The Marion High School JROTC drill team started their season off well with several top placements at a regional competition hosted in Springfield, Ohio.
The Giants earned a first and second place finish in the color guard event. The winning color guard was led by MHS senior Jocelyn Lopez-Gomez and included senior Jerrica Cheung and sophomores Lilly Carter and Evelyn Lopez-Gomez.
“We have been practicing hard the past couple of weeks, and we prepared for this meet,” said Jocelyn Lopez-Gomez. “With it being our first meet of the year, we were really unsure of how well we would do.”
The Giants also earned a third place finish in the armed squad regulation drill event, led by senior Daniel Terhune.
“Your first match of the season is always full of anticipation and concern,” said retired Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Smith, the Giants’ coach and Army Instructor for the MHS JROTC. “It really does give us an assessment of where we are and helps the newer team members to understand the pressure of competition.”
During the final event of the meet, several hundred cadets take to the floor and execute precision movements under the watchful eyes of a dozen graders. The slightest fault results in removal (knock out) from the competition. Two Giants, Cheung and fellow senior Damarie Weaver, were able to reach the top 10, who receive special recognition.
Next up for the Giants is a trip to compete in Louisville, Ky., for another regional competition. There, the Marion drill team will face numerous teams who compete and place at national championships.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Top: The Marion High School JROTC drill team proudly displays the hardware won at their first competition of the season. The Giants swept first and second place in the color guard and pulled in a third place finish in the armed squad regulation drill category. (Photo provided by Marion Community Schools)
Bottom: Marion High School senior Daniel Terhune reports in to the graders during a regional drill competition in Springfield, Ohio. Terhune led his Giants to earn a third place finish in this event during the JROTC drill team’s first competition of the season. (Photo provided by Marion Community Schools)