Turlock High School’s Navy JROTC competed in the Manteca High School JROTC Sports and Raider Competition last Saturday. The THS JROTC team had six coed teams comprised of 39 cadets competing in softball, volleyball, tug-of-war, archery, soccer penalty kicks and a Raider Challenge.

The Bulldogs proved their toughness in the Raider Challenge, finishing second out of 11 schools with JROTC programs. A Raider Challenge consists of a crossfit endurance test including push-ups, curl-ups, a 1.5 mile relay and land navigation and a body carry. The team was led by Team Captain Bryson Curtin. Other shipmates included, Richard Gastelum George Guzman, Felicity Spray, Rebecca Adams, and Celia Ruiz.

The Bulldogs also placed third in the archery competition. The team was led by freshman Bethany Hughes, along with James Stanley, Jordan Adams, Brandy Branch, Cody Jacobson, and Dorian Macintosh.

Sports competitions, unlike your typical drill competitions, give cadets the chance to find their athletic niche.

“One of the things that I like about the sport competitions in the JROTC programs throughout the nation is that all cadets can find a team or sport that they like and pursue it. It is especially great that most of the competitions are coed,” explained Marine Corps Major Kelly Cross, Turlock High School Senior Naval Science Instructor.

This was Turlock NJROTCs third competition this year. One more remains, next week at Franklin High School in Stockton.