Cape JROTC cadets excel at Raider Challenge

The Cape Henlopen High School JROTC Raider Team participated in the Annual Sussex Tech Invitational Cadet Raider Challenge Oct. 18 and competed against several other teams from Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. The Raider Challenge is a physically grueling series of individual and team events that tests each cadet’s physical fitness, stamina, and teamwork.

The competition began with a Physical Fitness Test consisting of a mile run, push-ups and sit-ups; a 30-foot One-Rope Bridge construction and crossing event, a First-Aid/Stretcher Carry course of 100 yards, a Land Navigation course, and a 5-Kilometer Forced March over broken terrain. In this first competition of the season, the Cape team finished with a first place in the 5 Kilometer Forced March, along with second place in the Physical Fitness Test, the One-Rope Bridge, and Land Navigation. Overall, Cape took first place among the other competitors for the second year in a row. Cadet Emerson Fajardo won the individual first-place award for the highest male physical fitness.

The team was led by Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Ross Hicks and consisted of cadets Dean Hysock, Alex Dominick, Emerson Fajardo, Zach Harris, James Albertella, Kaylee Lambert, Joel Torres, Leah Croy, Antonia Panchoo, Vonny Hobson, Jacob Mayfield, David Collord, Josh Thompson, Tim Wall, Evan Fergesun, Zack Stevenson and Esley Landa.