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For good reason, the JROTC squad at George Rogers Clark High School has previously received recognition.

They can add to their reputation after last weekend.

At the 2023 JROTC Raider Competition National Championships in Fort Knox, KY, the girls’ team from GRC finished first in the nation, while the boys – taking home first place in one of the exercises – finished a respectable 7th place overall.

“We were one of the teams that represented 7th Brigade. It’s a five-state brigade in ROTC,” said Lt. Colonel Thomas Krupp, who leads GRC’s JROTC program along with Master Sergeant Larry Lee. “The students are just so happy to see the results of all their hard work and effort.”

As mentioned, the GRC’s JROTC squad is no stranger to success, a factor that Krupp notes played a role in qualifying them for national competition.

For example, the squad took home first place in multiple competitions – including color guard – while participating in the JROTC raider competition at Morehead State University in Rowan County in September.

On Friday, Nov. 3, they were tested by a series of exercises that showcased strength, endurance, and more.

They were the one-rope bridge, 5K team race, Cross Country Rescue (CCR), Physical Team Test (PTT), and Gauntlet.

Nationally, 2,143 students competed from places as far away as New York and Hawaii, with events lasting from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Twenty-eight competitors from GRC – 14 male and 14 female – were active.

Despite treacherous mountain terrain that provided uphill and downhill challenges, both teams finished in first place in the 5k race.

The girls’ team also finished in first place in the one-rope bridge.

“[It’s a] very technical event where ten cadets traverse over a water obstacle with a rope [and] they have to get across without touching [water],” Krupp said. “Our female team won…with a time of two minutes [and] 56 seconds. It was about 70 feet across the river obstacle…they beat a lot of male teams too.”

In other races, the male team – captained by senior Colby Hatton – finished fourth in the PTT test and 7th overall.

The female team finished 3rd in the CCR, 5th in the PTT, and 7th in the Gauntlet.

When all was counted up, they finished four points ahead of the second-place opponent.

Making up the female team was team captain Bailey Wood (SR), Lilly Perry (SR), Monica Crews (SR), Allie Endricks (SR), Laura Ross (SR), Tara Daniels (JR), Jessica Kidd (SO), Saige Plummer (SO), Penelope McIntosh (SO), Rori Cooper (SO), Amithy Salcido (SO), Kira Conley (FR), Valeria Martinez (FR), and Addison Salcido (FR).

While the competition might have been tiring, it still didn’t stop GRC’s JROTC squad from being active afterward.

In addition to their skills competition, they’ve continued to stay involved in the community.

With Veterans Day to be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 11, they paid tribute to those who have served and are no longer among the living as 146 cadets were at Winchester Cemetery on Monday morning to place American flags at the graves of veterans.

As stated by Krupp in an email, “It was a beautiful day, and our cadets were thankful to have the opportunity…to express their thanks to veterans by paying their respects and helping to ensure their legacy is not forgotten.”

With training facilities that have helped them throughout the year and other types of support, Krupp thanked Clark County Public Schools staff, including Superintendent Dustin Howard and George Rogers Clark High School Principal Luke Toy, and the parents of all cadets.

“Without their support for them and resources…we definitely wouldn’t be able to [participate],” he said.