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Hard work pays off for cadets

After months of training, Riverview High students annihilate the competition in a JROTC challenge.

By JAY CRIDLIN
Published January 28, 2005

With 12 victories in 16 events, Riverview High School was far and away the big winner at the inaugural All-Hillsborough County Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Cadet Challenge Saturday at Bloomingdale High School.

The Sharks' Naval ROTC unit picked up 17 trophies in all, including wins in the categories of Best Overall School, Overall Drill Team, Overall Field Team and Color Guard.

It's a big payoff for months of training, said Riverview ROTC Commander Rich Steinestel.

"Our drill teams were out here in the summer working," he said. "We did great, and the kids loved it."

Riverview also won team situp, pushup, drill and relay race events.

"We practice drill teams normally three days a week and color guard twice a week," Steinestel said. "Once we get close to an event like this, we practice it every day after school."

A handful of Riverview students picked up individual trophies. Sophomore Brittanee Padgett won first place in the individual drill category, while senior Regina Ifill finished third. Padgett also won first in the individual female situps category with 126 in two minutes.

Junior Jonathan Vazquez and freshman John Kutzner won first and third, respectively, in the male individual pushups category. Vazquez did 113, Kutzner did 93.

Hillsborough High's Army ROTC unit picked up eight trophies, and Robinson High's Naval unit finished with five. Brandon's Army unit collected four trophies, Bloomingdale High's Air Force unit collected two, and Durant's Air Force unit won two, including a first-place trophy in the unarmed exhibition category.

ROTC classes are offered as electives at 17 county high schools. Many of the students go on to careers in the military or service in the armed forces or National Guard.

The goal of the Cadet Challenge was to bring together different ROTC units from different high schools, said Lt. Col. John Wayne, Bloomingdale's ROTC commander. In the end, 11 Army, Navy and Air Force units participated.

Wayne, who organized the event, said he expects even more schools to attend next year's event at Riverview High.

Jay Cridlin can be reached at 661-2442 or cridlin@sptimes.com

[Last modified January 27, 2005, 09:33:08]