LRHS’s orienteers celebrate unexpected success

Faith Miller – Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Last Saturday the LRHS Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Green and Orange Orienteering teams competed in a voluntary meet at Kelly Park.

In the JROTC official Orienteering season, LRHS is only obligated to compete in four voluntary meets between January and March before the state competition.  However, some of the experienced runners on the team are allowed to attend supplemental Orienteering meets, such as this one.

To the surprise of many, the LRHS JROTC Orienteering team brought home first place overall at this regional competition.

Battalion Executive Officer senior Cordelia Ramsden said, “Our team was ready and excited to participate in small numbers at this event for fun. None of us expected to win, but nonetheless, we showed up and did our best and ended up taking home the top trophy.”

Alpha Company junior participant Heidi Stenberg said, “I competed at this meet last year as a yellow runner, and I found it to be relatively challenging. Returning with my team this year to compete unofficially was a fun and rewarding experience.”

The team earned first place overall at Kelly Park (1st – orange, 3rd – green) with multiple individual awards. Additionally, they earned 40 points for the LRHS JROTC state placement.

ALAFIA STATE PARK – 18 FEB

Orange (Intermediate) category

  1. N/A
  2. Heidi Stenberg

Green (Advanced) category

  1. Samantha Rees
  2. Faith Miller

Alpha Company sophomore participant Denver Brown said, “It was fun going back there, I’ll tell you that much. Being able to recreate photos and experiences from last year at states was pretty amazing. Having the confidence from competing last year helped us to do our best at this meet.”

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The team will compete at the Holden Mine Campgrounds on Saturday, Mar. 25 for their state-level (and final) competition.

The monthly Mustang battalion newsletter can be found on the JROTC website. Mustangs interested in participating in the JROTC program can contact Major Shawn O’Dea or Master Sgt. William Cassidy.