Romeoville High School MCJROTC Sends Cadets To National Competiton

ROMEOVILLE, IL — The Romeoville High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps recently competed at the national competition, and had "tremendous results," program administration and retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Couturier told Patch.

The national competition was held in Little Rock, Arkansas, on May 13.

Couturier said this was the first time the cadets have competed at nationals, and Romeoville was the only program in the country to qualify both a male and female team for nationals.

The male team placed fourth in the nation, and the female team placed sixth in the JROTC youth physical fitness competition. Margaret Ryan, took fifth place in the nation, and earned an individual goal medal; Eric Beechler took eighth, and earned an individual silver medal; and Elijah Dickson took 18th in the nation, and earned an individual bronze medal.

The national competition consists of 100 Marine Corps sit-ups in two minutes, 60 Marine Corps push-ups in two minutes, standing broad jump in two minutes, 30 Marine Corps pull-ups and a 300-yard shuttle run broken into 60-yard increments, Couturier said.

Sergeant Major Lester Abanto is the head coach of the national team. The female team consists of Ashley Damian, Margaret Ryan, Emily Beechler, Kimberly Lopez, Nadya Saucedo, Kaitlyn Moreno and Genesis Castaneda; and the male team consists of Aiden Saxon, Eric Beechler, Elijah Dickson, Bradley Bauer, Victor Awoyemi, Raed Slim and Martin Masnica.