JROTC team takes home seven trophies

FAIRBANKS -- On Nov. 30, 40 Colony High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets traveled to North Pole for the first JROTC drill meet of the season, which was Dec. 1.

The drill teams practiced for weeks prior to the competition. Colony High team commanders included John Watson (first-year cadet unarmed), Ashley Bucholz (regulation unarmed), Barrett Barge (regulation armed), Cassidy Weiland (Color Guard combined male/female), Rachel Brewer (exhibition unarmed and female Color Guard) and Chris Wall (exhibition armed).

High schools competing in the drill meet were Dimond, North Pole, Eielson, Lathrop and West. At the end of the meet, Colony earned five first-place trophies and two second-place trophies.

After the competition all the schools went to Chena Hot Springs to celebrate the victories. Later Saturday night, all the cadets got back on the buses and headed to Lathrop High School to sleep prior to the long ride back to Palmer and Anchorage.