The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) Drill Team earned numerous awards at the Chicago Bulls College Prep Drill Meet in Chicago on Saturday, November 1. The Cadet Wolves finished first in the armed squad category. The squad was commanded by Cadet Captain Alex Wyman, who also finished 6th out of 100 cadets in the individual drill event. The unarmed exhibition platoon placed second, with the unarmed platoon, unarmed squad, first year squad and personnel inspection platoon earning third place trophies. Those units were commanded by Cadet Sergeant Jamai Glass, Cadet Captain Cody Joseph, Cadet Gunnery Sergeant Quinton Dixon, Cadet Corporal Pauline Lutton. Joseph also commanded the inspection platoon. There were eight schools in the competition. The MCHS Color Guard took 4th place out of 16 color guards. It was commanded by Gunnery Sergeant Dixon.
Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor praised the cadets for their flexibility. “We were missing five of our starters for various reasons today. We had some of our younger cadets really step up and perform well. It was a good opening drill meet for us.”
Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the Marine Instructor, also gave the cadets high marks for their ability to adapt to a different situation. “This was the first drill meet for us where many of the events were outside,” he said. “Drilling on an unevenly paved parking lot in the cold is much different than drilling on a gym floor inside. Our cadets adjusted to the environment and performed well.”
The cadets will compete in a physical fitness competition on Saturday, November 8, at Hobart High School. That is also the same day as the Michigan City Veterans Parade, which MCHS will provide a Color Guard and marching platoon. The following weekend, the cadets will honor the 239th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps with a military ball and also compete in round 2 of CyberPatriot, a national computer defense game. MCHS will host their military skills competition on Saturday, November 22, at the Elston Building from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is open to the public with free admission.