Journalist: Kyle Mauch
Editor: Avari Yane
May, 2025
Walla Walla High School senior Hannah Goin officially signed her NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division one National Letter of Intent on May 7, committing to the Rifle Team at Morehead State University in Kentucky. The signing ceremony, held at 3:45 P.M. in the school commons, was facilitated by SFC (Sergeant First Class) Mark Mebes, a key figure in the school’s JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) program. Goin received her offer from MSU Rifle Coach, Alan Joseph, following her standout performance at the Junior Olympic National Rifle Championship.
Goin’s journey in competitive shooting began in WA-HI’s JROTC program, where she quickly made a name for herself and earned a spot on the precision rifle team by her sophomore year. Throughout her high school career, she represented Walla Walla in six national-level events, including the Junior Olympics, Army JROTC Nationals, and CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) Nationals.
She was nominated by peers to become the 106th Walla Walla High School JROTC Battalion Commander, earning the rank of Cadet Lieutenant Colonel. One of the highest ranks in the battalion, a lot of pressure was put on Goin to become a huge face of the program. In this role, she oversaw six cadet companies. Eventually, she was promoted to Cadet Colonel, after her excellence with the battalion commanding a drill meet. She continues to lead the battalion with leadership traits that one could wish to have.
In January, Goin visited Morehead State University, where she toured the campus, attended classes with current NCAA Rifle athletes, interviewed with Coach Joseph, and got a firsthand look at the team’s practices. After a strong showing at the Junior Olympics in April, Goin received her official offer to join the 2025-26 MSU Rifle Team. “Morehead has exactly the program of study that I wanted. I decided back in January that whether or not I received an offer to shoot there, that’s where I wanted to go,” Goin shared.
Goin’s next steps include training for the CMP National Rifle Championships in Ohio this July before making the move to Kentucky to begin her studies and start training with the MSU Rifle Team. The WA-HI JROTC battalion is very excited to see what Goin’s future holds for her as we all watch her embark on this magnificent journey.
