January 9, 2020 

Granbury High School senior Clarissa Layland, a cadet in the Granbury Marine Corps JROTC, will join a college rifle team after receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. A signing a ceremony was held on January 8, 2020, at GHS. 

The Navy team competes in NCAA Division I as part of the Great America Rifle Conference.  The academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland. 

As the undergraduate college of our country’s naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. 

Naval Academy students are midshipmen on active duty in the U.S. Navy. They attend the academy for four years, graduating with bachelor of science degrees and commissions as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps. 

“We are very happy to have another rifle team member earn a spot on a college team,” commented Lt. Col. Scott Casey, the Senior Marine Instructor and rifle team coach. 

The JROTC battalion commander, Layland joins teammates Philip Becker and Allison Henry in the college ranks.  Becker signed with Ohio State University, while Henry is bound for Murray State University in western Kentucky. 

The GHS senior was joined by her parents, Jimmy and Pauline Layland, as well as Lt. Col. Casey, First Sergeant Johnny Rositas, rifle team members, family, and friends.