Jill Campbell and Channing Jackson – LRHS News

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – For the first time, the LRHS Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) team competed in the state JROTC Raiders competition. The team came in 2nd place for the team fitness, and did fairly well in all the other categories.

“They worked as a team and did things they shouldn’t have been able to do,” LRHS JROTC instructor Lt. Col.Richard Roller said.

The LRHS Raiders were led by junior Rachel McLanahan (Team Leader). Joining McLanahan were seniors Mallori Cesario, Chris Caruso and John Merritt, junior Rebecca Robinson, sophomores Andrew Barnes, Jennifer Gaffers, James Pritchard, Zac Spade, Dylan Wilder and Daniela Wilhelm and freshman Morgan Lingle.

The team had to do difficult activities that tested not only their physical strength but also their mental strength and ability to work together. Events included a 5K run, carrying a stretcher for 1 mile with 100 lbs. on it, and flipping giant tires.

“The results weren’t really based on how hard they worked,” said Roller, “it was based more on their times and how they performed it this weekend.”

In order to get to states a Raider team must finish in the the top 2 in its district.