LRHS Raiders celebrate their state championship

Faith Miller – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Saturday the LRHS Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) girls raider team competed and won the Florida State Raider championship at Camp Flaming Arrow.

The female team took first place overall during the state-level meet, winning first place for the Raider Fitness Challenge (obstacle course), the Cross-Country Rescue (litter and ruck run), and the Tire Flip events.

They won third place for the Rope Bridge event and fifth place for the 5K Team Run event.

Raider team member and senior Esmeralda Hernandez-Ortiz said, “This year was just incredible. The campsite was beautiful, and we were prepared for every event at the meet; this year was significantly better than last year, and I am grateful to have been a part of this wonderful team.”

Raider team captain and Bravo Company Commander senior Karen Tinoco said, “I am very proud of my team. Words cannot describe what a life-changing experience Raiders has been for me, and I know my team feels the same way.

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“We all felt like a close-knit team during our final competition, and I am pleased that we were able to maintain our team bond, our effort, and our motivation to secure the final win.”

JROTC Raiders competition is a highly intensive fitness contest that involves five team events: the 5K run, the one-mile liter carry, the obstacle course, the tire flip, and the rope bridge.

The monthly Mustang battalion newsletter can be found on the JROTC website.

Mustangs interested in participating in the raider team and the JROTC program can contact JROTC instructors Maj. Shaun O’Dea here or Master Sgt. William Cassidy here.