In December, Senior Naval Instructor Dennis Grayless’ fast-growing NJROTC program played in another competition in Springfield, Mo. They won all 10 events; beating 12 other high schools and winning first place overall. Out of the last 18 opponents that they have faced this year, they have beaten all 18.
First place winners for North include sophomore Anna Whitaker who won in female sit-ups, senior Luis Gomez who won in push-ups, and sophomore Ben Muller in male sit-ups.
“We just go out there and do our thing,” sophomore Jake Buchanan said. “There aren’t any secrets, you get out what you put in and we have put in a lot of hard work.”
Although they have won all their competitions so far, they still are focused on the main goal of this year, which is winning the overall championship at the end of the year.
“We are doing good,” said junior Henry Bell, “but we still have a long way to go. We just have to keep working and keep getting better. It is nowhere close to over.”
On Jan. 7th, North ROTC had another competition, this time on their turf. They also won that event taking another first place.
“There is a lot left to get done,” Buchanan said. “We have to keep working if we want to add another year to that banner in the field house.”
Grayless feels that this may be the year they win the overall title in Pensacola, Fla.
“I believe this is the year we can do it,” Grayless said. “We just got to keep a hop in our step and we will get it done.”