JROTC wraps up Georgia competition

Members of the Jenkins County High School JROTC are, from left, Carneisha Bell, Paul Salter, Andres Jeronimo, Fernando Gomez, Brianna Joiner, Marquis Moody and Ra'Shon Brady. (Photo contributed)

Jenkins County High School (JCHS) JROTC Drill Team and Color Guard wrapped up competition in Georgia over the past couple Saturdays, one in Augusta for the Georgia Army JROTC State Drill Team Championships, and the other in Macon at the All-Army Eastern Region Drill Team Championships.

At the State Championship Drill Meet, the War Eagles were matched against 29 other teams from throughout Georgia.

"Having to compete against the likes of the big schools from Atlanta, Athens and Columbus were challenging to say the least. The Jenkins County War Eagles had not faced this level of competition, nor the number of opposing teams of every cali- ber that they faced in Augusta. Jenkins County did not dominate like they did at Region, but they were not denied either. The cadets won two fifth place trophies and finished sixth in another," said CSM Hayward Thompson, drill team coach.

"The cadets are also very appreciative of the support of Nicole Moulton, principal of Jenkins County Middle School and Dr. Joey Kirkland, principal of JCHS, who spent the day supporting the Drill Team at Fort Gordon during the State Championship Meet," he added.

In Macon on March 29 for the All-Army meet, 31 teams from New York to Florida came to play.

"The Jenkins County team was definitely out of their class but still out performed many schools from Georgia to New Jersey. The Jenkins County Color Guard finished twelfth of 18 teams in their bracket," said Thompson.

The two color guard teams will now compete in the Challenge Level competition of the All Services National Drill Team Championships to be held in Daytona Beach Florida from May 1-4.

"Although we have not won everywhere we have competed, we have made a name for ourselves and most schools will readily admit, the Jenkins County JROTC Drill Team and Color Guard is an up and coming force to be reckoned with in the future" stated Thompson.