Local students get oriented

On March 26, four Colony Jr.ROTC cadets traveled to the Dallas/Forth Worth area to compete in the Spring Orienteering Meet at Sid Richardson Scout Ranch, just north of Dallas.

More than 500 participants came to the meet, many of them Jr.ROTC cadets from around the country.

Orienteering is a combination of land navigation using maps and compasses, and long-distance running. The Colony cadets arrived at the camp two days early to get used to running in the heat, and to get familiar with the maps and the terrain.

The first day, according to Texans, was relatively cool in the morning, around 60 degrees. But ask any Alaskan, and they'll respond that it was hot. The Knights were ready, and they had to be -- they went up against the current national Jr.ROTC. champions. At the end of the first day, the Knights held first place, Ryan Snyder; third place, Chad Huggins; fourth place, Robert Barenz; and sixth place, Alex Wright, in the 17-18 Orange Course division.

After a hard day of running, the participants were in for a murder mystery that evening. Organizers set up a night orienteering course where they ran around and had to find clues to solve the mystery. The Knights split up into two teams and had fun running in the Texas night.

On the second day of competition, the Knights were itching to stretch their leads, and they did exactly that. After starting in reverse order, competitors were faced with a longer, harder and hotter course on the second day.

When the two-day totals were tallied, Huggins took first place, Snyder took second place, Wright took third place and Barenz took fourth, making for a clean sweep for Colony.

The Knights said they enjoyed the event because it was a fun experience, and a learning experience from which they can all prosper.