Fairview JROTC Raider teams excel at State Championships

 The Fairview High School’s JROTC Raider Team had a great weekend for starting Sept. 21 when the group competed in the TN State Raider Championships at Soddy Daisy High School in Hamilton County. 

“The best part of it, in my opinion, was getting to hang out with former Fairview students Sarah Scarborough and Mario Pukl,” stated SG1 Christopher Turk “They are both ROTC Cadets at UTC and are doing well. They were graders at the State competition, and we got to hang out with them most of the day. It also provided the Pukl family a mini reunion because their younger son, Marco, is in Raiders. It was very awesome and warmed my heart.”

This year there were 35 teams competing for the title of State Champions. Fairview’s team went into the TN State Championships down nine Raiders. They were plagued by injuries, family gatherings, and other issues. Many of the remaining team members had to learn last minute positions, were changed to different teams, or had to step up to join the Varsity Raider team. 

The first event was Cross Country Rescue and Fairview’s co-ed Team 1 won the CCR at the State Championships for the third consecutive year. In CCR, Raiders maneuver a stimulated casualty (100+ pounds) on a stretcher, a 45-pound medical equipment case, and two more pieces of simulated medical equipment that weighed about 35 pounds over a 1.5-mile obstacle course. Team 1’s time was 13:30, minutes faster than the other teams, and Fairview’s best ever.

In the Gauntlet, a ½-mile obstacle course, Fairview placed 2nd, edged out by the Clarkrange Buffaloes by five completions / 5 minutes.

In the Highlander Games strength test, Fairview placed 2nd. The Raiders had to flip an 800-pound tire as many times as they could in two minutes; throw weighted (20 pound) Thor Hammers; and throw Atlas (25-40 pound) balls for distance. The total distance of all three events was added to get the overall event score. The team was edged out by Clarkrange, current Raider National Champions, by two feet.

In the One Rope Bridge, the Co-ed team had to make several changes three minutes before the event began. They had to teach a third of the team new positions they have never done before. The time of 1:52 placed them 4th place in the state. The male team achieved a 2:13 rope bridge time and also earned 4th place in the state.

“This is a great time because many of them are first year Raiders. The male team has practiced very hard and is very determined to get a great rope bridge score. Considering all the changes we had to make at the last minute and the inexperience, both teams did great and I am proud,” praised SG1Turk.  

The Murph Relay event is modeled after the popular Cross Fit event the “Murph”. In this event, each raider has to run about 600 meters up and down hill; then the team has to complete 50 pull-ups, 300 air squats, and 200 push-ups; then complete the run relay again. They have to complete this in the fastest time possible. The Co-ed team placed 4th in this event and the male team placed 14th.

The last two events were Orienteering and the Leadership Reaction exercise. During Orienteering Raiders have to find 11 points in the shortest time possible. The total distance to find the points is based on the route the raiders choose. Both Fairview teams obtained all their points. The Co-ed team placed 5th, with only 30 seconds separating 2nd and 5th places. The Co-ed team placed 4th in the LRE.

The Coed team finished 3rd in overall competition, and the male team finished 12th at the State Championships. 

Inspired by Poetry

Cadets began the day with this poem entitled 'Thinking' by Walter D. Wintle, recited by SG1 Turk to inspire them to succeed. 

If you think you’re beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don’t.

If you’d like to win,

But you think you can’t,

It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,

For out in the world you’ll find

Success begins with a fellow’s will,

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are.

You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late, the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can.

“The poem was read to me before every match of my high school wrestling career and I later adopted to my life,” Turk stated.