West Aurora drill team wins national championship

Posted March 29, 2022 11:00 pm

Submitted by Al Benson

West Aurora High School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps drill team was named armed division overall champion in a national drill team contest March 19.

The 26-team event was held at the Nutter Center at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio, near Dayton.

In solo competition, Blackhawks Mark Hall and Michael Shadron placed first and second, respectively.

Four team events - inspection, regulation, exhibition and color guard - were scored in two divisions, armed and unarmed.

Individual competitions included solos, duets and commander categories.

West aerospace science instructor MSgt. Scott Hellinger said, "I am extremely proud of all the cadets who stuck with the drill team through the COVID outbreak. They all went over two years without competing and just practicing.

"It is a testament to all their hard work and dedication to not just Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps but to West and the entire city of Aurora. This accomplishment truly shows that through hard work and dedication to something greater than yourself, anything can be accomplished."

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.