Bob Jones Blue Knights take Overall Championship in Hazel Green
MADISON – Continuing its string of top-ranking finishes, the Blue Knights in Air Force Junior ROTC or AFJROTC at Bob Jones High School earned the Unarmed Regulation Overall Championship at the Hazel Green High School Trojan Drill Meet.
‘Blue Knights’ is the moniker for the Bob Jones cadet corps.
“Our Bob Jones Blue Knights put on another spectacular performance at the annual Hazel Green Trojan Drill Meet,” Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) Ellis Clark said. Clark works as an Aerospace Science Instructor at Bob Jones. Maj. (ret.) Dr. Melissa Lacey also teaches aerospace science.
“You can begin with Personnel Inspection, led by Cadet Charlotte Droege, who led the team to take third place. During the inspection, the cadets were graded on uniform appearance, military bearing and their knowledge of the military and current events,” Clark said.
“Later in the drill competition, Cadet Droege also commanded the Armed squad routine where the team performed superbly and took first place,” Clark said.
Cadet Veronica Layne confidently commanded the Unarmed squad routine that resulted in another first-place win. Cadet Esteban Del Rio Perez commanded the Unarmed Color Guard routine, and the team captured second place.
“Cadet Lucy Halter did an amazing job commanding the Unarmed Flight Regulation routine that earned the team second place,” Clark said. Cadet Caitlyn Johnston was a skilled commander for the New Cadet Squad Regulation Routine; the group achieved first-place honors.
“I want to give kudos to our new cadets, who not only rose to the occasion to keep our first-place winning streak going for the New Cadet routine, but I think it is important to know that they came in with a 25-point deficit assessed against them because they were short one person,” Clark said. “Their performance speaks volumes about their dedication and focus.”
Collectively, the performances of Bob Jones Blue Knights garnered them the Unarmed Regulation Overall Championship.
Cadets who participated in the Hazel Green drill were Vincent Franz Colon, Ava Curtis, Steeler Daw, Neil DiGennaro, Charlotte Droege, Alexander Dyer, Audrey Ellis, Nick Fury, Lucy Halter, Logan Jackson, Caitlyn Johnston, Laiken Justice, Veronica Layne, Elizabeth Lee, Esteban Del Rio Perez, Anthony Rivera, Danielle Roberts, Gary Stephenson, Kaitlyn Thompson and Sydney Turpin.
