Michigan City High School MCJROTC Wins 2015 Illinois Military Drill Competition

MCHS-MCJROTC-Collage-03-23-15The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) won the Romeoville, Illinois High School Military Drill Competition on Saturday, March 21, defeating nine other schools representing all branches of the military. The Wolves competed in ten events, placing in all but unarmed exhibition drill. They earned the first place trophy by finishing first in two events, second in five events, and third in two events. The events, place and commanders were as follows:

EVENT - PLACE - COMMANDER
Physical Fitness - 3d - Cadet Corporal Chris Taves
First Year Squad - 1st - Cadet Corporal Cici Burnett
Unarmed Squad - 2d - Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Cameron Wilcher
Unarmed Platoon - 2d - Cadet Major Cody Joseph
Inspection - 2d - Cadet Major Cody Joseph
Armed Platoon - 2d - Cadet Captain Alex Wyman
Color Guard - 3d - Cadet First Lieutenant Quinton Dixon
Armed Squad - 1st - Cadet Staff Sergeant Rogelio Zacarais
Armed Exhibition - 2d - Cadet Major Cody Joseph

“This was a great win for us, particularly for our seniors,” said Marine Instructor Master Sergeant Jeff Benak. “Since our last drill meet is scheduled during our Spring Break, most of the seniors will not participate. This was a great way for them to go out.”

Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor, commended the cadets on their persistence in practice and overcoming adversity. “We were missing two of our starters. We had younger cadets step up, and they performed admirably. This is a win that our entire program can be proud of.”

The cadets have one more drill competition remaining, at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, IL. With the absence of a number of team members due to Spring Break, many of the reserve cadets will have an opportunity to drill at this meet. The instructors are conducting an exhibition drill clinic on Saturday, March 28. Exhibition drill allows cadets to use their creativity in devising movements and routines that are not in the Marine Corps Drill Manual. It takes much practice, particularly in the spinning and throwing of the rifles. The clinic is being conducted to motivate the cadets to win the Eisenhower Meet despite being at reduced strength, and to start preparing for next year, particularly with the loss of many seniors. “I am confident that our cadets will rise to the challenge at Eisenhower, and that we will again be competitive next year. We have some really great kids in our program,” McGrath concluded.