Wa-Hi senior to join Naval Academy rifle team

Walla Walla High School senior Sabrina Keenan signed a letter of intent with the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School Wednesday, Feb. 24 in the Fletcher Memorial Room at the school’s main gym. The Naval Academy is recruiting her to shoot for its Rifle Team. She leaves for the Naval Academy in July. Keenan, the Wa-Hi Rifle Team captain, recently won the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps national event.

The Army-wide competition was held over the past two weekends at three different sites. The Blue Devils team won the Army National title beating the next closest team, Sarasota Military Academy, by six points. The competition was held in Camp Perry, Ohio; Anniston, Alabama; and Provo, Utah. The Wa-Hi team competed at the Utah location. Keenan and her teammates now advance to the All-Service competition in Alabama to compete against the top high school shooters from around the nation. Blue Devils marksmen practice on a state-of-the-art electronic range and wear special uniforms which are mandatory gear at this level of competition. Competitors use Olympic quality air rifles specially designed for precision shooting. JROTC marksmanship and cadet leadership programs are a path to opportunities for higher education such as military academy appointments and scholarships at top colleges and universities, according to Sgt. 1st Class Mark Mebes, rifle team coach.

As the team captain, Keenan manages the training schedule, the pre-match warm-up routine and meal planning. Keenan researched all three service academy rifle team programs. She sent out letters and conducted research before selecting the Naval Academy after doing a site visit.

“It just felt like the best fit,” Keenan said. “The campus is beautiful and there is a lot of excitement with the rifle program.”

Keenan didn’t start shooting until her sophomore year. In fact, she had never handled a gun of any type until getting involved in the JROTC program at Wa-Hi. She and her teammates practice countless hours in preparation for meets. She says the program has become a second family to her.

“It’s neat to see the support for our program is school-wide,” said Keenan. “It meant a lot to me seeing the principal at my signing and to know he supports our program.”

Walla Walla Public Schools will provide an update on how Keenan and the team does at the All-Service meet.