by bill wells
DEPARTMENTS: TITANS VICTORIOUS
Director of Student Promotion
RIFLERY
Riflery on target with another undefeated season Not even the worst pandemic in 100 years could stop the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Riflery team from raising another banner. For the fourth time in five years, WMA’s Riflery program finished with an undefeated season, winning all of its regular season matches before placing first against other prep and high school teams at postseason tournaments. The Titans extended their regular season winning streak to 32. Led by Ryan Cordeiro ’21, Coach Bill Passy’s team went 9–0 during the regular season, won the Connecticut High School Riflery League Shoot Off, the NRA 4-Position Sectional and the Prep School Gallery Match. “This year, because we didn’t know what other schools were dealing with, for us to come out and perform as well as we did and have a perfect season was pretty incredible,” Coach Passy said. Ryan finished with the highest scoring average in the Connecticut High School Riflery League for the season. It’s the first time in school history WMA had a student with the highest average. “Ryan had another great season,” Coach Passy said. “We almost expected it; he worked with us in the fall for his athletic concentration. He’s had a solid career here for us. He’s really a once-in-a-lifetime shooter for someone at the high school level, and I’m lucky enough to have a second one because Dan Wesson ’18 was one and now Ryan Cordeiro. I can’t thank Ryan enough for what he’s done for our program the last four years.”
RIFLERY
Titans place 4 on all-league Riflery team A great shooter needs discipline, and that was never more evident than during the 2020–21 school year, which saw a lifetime’s share of adversity due to COVID-19. Despite all of the distractions, four members of the Wilbraham & Monson Academy Riflery team stayed poised and earned All-League honors from the Connecticut High School Riflery League. Ryan Cordeiro ’21 (first place), Jiwon Lee ’23 (third), Steven Holik ’22 (fourth) and Jake Girhiny ’22 (eighth) placed in the top 10 in the 12-team league, earning the quartet postseason honors. The group paced the Titans to wins at the Prep School Gallery Match and NRA 4-Position Sectional, as well as the league title for the fourth time in five years. “I think our program is in a good spot,” Coach Bill Passy said. “We have been lucky to get kids who want to be in the program and buy into what we are teaching. We tell them from the beginning that it won’t be easy, they’ll have to work hard, and certain positions will be uncomfortable at times, but they still show up and perform. As a coach, you can’t ask for much more than that. I feel very lucky to be able to lead these kids and watch them perform.”
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AC A D E M Y WO R L D FA L L 2 02 1
FROM LEFT: Ryan Cordeiro ’21, Steven Holik ’22, Jake Girhiny ’22, Jiwon Lee ’23 and Coach Bill Passy.
