Members of the JROTC team are, from left, first row: Anthony Ricks, La’deshia Simpkins, Carneshia Bell, Keondra Kelly, Marquis Moody and Michael Foust; and second row: Andres Jeronimo, RaQuel Haney, T’keyha Mosley, Juan Jeronimo, Sagwoya Green, Lewis Williams, Jared Hackworth, Isayda Perez, Breaona Milton and Ra’shon Brady. (Photo contributed) The Jenkins County High School JROTC Precision Drill Team traveled to Fort Gordon March 27 to compete in an 85 school, all-classification, State Championship Drill Meet. The War Eagle Drill Team competed in eight events, placing in the top five in six of eight events, and won a State Championship in both the Male and Female Divisions.

Jenkins County, the defending State Champion in the Female Armed Squad, came up short to a strong Pebblebrook team finishing second in this event. The girls did not let this distract them from their goal as they stormed back to finish first in the Unarmed event which they were seventh in last year. The Female Unarmed Squad was commanded by Keondra Kelly with Carneshia Bell, Sagwoya Green, Breaona Milton, Isayda Perez, RaQuel Haney, T’Keyha Mosley and La’deshia Simpkins making up the team.

The Male War Eagles repeated as State Champions in the Armed Squad event commanded by Lewis Williams with Ra’Shon Brady, Jared Hackworth, Andres Jeronimo, Juan Jeronimo, Michael Foust, Anthony Ricks and Marquis Moody making up the team. Of the 16 members on the team, nine were new to this level of competition, and seven were new to the Drill Team.

Jenkins County rounded out their competition finishing second in Color Guard, third in Unarmed Platoon, fifth in Unarmed Squad and seventh in Armed Platoon.

The Jenkins County JROTC Color Guard will continue competition through May 1 trying to improve their performance of last year at the All Services National Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach. The War Eagles finished seventh overall behind three Texas schools, each a defending National Champion in separate divisions, (each school had two teams each, placing first through sixth). Jenkins County was the fourth place school, seventh place team, overall of the 32 schools entered representing 18 states.