For seven consecutive years, Nease NJROTC has traveled to Georgia in pursuit of the Area-12 State Academic, Athletic and Drill Championship. And for the seventh straight year, the 40-cadet varsity team has returned to Ponte Vedra as Area-12 champions – the top program of the 60 schools from Atlanta to Jacksonville.
With seven straight state championships beginning in 2015, Nease established itself as arguably Northeast Florida’s most dominating high school championship program.
Nease competed against the top 12 Navy high school JROTC drill teams in Area-12, which includes all of northeastern Florida and the entire state of Georgia.
Sixty programs competed at local drill meets during the fall and winter with the top 12 advancing to the state championships. Nease earned its berth by winning first place at each of its qualifying competitions at Mandarin, Terry Parker and Stockbridge (Georgia) high schools.
“This team faced a mountain of adversity this year amidst the uncertainties of COVID,” said Capt. Scott LaRochelle, senior naval science instructor. “But the cadet leaders maintained discipline, practiced diligently and never took their eye off the prize.”
In addition to winning the overall championship, Nease claimed first place in personnel inspection commanded by Juan Castillo, overall drill, armed exhibition commanded by Brandon Donovan, unarmed exhibition commanded by Amber Vidler, unarmed basic commanded by Brodie Mongon; overall athletics (sweeping all three athletic events), team sit-ups, team pushups and the 16x100 relay.
Cadet Emellee Neff earned an individual medal as the top female in sit-ups for the second consecutive year with 314. Cadets Isabella Rivera, Kaitlyn Boggs and Keegan Mapa also earned medals for finishing in the top five in either female or male sit-ups. Rivera, Boggs, Hailey Pitches, Mongon and Castillo earned medals for finishing in the top five in pushups. Cadet Ben Prohofsky placed third in academics.
“Our seniors have never lost a drill meet in Area-12,” said cadet Jordon Mayberry. “Collectively, we underclassmen weren’t about to let them lose today.”
The Navy Nationals championship will be conducted virtually in 2021 as other regional champions across the country are unable to travel to the in-person competition in Pensacola.
