After being recognized as the top program in the nation last year, beating out more than 600 units, Nease’s NJROTC program had high expectations coming into this year.
The senior naval science instructor, Capt. LaRochelle, retired and 63 seniors graduated, but the cadets were up for the challenge that comes with change.
Nease NJROTC started this year off with a sweeping victory at its first major drill competition of the 2022-23 school year at the annual South Effingham High School drill meet in Guyton, Georgia, on Nov. 5.
In addition to claiming the overall trophy, Nease earned first place trophies in nine of 12 events for personnel inspection, academics, unarmed exhibition drill, armed basic drill, armed exhibition drill, athletics overall, pushups, curlups and the 16 x 100; second place in drill overall and unarmed basic drill. A highlight was Cadet NS3 (junior) Caden Byas competing in the curlup event and completing 437 curlups, earning him the medal for first place in that event.
Nease placed second and third out of 26 teams in South Effingham’s air rifle meet on Oct. 22, qualifying for regionals in shoulder to shoulder. Cadets Hailey Pitches, Danielle Reynolds and Kamrayn Schultz all shot their personal best and team high scores.
Nease’s orienteering team also qualified for regionals in October by placing sixth and seventh in Brunswick, Georgia’s hosted sanctioned meet. Cadet NS3 Diann Taylor completed the hardest course finishing second place, which was a personal best for her on that level course.
This year is shaping up to be another prolific year for Nease’s NJROTC team with lots of exciting meets and events coming up throughout this school year. Nease also welcomed their newest member of the team with CWO3 Michael Donato joining as the new senior naval science instructor in October.
Nease is hosting a sanctioned drill meet Saturday, Dec. 17, at Nease High School; it is open to the general public. For more details, e-mail CWO3 Donato at michael.donato@stjohns.k12.fl.us.
