The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps hosted a military skills competition on Saturday, November 21st at the high school. Despite the snow storm, ten schools from Indiana and Illinois competed in physical fitness, marksmanship, academics, personnel inspection and close order military drill. Within the drill category, there were 7 different categories. Michigan City did well in the competition, earning 3 first place trophies, 3 second place trophies, and one third place trophy. The breakdown is as follows:
Place - Event - Commander
1st - Armed Squad - Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Pauline Lutton
1st - Color Guard A - Cadet Second Lieutenant Colin Catlin
1st - 1st Year Squad - Cadet Corporal Ashley Baker
2nd - Armed Exhibition - Cadet 1st Lieutenant Jalen Stockley
2nd - Inspection - Cadet 1st Lieutenant Jalen Stockley
2nd - Marksmanship - Cadet 1st Sergeant Alexis Nowatzke
3rd - Color Guard B - Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Jacob Williams
All participating schools had high praise for the conduct and organization of the competition. “It is a tribute to our cadets to be able to run a simultaneous multiple- events meet like this and to have it go so smoothly,” said Senior Marine Instructor Major Tom McGrath. “It really shows the high quality of Michigan City High School students.”
Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the Marine Instructor, complemented the cadets on their performance in the meet, but also reminded them that this is no time to become complacent. “I am proud of the way our cadet performed today, but we still have areas in which we can improve,” he said.
The meet was sponsored by the Michiana Marines, the local chapter of the Marine Corps League. Judges were provided by the Navy/Marine Corps ROTC at Purdue University at West Lafayette. Two of the judges are former MCHS cadets who are on scholarship at Purdue. Purdue will be the site of the next competition on December 5th. This will end a week in which the cadets will support the first MCHS boys home basketball game, the set-up, performance, and clean-up of the One City One Sound Christmas Concert, and the second round of Cyber Patriot, the national cyber security competition. Cadets will also be providing support for the Salvation Army in preparation for the Holiday Season.