Daytona Beach, Florida (May 5, 2006) -- The Lynn English Marine Corps Junior ROTC Drill Team from Lynn, Massachusetts displayed what some experts thought to be complete domination of the competition in the Challenge Level at the 2006 National High School Drill Team Championships held May 5 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Unarmed Team (Lady Bulldogs) won the Overall Unarmed Drill National Championship by the unprecedented margin of 12 placement points. Led by Commanders Cup Champion (top Cadet Drill Team Commander) Cadet Colonel Elizabeth Gerrity, the Lady Bulldogs placed in every event:

• 2nd Place - Platoon Inspection
• 2nd Place - Platoon Regulation Drill
• 3rd Place - Color Guard
• 3rd Place - Exhibition Drill easily out distancing the National Unarmed Runner-up

The Armed Team (Bulldogs) overcame some early trouble in a 12th place finish in Platoon Inspection to eventually win the Overall Armed Drill National Championship by 10 placement points over National Runner-up MCJROTC Clearwater High School, Clearwater, Florida. Led by Cadet Major Brett Johnson (4th place - Armed Commanders Cup) the Bulldogs earned the following distinctions:

• 12th Place - Armed Platoon Inspection
• 1st Place - (National Champions) Armed Platoon Regulation Drill
• 4th Place - Color Guard
• 3rd Place - Exhibition Drill

At the end of competition, the Cadets of Lynn English High School MCJROTC brought home 10 Nationals Trophies.  Cadet Major Michael Surette placed 4th out approximately 1,400 cadets in the unarmed knockout event.

The team instructors agreed that it was a total team effort under the leadership of MCJROTC Instructors CWO3 Muth and SgtMaj Oswald.  The teams fed off of each other and pushed each other toward the goal they had set back in July when practices began.  

For CWO3 Muth and SgtMaj Oswald this is the first time that either of them has seen a team win both the Armed and Unarmed National Championships in the same year.  “This was a great accomplishment for these cadets and we were glad to be along for the ride. There were a lot of 6:30 AM practices, 7 PM practices and Saturday morning practices, but the cadets wanted this, worked hard and achieved their goal, the whole community is proud of them.  Now with this hurtle behind them the teams said goodbye to the seniors at meeting last week, and have set new goals to shoot for in the upcoming drill season. Practice is scheduled to start next week!” reports CWO3 Muth.

Source: SMI, Lynn English High School