Massanutten Military Academy

Preparing Today's Teenagers to be Tomorrow's Leaders

February News from MMA

MMA Wrestlers Crowned State Champs!!! posted 20 February 2007

The MMA Varsity Wrestling Team departed campus on Thursday 14 February 2007 headed to the 2007 VISSA State Wrestling Championship Tournament being held at the Woodberry Forest School. The Tournament took place on Friday and Saturday 15/16 February 2007. The Team had set a goal early in the season to go there and win the Small-Size School Title. At the end of the day Friday several wrestlers had been eliminated, but had already scored points for the team, then turning over the scoring to the three wrestlers who were still alive in the tournament, Matthew McCormick at 140 pounds, Steven Rohrbacher at 152 pounds, and John Thieberger at 285 pounds.

As Saturday started, McCormick won his first match moving him into the medal round to compete for a top 8 spot in the tournament, Rohrbacher was defeated in a very hard fought match and eliminated after finishing in the top 10 in his weight class, and Thieberger was defeated in the Championship Semi- Finals sending him back to wrestle for a top 8 finish. When the day was over Saturday evening, McCormick finished in 8^th place in the state at 140 pounds as a sophomore. John Thieberger wrestled back and won by a pin in the Consolation Finals finishing the tournament 3^rd in the state at 285 pounds. The team then learned the out come of a season of hard work and dedication, when they announced that the Winner of the Small Size School Division was none other then Massanutten Military Academy.

A team that has only been around now for 5 years, just became the first ever High School Team State Championship. That goal has been reached. New goals are set for future wrestling teams at MMA. They go beyond just the Small Size School Division, and now to shoot to become one of those teams in the top six in the state overall, then shooting for an overall State Wrestling Championship.

Hats off to the members of the MMA Wrestling Team, not only the ones that stepped on the mat at the State Tournament, but to all of them, even the ones that stayed back, but were in practice every day pushing each other, making the varsity starter work harder every day, that is the hard work and dedication that helps a team win this type of award. Congratulations you make MMA Proud.

MMA Interact Club Collecting School Supplies posted 22 February 2007

The Interact Club at MMA is taking part in the Big Brown Box Project to support schools and children in Sierra Leone. This project collects school supplies, gathers them in large barrels (shown below) and ships it to schools in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is recovering from a ten year civil war and is one of the poorest countries in the world.

The MMA Interact Club is composed of 45 cadets engaged in many community service activities throughout the year. The Club is sponsored by the Woodstock Rotary Club.

The cadets are requesting any type of school supplies, such as: pens, pencils, note book paper, colored pencils, rulers, calculators, glue sticks, and scissors. For more information contact Joe Babcock, Director of Activities and Community Service at 540-459-2167 ext. 263 or jbabcock@militaryschool.com

Cadets Score Near-Perfect Rating from Cadet Command posted 13 February 2007

The MMA Cadets shine once again during the all-day inspection from the 4th Brigade of Cadet Command. MMA maintained its elite status among military schools by winning the title of "Honor Unit with Distinction." This is the highest awarded category given to schools with JROTC units.

The Corps of Cadets put in an enormous amount of time preparing for the inspection. Hard work after school and several weekends paid off when their points were totaled. The Academy scored 2995.6 points out of a possible 3000. A 99.7% rating, which is nearly perfect. Job well done by our cadets!

Cadet McCulloch ('07) Recognized in Newspaper Article posted 14 February 2007

Senior Cadet Oakland McCulloch was recently interviewed by Sally Voth, a writer for The Northern Virginia Daily. The article highlighted Cadet McCulloch's acceptance to The U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his pursuit to join the Army.

The article describes the history of military service in Cadet McCulloch's family and his call to duty and follow the same. Cadet McCulloch was also accepted to The Citadel and VMI.

Please read the full story in the Valley Scene Section of The Northern Virginia Daily, Feb. 10, 2007 issue.

MMA Brings Home 2 Medals in Air Pistol Sectionals posted 14 February 2007

The highlight of the 2007 10-Meter Olympic Air Pistol season is always the annual National Rifle Association's Sectional Championship. This competition held at Winchester, Virginia for the second year in a row, netted a second and a third place medal. The MMA "Purple" team comprised, of Cadets Randolph Carlisle, Jr., Stephen Fialkowski, and Sean Joyner finished in Second Place and the "Gold" team of Cadets Zachariah Kim, David Murnock, and Andrew Poe won the Bronze medal.

In addition, Cadet Aleksandra Janhunen, new to Olympic Air, finished as the number two shooter in the Women's Division. Mechanical trouble with her pistol may have cost Janhunen the Gold medal in this event, but she's still smiling and pleased with her success. She plans on a first place next year!

Second year pistol shooter, Zachariah Kim brought home a Gold Medal for his First Place finish in the Master/Unclassified division and plans on repeating this success in air rifle in the coming season. Zack is in his second year at MMA.

Although Olympic Air Pistol is a relatively new sport for schools, there are a number of colleges which give excellent scholarships to good shooters.