Drill Team completes 2018 competition season

On Saturday, December 1st, the AFA Drill Team completed its season by competing at a NJROTC Area 07 sanctioned competition at Gaither High School in Tampa. Along with 19 other schools, our team challenged for trophies in Academics, Personnel Inspection, Basic Armed and Unarmed Drill, Color Guard, and Athletics.

Led by Academic Team Commander Evan Schlifstein ‘19, Overall Drill Team Commander Gianni Defelice ‘19, Color Guard Commander Ashton Raymer ‘20, Unarmed Team Commander Shyann Laporte ‘20, and Athletics Team Commander Alex Oi ‘19, our team battled to a 10th place overall finish against a number of the best teams in the country. Top finishers were our Academic Team which placed 3rd and our 200 Meter Relay Team which placed 4th. A number of our drill teams missed placing for trophies by just a few points and headed home realizing just how good they could be with a little more practice and intensity.

The team’s last formal evaluation will be a filmed competition for submission as part of the AMCSUS (Association of Prep Schools and Colleges in the United States) Drill Team Challenge. Following that performance elements of the team will continue to practice and work to be ready to represent the school as required. Both the Armed and Unarmed teams are excited about the future given the level of achievement this season and the number of cadets able to return next year. An end of season celebration is planned upon our return from winter break.