PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit will defend its silver medal title Saturday at the Northwest Drill and Rifle Regional Championship in Tacoma.
The Roughrider Company cadets qualified to compete with 33 other schools from Washington state and Oregon in armed drill team and color guard, and several members of the strength team qualified for the physical fitness portion.
“I’d just like see them feel good about their performance and that they performed to the best of their abilities,” said Capt. Jonathan Picker, senior naval science instructor for the unit.
In 2014, the teams received six top-three awards to finish second place overall, only four points behind Oak Harbor High School.
From 2007 to 2014, the Roughrider cadets have earned a total of 14 top-three awards for individual or team performances at the regional championships.
Overall, they were named the winners of the sectional competition on Feb. 28 in Vancouver, Wash.
The armed drill team and both of the unit’s color guard teams took first in the sectional competitions, and also finished first in division standings.
The physical strength team, which is judged on running, sit-ups and push-ups, finished third in sectionals and also qualified for the regional championships.
Roughrider air rifle target shooting teams finished fourth in sectionals but did not qualify for the championships.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.