Shooting for it: Local teen makes archery headlines, takes aim at US team

RIO RANCHO — For most high school-aged teenagers, the phrase “shoot for the stars” is just another corny piece of advice, likely hanging up on a poster in the school hallways.

But for Rio Rancho teen Claire Ortega, she is taking the phrase quite literally.

Back in August, the New Mexico Games unveiled Ortega as one of their 2025 “Athletes of the Year,” calling her an “archery sensation.”

“It’s pretty cool,” Ortega said about the honor. “I didn’t really know too much about that (Athlete of the Year Honors) until they told me about it, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ Especially because there are a lot of people who compete, and to be one of the ones chosen for it is pretty cool.”

“Cool” may be an understatement to Ortega’s archery arsenal, as she has been traveling around the state and country to compete in tournaments since 2024. Ortega recorded first-place finishes at the 2025 New Mexico Games, 2025 Colorado State Outdoor Championship and the 2025 New Mexico Open, just to name a few.

Ortega’s love for archery can be traced back to when she was 6, shooting a bow at an Outdoor Show Expo. But as a young kid, archery bows and classes weren’t readily available for 6-year-olds.

About six years later, her reintroduction to the sport is all thanks to a Christmas gift … for her brother?

“Around three or four years ago, my brother got a bow for Christmas, actually,” Ortega said. “And they were setting that up, and I was like, ‘I’m the one who wanted to do archery. I should get a bow.’ So then, guess who got a bow?”

The Santa Claus mix-up led to Ortega getting involved with Junior Olympic Archery Development, eventually leading her to compete in tournaments.

Ortega is homeschooled via online classes with Acellus Academy. Is she ditching the books for the bow? No, quite the opposite. She currently holds a 4.0 GPA while also working a part-time job with Dagmar’s Specialities here in Rio Rancho.

While she excels at Acellus, Ortega says the homeschool schedule helps with her competitions.

“It does take me less time to do my schoolwork than if I were in a public school,” Ortega said. “Because it’s more direct. I have a full online program. I can do work ahead of schedule, or if I need to be a little behind, and then work extra the next week. I can take more time off to be at the tournaments.”

A 4.0 GPA, a paying job, and a blossoming athletic career. What more does a teenager want?

“I really want to make the USA Archery Team,” Ortega said.

Next up on the list: representing her country. Ortega competed in the USAT Qualifiers this past summer in what could be the beginning of a promising national career.

But for now, you can find Claire working a shift at Dagmar’s or hanging around ‘The Archery Shoppe’ in Albuquerque. Ortega also spends her time away from competition volunteering, helping out with the NASP Academy and women’s archery.

You can even find her working at the next Outdoor Show Expo, the same type of show where her archery journey took aim.

“I like it when people ask me about archery,” Ortega said. “I’m like, ‘Go try it. You’re going to like it.’”