McDonald Street Head Start Program

Winter Springs, FL Drill Competition

Region Drill Meet - Feb 2005

WARE COUNTY JROTC DRILL TEAM

“RUMBLES AT REGION” 

          The Ware County JROTC Drill Team and Color Guard completely dominated the Region 1 Drill Team Championships held Saturday, February 26^th at Bradwell Institute in Hinesville.  Seven First Place trophies/medallions and three Second Place trophies/medallions highlighted the day with only one entry not qualifying for a chance to compete at the State Meet in Macon on March 19^th. 

          Lead by Seniors Jewel Curry, Zakeya Champ and Porche Hamilton, all former State Champions for the past three years, complimented by Juniors Michelle Duncan, Saponda Lee, Nicole McGauley and Erica Johnson, all returning two-time State Champions, and Sherry White, a Senior that won State Championship honors as a Team Commander and Individual but has been absent from the Drill Team for the past two years, the Gator Drill Team and Color Guard just overwhelmed the competition with their experience and poise.   

          “We really expected to be the ones to beat at Region,” quoted SFC Ramos, Army Instructor and Drill Team Coach.  “What I have said in the past, and what I fear as we enter into our seventh straight year of reigning Female State Champions, is that the level of competition we have faced throughout the year has failed to challenge us to be as good as we can be.  Having said that, we do not know what the other Regions will be bringing to State.  I honestly don’t believe there is another program as strong as ours in terms of strength of leadership, quality of the total makeup of the team, and especially the experience level.  Most of our cadets have been to both State and National Championship Competition more than once, and they have either won outright or at the National level, been in the top ten of the best of the best.” 

          Listed are the results of Saturday’s Region 1 Competition:

          Female Platoon Regulation Drill, Commanded by Porche Hamilton; First Place

          Female Platoon Exhibition Drill, Commanded by Jewel Curry; First Place

          Female Squad Regulation Drill, Commanded by Michelle Duncan; Second Place

          Female Squad Exhibition Drill, Commanded by Saponda Lee; First Place

          Female Color Guard Commanded, by Saponda Lee; First Place

          Female Dual Exhibition, Jewel Curry & Nicole McGauley; First Place

          Female Dual Exhibition, Michelle Duncan & Saponda Lee; Second Place

          Female Individual Exhibition, Jewel Curry; First Place

          Female Individual Exhibition, Michelle Duncan; Second Place

          Male Individual Exhibition, Jacobe Tarver; First Place

          Male Mixed Color Guard, Commanded by Yu Oyang; Fourth Place 

          Region Championship Team Members are:  Qurtajah Aldridge, Jerricka Bolen, Ederica Clark, Zakeya Champ, Jewel Curry, Lakeisha Dukes, Michelle Duncan, Charity Felton, Saponda Lee, Sasha Lewis, Jessica Leggett, Virginia Mack, Nicole McGauley, Asharion Porter, Tenekia Ross, Jacobe Tarver, Jazmine Taylor, Trineisha Toombs, Sherry White, Erica Johnson, Porche Hamilton, Yu Oyang, Tremayne Williams and Devon Wright.

539  Basic drill cmdr by C/CAPT Porch Hamilton 3rd place

540  Duals C/COL Jewell Curry and C/Capt Nicole Mcgualey 3rd place awarded by 6th bde commander COL Knauff and SMG Johnson
 

542  Exhibition Drill Cmdr C/COL Jewell Curry 2nd place
 

546  Color Guard 3rd place R/guard Ederica Clark US Flag Saponda Lee Ga Flag Charity Felton Left Guard Mitchel Duncan

550  C/1SG Andrea Duncan and C/1SG Saponda Lee 1st place Duals awarded by 6bde Commander COL Knauff and SMG Johnson
 

549  C/COL Jewell Curry and C/Capt Nicole Mcgualey 3rd place duals awarded by COL Knauff and SMg Johnson

553  C/1SG Saponda Lee catures first place sqd exhibition awarded by 6th BDE COL Knauff and SMG Johnson
 

  News Article    STATE CHAMPION...!    News Article

 JROTC DRILL TEAM

CONTINUES WINNING TRADITION

        The JROTC Female Drill Team continued their dominance at the State Championship Drill Team competition last Saturday by winning their seventh consecutive first place team trophy at Henderson Stadium in Macon.

        Overall, the JROTC Drill Team and Color Guard won nine trophies/medallions.  The Exhibition Squad commanded by Cadet First Sergeant Saponda Lee won the Championship Team Trophy keeping Ware County’s streak alive for another year.  The Platoon Exhibition Team commanded by Cadet Colonel Jewel Curry placed second behind a strong Crisp County team.  The Platoon Regulation Team, commanded by Cadet Captain Porche Hamilton won third place honors and the Squad Regulation Team commanded by Cadet First Sergeant Michelle Duncan rounded out team regulation and exhibition competition with a fifth place trophy.  The Gator Color Guard, commanded by Cadet First Sergeant Saponda Lee finished third behind Worth and Crisp Counties.  This is the highest that Ware County has placed in this area at state in recent memory.  Both Worth and Crisp County have repeated as champions the past two years and continue to field the Color Guard to beat.  Ware County dominated the individual and dual areas of competition this year in contrast to last year where we did not place.  Cadet Colonel Jewel Curry took State Champion honors with Cadet First Sergeant Duncan finishing second.  Cadet First Sergeants Michelle Duncan and Saponda Lee won the State Title for Female Dual Exhibition with Cadet Colonel Curry and Cadet Captain Nicole McGauley placing third.

        Ware County won nine awards overall.  Three first place awards, two seconds, three thirds and a fifth place.  “Our cadets continue to step up when we need them the most” stated SFC Gene Ramos.  “We had some cadets that did not make the bus on Friday causing us some difficult adjustments in team alignment, but the team members did a great job in pulling together and bringing home the championship they really deserve.  My sincere appreciation to each and every one of them.  Especially to the seniors.”

        This year’s State Champion JROTC Drill Team members are:  Quatajah Aldridge, Jerricka Bolen, Ederica Clark, Zakeya Champ, Jewel Curry, Lakeisha Dukes, Michelle Duncan, Charity Felton, Proche Hamilton, Erica Johnson, Martisha Knight, Saponda Lee, Sasha Lewis, Jessica Leggett, Virginia Mack, Nicole McGauley, Asharion Porter, Tenekia Ross, Lakeya Scott, Jacobe Tarver, Jazmine Taylor, Davon Wright, and Tremaine Williams.