johnson.
“It’s been a pretty cool journey,” Matus says. “We’ve had some ups and downs but it’s just been amazing to see her development.”
For the last 10 years, Elyse has competed in USAT qualifiers, which she describes as intense, drawing not only on her physical strength and accuracy, but on her mental focus and ability to deal with repetition.
“The first day is a qualifier round where I shoot 72 arrows for a score out of a possible 720 points,” Elyse says. “The second day features elimination matches, which are determined by what seed each athlete placed.”
If the competition is intense, so is her training. Elyse typically trains around 20 hours a week, including shooting between 100 to 150 arrows at 50 meters. She also works on strength conditioning, especially for her back muscles, as well as lower body conditioning and cardio.
Elyse Matus shoots at her 50-meter target.
Elyse says one of her biggest milestones so far has been competing in the Arizona Cup, one of five USAT qualifiers. She placed second and for the first time advanced to compete in the gold medal match.
“The Arizona Cup was an important tournament to me not only because of my first USAT medal,” Elyse says, “but because I was debating my talents and mental strength. But this tournament proved I was still the athlete I’ve always been.”
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