BY KARISSA MILLER
The South Iredell High School Marine Corps JROTC Drill team continues to show it is one of the best in the Southeast. Following another stellar showing in a regional competition, the SIHS cadets earned a spot at the national competition in Fredericksburg, Va., on April 12.
South’s MCJROTC took home first-place honors at the Regional 2 meet on January 28 at North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga.
“We only lost five seniors from last year. We had a young team last year, and they have the experience going into this year,” South MCJROTC instructor and retired Marine MSgt. Michael Fisher said. “Coming out of Covid, it’s a rebound for a lot of programs. We were fortunate to have our students return and develop some continuity in our program.”
Cadets competed against teams from Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia.
The top two teams from the Armed Division and the Unarmed Division qualified for nationals.
Fisher said that a new rule doesn’t allow the same cadets to compete in both divisions, but it didn’t hinder their success.
“As a result, a lot of my younger cadets have stepped up,” he explained.
The Viking Drill Team finished second in the Armed Division and first in the Unarmed Division and was awarded with first-place overall.
The South Iredell MCJROTC Drill Team will be making its seventh consecutive appearance at the Marine Corps JROTC National Drill Championship for the 2023 national title.
The drill team won the national championship in 2018 and finished runner-up in 2022.
Cadets at South are a close-knit group. They are taught the importance of practice, teamwork, focus and discipline.
“The unique thing about it is we practice … before school starts four days a week,” Fisher said.
He also is proud of the way students dress and conduct themselves when they go out of town or help out at events.
“We like to turn heads when we are out and people recognize my students with their khaki trousers and well-groomed hair and appearance. This also sets up a precedence for students that they can carry with them throughout their life,” Fisher explained.
The following cadets will attend nationals: Gavin Anzaldo, Aiden Barfield, Daniel Atwood, Joselin Camarillo, Kelijah Bridges, Sivani Carlson, Madelyn Buff, Natalie Chavez, Tristan Carlson, Dylan Conlin, Jadyn Dixon, Courtney Ezell, Samantha Harper, Michael Higginbothom, Katilin Huwe, Max LeMark, Peyton Johnson, Caleb Leon, Landon Kaiser, Daniel Ortiz, Terrance Mikell, Natalie Paquette, Jackson Miller, Zander Standish, Rubi Morales, Chelsea Peck, Autumn Smith, Gabriel Thompson, Tyler VanWormer, Abby Weddington, Thomas Sapp, Alvin Moore, Jullian Privette and Audrey Sapp.
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