Bob Jones cadets nab nine trophies in Tennessee

Bob Jones JROTC cadets proudly stand by their nine trophies won in Jackson, Tenn. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Air Force Junior ROTC cadets at Bob Jones High School aced nine trophies at Sports Day at Liberty Technology Magnet High School in Jackson, Tenn.

For the fifth consecutive year, Bob Jones was the only school to place in every event.

Bob Jones cadets won first place in five categories: team spirit and sportsmanship; disk golf; obstacle course; 1.5-mile relay; and endurance course. Continuing their winning spree, Bob Jones earned second place in the 50-meter dash and third place in volleyball, football toss and tug-of-war.

The cadets are team captain Joshua Monis, James Agee, Dajeana Heymann, Tyler Nguyen, Sarah Wroblewski, Chantel Watson, Akeia Williams, Melvin Gibbons, Gabriel Griffin, Mitchell Stease, Xena Saunders, Bradley Eatmon, Makayla Graham, Teralynn Stewart, Marissa Marchessault, Albin Dolney, Christopher Marris, Daniel Irvine, Tevon Walker, Richard Carr and Christian Weiss. Benjamin Gulley was observer.

In disk golf, a new event, teams of two males and two females tossed five Frisbees from 10, 15, 20 and 25 feet into the goal. “The team to score the (most) tosses is the victor,” aerospace science instructor Ellis Clark said. Clark retired as a chief master sergeant.

The obstacle course required teams of three males and one female to “navigate through a series of cones on a rolling platform, like a mechanic’s dolly,” along with three disk tosses, more cones and jump rope, Clark said.

For the endurance course, one male and one female were challenged in a series of 10- and 25-yard sprints, 25-yard bear and tube crawl, hurdles, 25 jumping jacks, 25 push-ups, 25 sit-ups, 30-yard lunge and simulated 10-yard barbed wire crawl.

“Sports Day benefits our cadets with not only being competitive but also fostering camaraderie and teamwork,” Clark said.

Clark most appreciates their sportsmanship award. “Our cadets not only supported one another but also encouraged teams from the other schools. That speaks volumes about their character and integrity, which epitomizes what JROTC is all about … ‘Building Citizens of Character.'”