The Michigan City High School (MCHS) Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) delivered a very strong performance in a military skills competition held at MCHS on Saturday, November 19th. The cadet Wolves finished first in six out of 11 events against 7 other schools that came from Indiana and Chicago. Five of those first place finishes were in nine close order drill categories. They also had four third-place finishes, thereby placing in every drill category. The events, place and cadet commanders are as follows:
Event - Place - Commander
- Unarmed Platoon - First - Cadet Captain Arturo Moreno
- Armed Platoon - Third - Cadet 1stSgt Michael Livengood
- Armed Exhibition - First - Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Damon Adams
- Unarmed Exhibition - Third - Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Ana Nowatzke
- Armed Squad - First - Cadet 1st Lieutenant Pauline Lutton
- Color Guard A - First - Cadet 1st Sgt Michael Livengood
- Color Guard B - Third - Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Ana Nowatzke
- Personnel Inspection - Third - Cadet Captain Arturo Moreno
- 1st Year Squad - First - Cadet Corporal Tyler Stockley
- Marksmanship - First - Cadet 1st Lieutenant Pauline Lutton
The meet was sponsored by the local chapter of the Marine Corps League, the Michiana Marines. Judges were provided by the Purdue University Navy/Marine Corps ROTC. The MCJROTC Booster Club ran the concession stand and provided meal support to the cadets.
“This has to be one of our best drill meets, “ said Master Sergeant Jeff Benak, the Marine Instructor. “Our cadets drilled great and we received many compliments from the visiting schools as to how professionally the meet functioned.”
Major Tom McGrath, the Senior Marine Instructor, also had high praise for the cadets, but was also cautious about providing too many platitudes. “The kids really have worked hard in preparing for this first meet. However, we have many more meets to go. Our next meet, December 3rd in Chicago, will be a real test, as Navy Nationals finalists East Aurora and Zion Benton will be there.”
In preparing for their next meet, the cadets must also adapt to winter sports being in full swing in competing for practice time in the gym, as well as supporting school and community events such as the One City One Sound concert and the Toys for Tots campaign.