MMA Athletics

Team Players

MMA's soccer program builds a winning mindset, on and off the field.

By all accounts, the soccer program at Missouri Military Academy is a great success. In just 37 years, MMA soccer has built an impressive legacy, compiling a record of 414 wins to 176 losses, winning 11 district titles — most recently in 2018 — and placing fourth in Missouri state competition in 1992.

But according to head varsity soccer coach Liam Collins, the primary goal of MMA soccer isn’t winning every game — it’s about imparting the values of sportsmanship, commitment to hard work, and the grit and determination to push onward that cadets learn as members of a team.

“I want my players to have fun, but I also want them to understand that working hard and working together as a team can help you overcome many challenges,” says Collins, a former NCAA Division I soccer player at the University of Memphis. “When players buy in and commit wholeheartedly as a team, the wins will occur naturally — and the same is true in life. If they can apply these lessons from soccer to their overall lives, then I have achieved my objective as an MMA coach.” Cadet Bruno Pozzani, captain of the 2019-20 soccer team, attests to Collins’ philosophy of character and team development through the sport. When the team steps onto the field, the senior says, it’s not about individual achievement, but rather about brotherhood and hard work.

“The team is my favorite part about playing soccer because we learn that soccer is not what is on the line,” Pozzani says. “Our brotherhood — the people beside you — are the ones who are going to take care of you, and it’s our responsibility to do the same for them. This mindset makes the bond between the players unbreakable.”

Looking ahead to life after graduation, Pozzani says he plans to use what he has learned on the soccer field as he works toward an international business career.

“[Soccer helped me grow] as a teammate and a leader,” he says. “The game taught me to work as a team to outperform the other side. As a leader, it taught me that when tough times come, someone needs to step up. This can mean playing harder, communicating better or getting more focused. It taught me about stepping up and doing my part to improve the team.”

As a reflection of MMA’s values, soccer serves as yet another pillar of

cadets’ education and experience at the

academy. From the field to postgraduate education and careers, teammates learn one of life’s most valuable lessons — how to reach the goal.

Cadet Robert Abbott drives down Colonels Field.

Coming off a fourth-place finish at the JROTC Service Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio, the MMA rifle team is supporting the Academy’s new strategic plan through growth, personal development and service.

A fixture at the Academy since the beginning, the Missouri Military Academy rifle team boasts a longstanding tradition of excellence, both on the range and off. Mutual respect and service are cornerstones of the program, and though the team still has work to do to reach its goal of bringing a national championship trophy back home to the Academy, they’ve made impressive strides, both in competition and in the classroom.

“I see the academic benefits of being on the rifle team as overwhelming evidence to its benefits outside the range,” says Captain Joseph Balvanz, MMA rifle team coach and military department chair, who brings more than 21 years of tactical rifle firing, rifle hunting, coaching and mentoring to the team. “Our cadets understand that you have to win in your head before you can expect

Cadet Evan Dawson concentrates during competition.

Taking Aim: MMA Rifle Team

to win in life. You have to visualize and then make happen those things in life that make you better. We routinely practice fundamentals that increase concentration, focus and drive, as well as how to achieve results. In short, our cadets stay out of trouble and perform under pressure.”

High Marks

The 2019-20 Academy’s rifle team consists of the best firers from MMA’s Army JROTC program (including one JROTC cadet from Mexico High School, Madison Jones, who qualified for this year’s team). In February, the team took fourth-place team honors at the JROTC Service Championship in Camp Perry, Ohio. The Colonels competed Feb. 14–16 in the sporter class, finishing ahead of 12 Army teams and all 10 of the Air Force teams. Team members William Baker, Rene Garcia, Landy Nguyen and Lance Newland earned an aggregate score of 4,166 out of 4,800 possible in the competition. “We just missed earning the third-place trophy by 25 points,” says Balvanz. “We are left hungrier than ever. Although fourth is not where we want to be, it is the highest team honors achieved by MMA at the Service Championship in the air rifle era.”

Cadet Baker, a senior from Flower Mound, Texas, took first place among all 123 sporter competitors, earning an invitation to the 2020 National JROTC Championship March 19–21 at Camp Perry. “In fact,” Balvanz says, “he handily won by eight points going into the finals round, a lead unrivaled by the Air Force sporter class or the Army or Air Force precision classes!” Baker’s finish in Ohio makes him the fifth-ranked Army JROTC shooter in the country.

“I’m proud of what our team has accomplished,” Balvanz adds. “With that said, we always feel we could have done better, and that’s what drives us as competitors.”

Continued

Cadet Jared Douthit adjusts his sights.

Drive and the Strategic Plan

That drive to better themselves is what motivates the team’s cadets to hit the range from 0600 to 0700 five days a week — and again from 1600 to 1730 every week day. With every practice, they’re sharpening skills, as well as their overall discipline, and in doing so they’re also supporting the Academy’s new strategic plan.

“I believe that our goal to ‘develop cadet life programs that blunt attrition and stimulate enrollment’ is enhanced by all successful competitive teams,” Balvanz says. “As teams win, accolades, support and encouragement reinforce their actions as positive on the personal and organizational levels. Our team loves what they

Coach Balvanz advises Cadet Lance Newland on his shot.

do, they are encouraged by our results and love to share in their success.” Balvanz also highlights the plan’s fifth goal, to “develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain and support a highly qualified workforce.” “I believe that our rifle team changes the young lives of our cadets, and that’s what draws some of the most qualified teachers, coaches and mentors to our workforce in the first place. Our faculty are talented and driven to lead positive change in our young cadets. The rifle team is one more venue to truly reach our cadets, and therefore, the positive change reflective of the team reminds our faculty why they came here.” The strategic plan’s sixth goal, to “explore new opportunities for growth and innovation,” is another area where Balvanz says the team has been able to contribute. “Competing at the Service Championships for the second year in a row is an honor. We are one of only a couple teams in the entire state, and one of only a couple military schools in the country, to earn the same privilege,” Balvanz says. “As a result, Missouri Military Academy is maintaining its status as the premier Midwest military boarding school. This success, coupled with external partnerships, grants and other supporting functions, have continued to grow on the prior success of our team and our shooting facilities.” “How can I reach my potential?” is a common MMA rifle team mantra. “ “

MMA Rifle Team 2019-20, from left to right: Mike Shoemaker (Assistant Coach), Evan Dawson, Landy Nguyen, Cole Miracle, Blake Morais, Jared Douthit, William Baker, Rene Garcia, Madison Jones (JROTC member from Mexico High School), Joseph Balvanz (Head Coach).

Purpose and Achievement

Through all the practice, competition and team building, cadets on the MMA rifle team learn just as much about themselves as they do about life on a team. “How can I reach my potential?” is a common mantra and combines with the other skills and attributes that rifle team training has shown to hone, such as increasing courage, confidence, stamina, physical balance and personal responsibility. At MMA, marksmanship is a team sport — and that team camaraderie is arguably one of the cadets’ favorite aspects of the program — but individuals are still responsible for themselves and their own performance.

Ultimately, just as the Academy strives to train young men of honor and purpose, Balvanz encourages his cadets to ask, “Why me?” and “Why now?” and it’s that sense of purpose that has led to achievement at the range and a boost to campus pride.

“Our rifle team has demonstrated hard work and commitment to training, and their success brings pride to the entire Academy,” says MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret). “Their recent achievements fuel our drive to continue to improve our rifle program and support our cadets as they reach for higher and higher goals.”

MMA’s strategic plan calls for funding to support rifle range renovation and team equipment and transportation to accommodate growth in the corps and enable cadets to travel to more national and regional competitions, such as the Camp Perry JROTC Service Championship.

Cadet William Baker ’20 stands victorious atop the “winner’s podium” after taking first place at the Camp Perry competition in February.