JROTC cadets shown are, from left, first row: Willie Watson, Michael Foust, Natalie Branch, Marquis Moody, Anthony Sea, Keondra Kelly, Cortnei Earls, Ra’Shon Brady, Trevon Sanders and Chris Simmons; and second row: Isayda Perez, Nicholas Williams, Bailey Alsobrooks, La’deshia Simpkins, T’keyha Mosley, Sagwoya Green, Carneshia Bell, Jared Hackworth, Breaona Milton, T C Herrington, Dwayne Snelling, Raquel Haney, Latranese Sapp, Lewis Williams, Brittany McKinney, Juan Jeronimo, Anthony Ricks and Andres Jeronimo. (Photo contributed) The Jenkins County High School JROTC Drill Team made it three in a row as they out marched six area schools to win their third Region Championship in three years in five separate events. It was a slug fest between South East Bulloch (SEB), Statesboro and Jenkins County in all 14 team events with Statesboro winning seven first place trophies and Jenkins County five. Although South East Bulloch only placed first in one event, Male/Mixed Color Guard, second in two events and third in two events, they were pressing both Statesboro and Jenkins County all the way. Statesboro had three second place finishes to Jenkins County’s eight. Metter claimed the last first place trophy in the Female Color Guard event. Jenkins County qualified for all 14 team events placing either first, second or third.

The War Eagles captured three of five female dual team positions with Carneisha Bell and Keondra Kelly taking 3rd; La’deshia Simpkins and T’keyha Mosley qualifying fourth; and Breaona Milton and Sagwoya Green, fifth. Andres Jeronimo and Juan Jeronimo qualified fifth in the Male Armed Dual Exhibition; Bailey Alsobrooks qualified fourth; Brittany McKinney fifth in Female Armed Individual Exhibition; and Andres Jeronimo took fifth in the Armed Male Exhibition event. In Armed Knockout Drill, Brittany McKinney won an additional first place for Jenkins County.

Cadet Ra’Shon Brady placed first in Male Regulation Armed Platoon drill outscoring SEB by two points. Cadet Keondra Kelly led the Female Regulation Armed Platoon to a first place, outscoring Statesboro by 235 points. Cadet Lewis Williams commanded the Regulation Armed Squad to win Region in this event, winning by seven points over SEB, and Keondra Kelly commanded the Female Regulation Armed Squad to a repeat of last year’s championship, beating Statesboro by 31 points. Rounding out the first place performances was Cadet Andres Jeronimo leading the Male Armed Exhibition Squad to a Region first place outscoring Statesboro by 71 points.

Jenkins County will advance to the State Drill Championships to be held at Fort Gordon, in Augusta March 27. There is no admission, concessions will be available and competition begins at 9 a.m.

Members of the Jenkins County Drill Team are Bailey Alsobrooks, Carneshia Bell, Ra’Shon Brady, Natalie Branch, Cortnei Earls, Michael Foust, Sagwoya Green, Jared Hackworth, Raquel Haney, T. C. Herrington, Andres Jeronimo, Juan Jeronimo, Keondra Kelly, Brittany McKinney, Marquis Moody, T’keyha Mosley, Isayda Perez, Anthony Ricks, Trevon Sanders, Latranese Sapp, Anthony Sea, Chris Simmons, La’deshia Simpkins, Dwayne Snelling, Lewis Williams, Nicholas Williams, Drill Team Manager Willie Watson and photographer Brad Amerson.