On Saturday April 18, 2015, the Randolph-Macon Academy Drill Team competed in the C.D. Hylton Drill Competition, held at C.D. Hylton Senior High School in Woodbridge, VA. Six teams entered the competition: Armed Regulation, Color Guard, Inspection, Unarmed Regulation, 1st Year Color Guard, and 1st Year Unarmed Regulation.
The 1st Year Color Guard team scored 198/200, earning a second-place trophy. Their only infraction was a mark up on their uniform. The team performed the drill perfectly! Congratulations to team members Ryan Latham ’18 (Commander), Kaibang Yang ’18, Cyrus Lesko ’18, and Shuai Gu ’18.
The Inspection team earned a third-place trophy. Congratulations to Commander John Camarella ’15, and team members Lesko, Doug Brennand ’15, Victoria Voellm ’18, Lizzie Ma ’15, Abby Wang ’15, Ixel Ochoa ’15, Chloe Pham ’15, Amy Go ’17, Omar Bran ’17.
Drill Team coach TSgt Tina Laing, USAF Retired, noted, “Our Armed Regulation team earned 306/300 points, performing the drill sequence nearly perfectly, with only one infraction while receiving extra points given to their Commander Doug Brennand for his Command voice. Despite this, the team didn't place. This highlights how tough the drill competition was.”
The other teams also performed well; the Color Guard team had a score of 94/100 with two infractions and Unarmed Regulation received a score of 193/200.
“This is a wonderful growth from last year in this particular competition,” Laing said. She said that last year, R-MA did not take any trophies home.
So far this school year, R-MA has performed in two drill competitions and has taken home nine trophies: five first place, three second place, and one third place.
Next up is the Air Force Association State Drill Meet. It will take place this Saturday, April 25th, at Atlee High School near Richmond, VA.
Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational day and boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12. Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and have the option to participate in a flight program. R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, VA.
###