CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — For the first time in history, an archer from the Champaign School District is advancing to compete at the collegiate level.

On Monday, Khaliq Machado of Centennial High School signed a letter of intent to join the varsity shooting team at Grand View University, located in Des Moines, Iowa. Grand View University competes at the Division I level of the NAIA within the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC).

Machado, who will graduate from Centennial in 2025, had a remarkable senior year both personally and for his team. He was the Illinois State 3D Archery Male Champion, achieving a score of 287 out of 300 possible points, and consistently earned medals throughout the season in both bullseye and 3D formats.

His performance at two events — the 2025 Illinois Bullseye State Tournament and the 2025 Illinois 3D State Tournament — earned him two $1,000 scholarships from the National Archery in the Schools Program and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Machado also helped the Chargers win many team awards, including their first national podium placing in school history at the 2025 National 3D Tournament. The team also ranked third in the nation with a school and Illinois 3D scoring record in the 3D format.

“The Charger Archery Team is home to 3 NASP State Champions in one season. This alone is very impressive for one program in a single season. The coaching staff is so dedicated to these young people and they keep the team disciplined and on task, which is why they are so successful,” Charlie Mundy, head shooting sports coach for GVU, said in a statement. “Now I look for Khaliq to work hard in the college classroom and on the range. He is just what our young team needs and will be a big part of the foundation for years to come.”

Mundy also noted that “Khaliq will be able to shift gears from the NASP format and get into some high-end equipment that can also open up Olympic or pro aspirations if someday he decides to even go even further in archery. The coaching staff at Grand View are absolutely excited to sign Khaliq with an archery scholarship.”