Wiley X Expands Partnership with Paralyzed Veterans of America

   10.21.11

As a veteran-owned company, Wiley X® knows that the competitive spirit and drive for excellence burns strongly inside the hearts of America’s paralyzed veterans. It’s why the leading manufacturer of protective sunglasses has actively sponsored the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) National Bass Tour, National Trapshoot Circuit and U.S. Handcycling Series throughout 2011.

Following the last tournament of the 2011 season, Tony Choe of Fairfax Station, Virginia earned 580 points and took home PVA National Bass Tour Angler of the Year honors. Runner-up Brent Homan of Harker Heights, Texas had a strong finish to end the season with 534 points. Harold Henderson of Fletcher, North Carolina finished a close third with 532 points. Fourth Place honors went to Paul Offill of Forney, Texas, who reached the end of the season with 522 points. In the PVA Bass Tour Bank Division — for anglers who prefer to fish from shore rather than a boat — angler Ken DaVault of Silver Springs, Maryland held onto the commanding lead he had on the field going into the final event to earn top honors with 597 points.

With their advanced fish-spotting capabilities and unique High Velocity Protection, Wiley X polarized sunglasses are the choice of top professional anglers like Bassmaster Classic champion Skeet Reese and 2010 Angler of the Year runner up Edwin Evers. This performance also makes Wiley X an ideal sponsorship partner for the PVA National Bass Tour. As part of its agreement, Wiley X provides its polarized eyewear to the tournament staff, directors and volunteers that make these events possible. Each tournament winning angler also receive Wiley X eyewear, while the Angler of the Year winner receives a special Wiley X prize package including a pair of Wiley X glasses, logo hoodie and ball cap.

Competition had been tough all season in the 2011 PVA National Trapshoot Circuit, where shooters with disabilities compete as equals with able-bodied athletes. With the recent conclusion of this event’s 15th Circuit, the exciting and hard fought competition ended with Bill Palmer named as the season’s Chad Crowley Award winner (given to the highest overall PVA voting member who is a veteran), receiving a special Wiley X prize package including a T-Shirt, sunglasses and cap. Wiley X Eyewear also went to Steve Wagner, who was named high overall shooter, and Doug Vann, who took top honors as high wheelchair shooter.

Wiley X has been there during every step of the PVA National Trapshoot Circuit, providing winners, staff, directors and volunteers with its new Wiley X Guard and Wiley X Saber Advanced tactical eyewear — some of the same protection it provides to U.S. military forces in action around the world.

Wiley X’s tactical eyewear meets stringent MIL-PRF-31013 military ballistic standards for Combat Eye Protection. Wiley X is also the only premium sunglass manufacturer with tough ANSI-Z87.1-2003 High Mass and High Velocity Impact Test ratings on every pair of glasses it makes.

“As a veteran-owned company, we have immense respect these soldiers who have made such a sacrifice for their country,” said Wiley X Co-Owner Myles Freeman, Jr. “These are world-class athletes who have overcome challenges most of us can’t even fathom. It’s our honor to support their efforts and reward their accomplishments on the water, on the range and on the road. This is why we expanded our involvement during the 2011 PVA season to include the U.S. Handcycling Series,” added Freeman.

Wiley X will provide its state-of-the-art, road-ready vision protection to race personnel and top competitors who battle it out wheel-to-wheel on hand-powered cycles. These bicep-burning competitions take place across the country, including many world-renowned marathons — such as the New York City Marathon Nov. 6 — that allow handcycling competitors.

To learn more about Wiley X’s full line of performance protective eyewear for work and play — visit Wiley X, Inc. at 7800 Patterson Pass Road, Livermore, CA 94550 •

Telephone: (800) 776-7842 • Or visit online at www.wileyx.com.

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