NJROTC earns first in region, qualifies for state
Ramona High School NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps) drill team took first place out of nine teams in the Area 11 drill competition at Chaparral High School in Temecula.
The victory qualified the unit for the state championships that will be held Saturday, March 7, at Santa Ana High School in Santa Ana. The top two teams will advance to national championships in Pensacola, Fla.
Area 11 is comprised of 59 schools, but only 16 qualify for this prestigious event. This is the first time Ramona High has won a competition outright in the overall category. The students finished second in physical fitness competition earlier this year at Troy High School in Fullerton.
The events contested at a drill meet are: Personnel Inspection, Armed Basic routine, Un-armed Basic routine, Armed Exhibition, Un-armed Exhibition, Color Guard, sit-ups, push-ups, 16 x 100 relay, 8 x 220 relay and academic exam.
Ramona’s 40 NJROTC cadets achieved: first overall, first overall in physical fitness, first in push-ups, first in sit-ups, second in 16 X 100 relay, second in Armed Exhibition, second in academics, and third in Color Guard, 8 X 200 relay, and armed basic.
Individual medals were presented to the following Ramona cadets, who competed against 72 other students: Alec Richardson, 2nd in push-ups; Robert Chisholm, 5th in push-ups; Jaynce Van Camp, 5th in push-ups; Jackson Rath, 2nd in sit-ups; Alec Richardson, 3rd in sit-ups; Brandi Hietala 3rd in push-ups. In Academics, cadets Conner Spain and Paul Loska tied for 3rd out of 72.
The unit’s commanding officer is Cadet Amanda Robershaw, the executive officer is Adi Gutierrez, the operations officer is Lawren Richardson and the command master chief is Jaynce Van Camp.
Lt. Cmdr Mike Ernst, unit commander, praised the support of parents Bryan and Kay Gideon, Tim and Rosalinda Stevenson, Tammy Huffman, Greg and Laura Hietala, Debbie Dunlop, Melissa Richardson and Mike and Anne Ellis.
“Our parents helped make the day and were instrumental in our success and made the event fun,” he said. “They fed the cadets, hydrated them and helped with inspection preparations.”