Team work helped CCHS win the Rope Bridge competition at Raider National Championship.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County JROTC students won the Rope Bridge mixed division National Championship.

Last week, two Campbell County JROTC Raider teams competed with other cadets from across the nation during the Raider Challenge in Molena, Georgia. Campbell County cadets brought home the Rope Bridge Mixed Division award, among others in the national challenge. 

Students maneuvered through muddy obstacle courses and competed in five different team challenges and individual competition. 

Campbell County JROTC Cadet Raider Commander is SFC Jordan Heatherly.

The building of the rope bridge.

Team 1 placed: 7th overall finish in mixed division, 1st in the Rope Bridge, 7th in Gauntlet, 7th in Cross Country Rescue, 9th in Physical Training Test and 10th in the 5K.

Team 2 placed: 6th overall finish male division, 4th Rope Bridge, 4th Gauntlet, 5th Physical Training Test and 9th in the 5K.

Campbell County JROTC program instructor Major Michael Lester said he was super proud of all the students and their achievements. According to Lester winning the Rope Bridge challenge is the big “ta-da” of the competition. This is the third time CCHS has brought home the Rope Bridge National Championship award. This year is also the first year CCHS has been in the top 10 of everything. 

“Winning the Rope Bridge competition takes a lot of skill and a lot of teamwork; these students have worked very hard,” Lester said. 

Students have been training for the event since last June. According to Lester, keeping teams with enough students to compete has been a struggle with COVID-19, and injuries. Team 2 had five freshman on the team who had never competed. “They have put in a lot of hard work and dedication, and I’m super proud of both teams,” Lester said. 

This year’s event hosted 35 schools instead of the usual 90 due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions. 

Campbell County JROTC Cadet Raider Commander  SFC Jordan Heatherly accepted the Rope Bridge National Championship trophy from Maj. Gen. John Evans, commander of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Mike Jones, Co-curricular manager for Cadet Command’s JROTC Program, said the event went well despite COVID-19 challenges and changes. Mask wearing was mandatory when students were not participating. Spectators were also limited.

There was a safety change to the competition this year as well with students being required to wear helmets during the Rope Bridge competition. A safety line was also in place due to the strength of the river current. 

On Saturday, before winners were announced, Cadets heard from Maj. Gen. John Evans, commander of U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, Kentucky. He spoke to students about the JROTC program, saying it provided “citizens of character.”

“These kids had a lot to go through and as always, they did outstanding,” Lester said. 

Rope Bridge Team 1 Army Raider Nationals Rope Bridge Champs

Jordan Heatherly (near side) Austin Ayers (far side) Kristian Mosier (holder) Jackson Stagnolia (coiler) Gracie Norman (clip in) Eddie Rimi (Rider) Roberto Whedbee (Rider) Kamayshera Hollowell (Rider) Aliyah England (Rider) Tawanna Shepherd (Rider) Leah Miller (Back up Rider) 

Rope Bridge Team 2 All Service Raider Nationals 

Zachary Hollifield (near side) John Stanley (far side) Jesse Jones (holder) Michael Tackett (coiler) Dante Tress (clip in) Lukas Kitts (Rider) Logan Tetro (Rider) Eli Bruce (Rider) Caleb Thompson (Rider) Tyler Thomas (Rider) Giselle Rivera (Back up Rider)  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/05/2021-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CCHS JROTC)

One Reply to “CCHS JROTC wins Rope Bridge National Championship in Raider Challenge”

  1. As alumni of CCHS (and for one of us, an alumnus of the JrROTC program) we cannot express how impressed, how proud, how happy we are to hear this well-earned news for our JrROTC Cadets and the high school. This needs to be celebrated to no end. To win a national competition on this level and to win so many other awards at the same time calls for local recognition from the school and the community. It would be a shame to not fully celebrate and honor this one-of-a-kind achievement, because – How many other competitive National Championships does the school have? This is special.

    Proving in the field that you are the best of the best is something these kids will have in their hearts and memories for a lifetime; an achievement that can never be undone. Congratulations to the Men and Women of the CCHS JrROTC!

    MSgt Rick Orick, USAF(r)
    Major David Orick, USMC

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