WEST COLUMBIA, SC -- Airport HIgh School’s Army JROTC drill team brought home another top honor this past weekend, finishing second overall in the nation at the National High School Drill Team Championship.
The Golden Talon drill team competed against the nation’s best JROTC teams from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard military branches May 3-6 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Airport’s finish -- as runner-up national champions -- is the Lexington Two school's best finish at the annual All Armed Forces championship.
"It means a lot to the drill team to know that we are such a small school and can stay in the 'Big Fight' (big drill meets)," said CSM Harry Ferguson, the team's coach and adviser.
We are very close with work to be done!
In addition to the overall second place finish, the team placed in several individual events, including a first place/national champion in Squad Exhibition w/Arms. Other finishes:
- Second place: Platoon Inspection w/Arms; Duet w/out Arms
- Third place: Platoon Regulation w/Arms
- Fourth place: Duet Mixed w/Arms; Commanders Trophy
- Fifth place: Duet Mixed w/Arms
- Sixth place: Platoon Exhibition w/Arms, Duet w/Arms
- Eighth place: Color Guard
Airport’s latest honor comes on the heels of a third in the nation finish last month at the 2018 U.S. Army JROTC National Drill Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. The Golden Talon team has received numerous other honors through the year in state, regional, and national competitions.
Golden Talon team members include Angel Anderson, Ah’Tyrie Anderson, Noah Anderson, India Candelerio, Hayden Compton, Victoria Dunbar, Autumn Farris, Brooke Farris, Marcus Gadsden, Makayla Glover, Kristina Hartley, Monaizha Isaac, James Jacques, Nathan Jeffcoat, Brandon Jones, Adam Mason, Ja’Shon Muller, Charles Robertson, Spencer Schwenker, Kansas Shaw, Jacob Skews, Rozella Waters, Joy White and James Whitehead.