Herndon High’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) cadets did not let a cold and dreary day stand in the way of their pursuit of the February 2014 Orienteering National Championship. As one of only two corps with five teams to have completed their courses successfully, the Herndon NJROTC secured an overall 4th place finish in the highly competitive Area Five Orienteering Championship. There, they ran against 21 other schools from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.The overall 4th place finish resulted from a determined effort by all Herndon teams and their members. The varsity team placed 4th out of 19 teams; the junior varsity teams placed 6th and 8th out of 30; and the intermediate teams placed 11th and 12th out of 30.
Cadet Wilfredo Bautista earned the individual gold medal at the junior varsity level, where he outmaneuvered more than 100 competitors. Also, Cadets Zack Tershak, Marshall Wilkins, and Travis Langtry finished 11th, 12th, and 20th, respectively, against a field of 85 varsity team members. “With these finishes, we are very excited about our prospects for Nationals in February,” said Coach Clay Wilkins. Preparation for the National Championship will include running several more orienteering courses of graded levels of challenge. As courses increase in difficulty, they require more advanced skills in locating hidden checkpoints, using only a map and compass, as well as more physical strength and endurance. Cadets often find themselves crossing rivers, scaling steep hills, and running as quickly as they can — in the right direction — for miles over rough terrain. For more information about Herndon High’s NJROTC program, visit www.herndonnjrotc.com