After a long hiatus due to COVID-19, the Nease NJROTC Academic, Athletic and Drill team competed at the Terry Parker High School Drill Meet on Jan. 23, in Jacksonville.
Whatever rust there may have been was not apparent as the team continued its winning ways, capturing first place in nine of the 12 events en route to the overall meet championship.
Nease’s last appearance before the Terry Parker Drill was a win in the 2019-2020 Navy Area-12 (state) Championship in Coffee County, Geotrgia. COVID-19 derailed the team’s hopes to compete for a national championship, and since then, competitions have been canceled or rescheduled until Jan. 23.
With the Terry Parker Drill victory, the team qualifies for the Area-12 Drill Championships in Georgia in March, where it competes against the best programs in Georgia and northern Florida.
“This competition has been a long time coming,” said Cadet Battalion Cmdr. Dylan Dosio. “To say the team was ready to bust out is the understatement of the year.”
Drill is much more than a marching competition. Drill championships include a series of events, including unarmed and armed marching, color guard, personnel inspection, academics, pushups, situps and running relays. Points awarded in each event are combined to determine the day’s overall winner.
This year Nease won first place in personnel inspection, athletics overall, situps, pushups, 16x100 relays, overall drill, color guard, armed basic and armed exhibition drill.
Of the 25 individual medal awards for academics, pushups and situps, Nease cadets garnered 16. Lauren Villareal was first in female pushups (90), Anthony Tucker was first in male situps (309) and Emmelie Neff placed first in female situps (325).
“Few things have seemed normal this year,” said senior Cadet Michael Winczner, anchor of the 16x100 relay. “But today felt like old days.”
Nease is currently the No. 1-ranked NJROTC drill team in Area-12 (59 programs covering northern Florida and the state of Georgia), having won the Area-12 Drill Championship each of the past six years.
“Despite all the trophies, we’ve got a lot to work on before our next competition,” said Color Guard Cmdr. Isabella Rivera. “Everyone wants to beat Nease and they give us their best shot every time.”
Other top schools in the competition were Orange Park High School in second place, Valdosta (Georgia) High School in thirrd place, Mandarin High School in fourth place and Bishop Kenny High School in fifth place.
