First time is luck, second time is coincidence but the tenth is pure talent. For ten years in a row, NJROTC has been one of 25 high schools to go to nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The team received second place in unit personnel inspection and situps, fourth in armed regulation drill, push ups and color guard and fifth in unarmed exhibition drill.

“I think we did unbelievably well,” said Chief Warrant Officer Dennis Grayless. “We competed with 31 students and only three of them were seniors.  So we have 28 kids coming back next year, which should make us extremely competitive next year.”

There were also students who individually placed. Hope McAlexander placed first in female sit-ups with 324, Courtney Humphreys third in female sit-ups with 294, Caleb Coleman second male push-ups with 142, Kyle Garton third male sit-ups with 323 and Abdiel Herrera sixth male sit-ups with 308.

“This season was extremely rewarding,” Greyless said. “We started the year with a very young group of kids that didn’t have too much competition experience, but they weathered every storm and never lost faith in us as a team. The senior leadership we received from Kyle Garton and Stephen Forbes was unbelievable and as a result they finished the year fifth in the nation and an overall record of 78 wins and five losses. I will always look back and smile at the kids that made up this great group.” story by Kylie Cameron