Marion High School JROTC claimed two of the top spots in the Ultimate Raider individual competition at the Huntington North High School Raider competition recently.
Cadet Justin Peters, a senior at MHS, earned first place in the male division, and Cadet Alexa Ortiz, a junior, was runner-up in the female division. It was the first time either of them had competed in the Ultimate Raider competition, which comes at the end of the physically demanding Raider meet. The Ultimate Raider event includes a distance run followed by a cross country obstacle course.
“This feels great, I have waited four years for that!” Peters said of his winning experience in the Ultimate Raider competition.
Cadet Justin Peters displays his Ultimate Raider first-place trophy at the Huntington North competition.
Ortiz knew she was up against a strong field, with the cadet who ended up the winner in her division being an All-State cross country runner.
“I knew I would have to give it my best, which I did, and it felt amazing to have competed all day and then to have been the runner-up” Ortiz said. “We had just finished our last team event a short time before the Ultimate Raider, and I knew it would be tough. I’m proud of what I was able to do.”
MHS JROTC Raider team members cheer on their teammate Cadet Alexa Ortiz as she competes in the Ultimate Raider contest at Huntington North.
Retired Col. Gary Blagburn, coach of the Raider team and Senior Army Instructor for the MHS JROTC, was impressed by both cadets.
“These two cadets’ performance was nothing less than outstanding,” said retired Col. Gary Blagburn, coach of the Raider team and Senior Army Instructor for the MHS JROTC. “At the end of a grueling day of competition, to dig down deep and win and place second as the Ultimate Raider was awesome.”
The whole team turned in a major effort on Sept. 6 against a field of 16 teams from across central and northern Indiana. Once again, the Giants faced off against three of their rivals: the Concordia Lutheran Cadets, Huntington North Vikings, and the Hobart Brickies. But at the end of the day, the Giants fell short this year, finishing fourth. The Giants were able to edge out the Vikings, but fell behind Hobart, Concordia and the U.S. Air Force team from Elkhart.
“This year’s team has a number of cadets involved in additional sports and commitments at the high school, as well as dealing with injuries,” Blagburn said. “The outcome is never assured, and the competition is always intense.”
The Huntington North match was the first competition for the team as they began their quest to the Raider State Championship to be held Oct. 4 at Camp Atterbury.
“This competition allowed the team to gauge where they stand with some of the teams they will see at the Raider State Championship,” Blagburn said.
Following the State Championship, the Giants will travel to Fort Knox, Ky., the third week of October to compete in the Army Raider National Championship.
Attending these Championships is a costly adventure, with transportation, lodging and meals. The JROTC Dept. is accepting donations to help these cadets continue to excel. Donations can be mailed to the School at 750 W. 26th St., Marion, IN 46953, or made online here.
“Our community has been very generous in the past,” said Blagburn. “We are truly grateful for any support and look to make our mark at the national level.”