Etowah Girls Win First National Raider Title; Boys Also Take First

Etowah’s Air Force JROTC teams earned two national All-Service titles, while Cherokee High’s girls achieved their best finish.

Etowah High School’s girls have won their first national All-Service Raider championship, joining the boys in bringing home a title for the school’s Air Force JROTC program.

The boys won for the fourth time in five years. Cherokee High School’s girls finished third overall, their strongest result yet, the Cherokee County School District announced Nov. 6.

Raider competition combines endurance, strength and teamwork across military-style athletic events. The All-Service field includes programs representing the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard.

Etowah’s girls placed first in the 5K mountain run, rope bridge and physical training test, and second in the gauntlet and cross-country rescue.

The boys won the rope bridge and gauntlet events, took second in the mountain run and physical training test, and placed third in cross-country rescue.

Cherokee’s girls earned third-place finishes in both the physical training test and mountain run.

Etowah’s instructors are retired Lt. Col. Stephen Bergey and retired Technical Sgt. Ciarra Malto. Cherokee’s team is coached by retired Technical Sgt. Jody Van Ostrand.

Photo collage: Cherokee County School District.

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