For the second consecutive year, Nease NJROTC was victorious at the Middleburg High School NJROTC Pentathlon Championship held Feb. 24 at Middleburg High.
The 12-team pentathlon is a five-event competition that tests the physical fitness, strength and endurance; academic knowledge; seamanship; and marksmanship of five-cadet teams comprised of four males and one female. Events included a 35-yard tire flip, speed knot-tying, a brain brawl puzzle, air rifle live fire and a 100-yard Humvee push—all while running a quarter- to half-mile between events with a 20-pound rucksack.
“We compete in local, regional and even national competitions all year, but the Middleburg Pentathlon is the one event we circle the calendar for at the start of the year,” said Erin Sass, who captained the team.
Nease’s championship team was comprised of all juniors, and included Troy Barber, Peyton Gustafson, Chris Oliver, Steven Sarama and Sass.
“This competition is all about teamwork,” Oliver said. “We battled throughout and never gave in to the pain—especially during that final Humvee push.”
Nease finished the course in 16 minutes and seven seconds. Middleburg came in second at 18:56, and Lee High School was third at 19:12.
“This event, even though it’s physically grueling, is awesome,” Sarama said. “Middleburg really hosts a great competition.”
