WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – Airport High School’s award-winning Army JROTC drill team has taken the top spots in several recent competitions, including the state championship, despite the school year’s COVID-19 challenges.
Among top finishes:
- Airport’s drill team placed first overall in the 4th Brigade Best of the Best, held February 5 in Hickory, NC, featuring schools from six states and the District of Columbia. It’s the ninth consecutive time Airport’s Golden Talon team has finished first overall.
- The team came in first place overall in the recent Palmetto State Drill Team Championship, which was held at Airport. It is the 14th consecutive year that Airport’s drill team has won the state championship.
- Airport’s drill team came in first place overall in the Greater Midlands Area Drill Team League Championship, held late last fall at Lower Richland High School. It’s the 15th consecutive year Airport has placed first overall in the event.
While Airport’s Golden Talon drill team has a longtime winning tradition, CSM Harry Ferguson, a senior Army instructor who leads Airport’s team, said the pandemic has posed challenges. Ferguson said this year’s team is smaller than usual, with 20-25 mostly freshman members rather than the more typical 30-40, a trend Ferguson said is being seen at other schools nationwide amid COVID.
“We have been fortunate enough to compete this year and have not had to cancel any meets,” Ferguson said.
In addition to first place finishes overall, other awards from Airport’s recent competitions include:
4th BRIGADE BEST OF THE BEST
First Place - Platoon regulation without Arms
Second Place - Color Guard
Second Place - Inspection without Arms
Second Place - Exhibition without Arms
PALMETTO STATE DRILL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
First Place - Duet Exhibition w/o Arms
First Place - Regulation Squad w/o Arms
First Place - Regulation Platoon w/o Arms
First Place - Regulation Platoon Inspection w/o Arms
Second Place - Regulation Color Guard w/o Arms
Second Place - Platoon Exhibition w/o Arms
GREATER MIDLANDS AREA DRILL TEAM LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
First Place - Unarmed Squad Regulation
First Place - Armed Squad Regulation
First Place - Individual Armed
Second Place - Unarmed Platoon Regulation
Second Place - Armed Platoon Regulation
Second Place - Unarmed Platoon Exhibition
Third Place - Color Guard
Third Place - Duet Armed
Fourth Place - Armed Platoon Exhibition
Looking ahead, Airport will cap its season with the Army and all-branch nationals this spring in Daytona Beach, Fla.