Massachusetts Maritime Academy is often a "family institution" with multiple generations of families attending over the years. Currently, whether they play sports or not, we have a number of sons and daughters of alumni who are current Cadets. Soon that will be the case for two-sport alum Bill Gorry and his son Billy who will be a Cadet Candidate in the fall of 2021. Bill and Billy spoke with Sean Krofssik of the Record-Journal in Connecticut about Billy following in his dad's footsteps in Buzzards Bay.

WALLINGFORD, Conn — Like father, like son.

That is literally the case for Wallingford's Bill Gorry and his eldest son Billy, a senior at Sheehan High School.

The younger Gorry recently committed to attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy to study engineering and play baseball and football. His father did all three as well at the Bourne, Mass. school before graduating in 1996.

"I love following in my father's footsteps; it's always something I've tried to do," Billy said. "He's always said he would never lead me down the wrong path. Mass Maritime is somewhere I always wanted to go. I know my dad is always going to do what's best for me. This will be the best choice for me, as it was for him."

The Academy is a place close to the heart of the elder Gorry. He was a four-year catcher for the Buccaneers. In football, he was a backup quarterback in his freshman year before shifting to starting strong safety and long snapper.

"My college coach, Bob Corradi, told us that none of us are going to play pro ball, but we will be able to teach our sons how to be men and take ownership and how to be leaders," Bill Gorry said. "Billy has been receptive to that. He puts his teammates before himself and he understands commitment."

The elder Gorry said his son has yet to miss a team meeting or practice and is a 3.9 GPA honors student.

"He's focused on what he wants to do," Bill Gorry said. "He loves football and he loves baseball. He's always has known he wanted to get into engineering. He sees me building things around the house. I think he had an idea he wanted to go in this direction as a freshman at Sheehan and it made it easier for his path in high school."

The younger Gorry started playing baseball and football early in his life. Many seasons were spent with his dad as coach.

"Sports have always been a big part of my life," Billy Gorry said. "It's always been right behind family and school. I enjoy being competitive and the life lessons I've learned about being a leader."

The younger Gorry started his baseball career in Hamden Little League, then played in Yalesville Little League. He's also been with the Wallingford Cardinals since 2012 and the starting catcher for American Legion Post 187 for the past two years.

At Sheehan, Gorry was DH as a sophomore and drew a couple of starts behind the plate.

"I've been a catcher since I was five," said Gorry, who was calling pitches by age 11. "You're the field general. Baseball is a tough sport and it taught me how to deal with failure and how to bounce back from it. Catching is probably the hardest position. You get hit with a lot with foul balls, but I wear that badge on me with pride."

On the gridiron, Gorry initially played flag football with the Wallingford Vikings for four years. He moved on to tackle football with the Vikings for three years before entering Sheehan.

He was a quarterback as a sixth grader as the biggest player on the team. He later moved to tight end and eventually he settled in as a lineman.

At Sheehan, Gorry has played everywhere on the offensive and defensive lines. He's also the short snapper for extra points and field goals and long snapper for punts. He was an integral piece of the 2019 Class S state championship team.

At Mass Maritime, Gorry will rejoin two former Sheehan football teammates, Jake Smith and Aaron Simmons, who are in their freshman year.

Gorry said he's excited to play college sports and get into the engineering field.

"I want to help change the world," Gorry said. "I want to build something that will change lives of millions of people in the world. Going to Mass Maritime is a dream come true."

The Gorry legacy at Sheehan, meanwhile, will endure. Billy's younger brother is a freshman football player.

The Gorry family has endured some recent heartache with the passing of Bill's parents — Billy's grandparents — Bill and Laura Gorry. Laura died in 2018. Bill died on Thanksgiving in 2019, a day he planned to watch his grandson play in the Carini Bowl.

"I can't tell you how much my parents meant to me," Bill Gorry said. "They were proud of my boys. I know they would be smiling from ear to ear with Billy's decision. They said the best thing they ever did was put me through Mass. Maritime. They loved my boys and had an unbelievable relationship with them."

Bill said his son's work ethic is a big strength.

"I always tell him, 'Don't let anyone ever outwork you,'" Bill Gorry said. "He's not the tallest or biggest player, but I can put him up against anyone and he won't get outworked. He's 6-foot and 220 pounds and very strong for his size. He's a player the coaches can trust. I don't think I can be prouder than I am of him."

CLICK HERE to visit the Record-Journal's original story.