A team of 14 JROTC cadets from Summer Creek High School earned third place at the JROTC National Raider Challenge, competing against more than 100 teams from around the world.
The competition, held April 15–18 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, brought together top-performing JROTC units for a five-event test of physical endurance, teamwork and resilience.
Cadets faced a demanding slate of events, including a 5K team run, a rope bridge challenge, a battlefield-style evacuation drill, an obstacle course and a physical fitness test involving sandbags, tires and sprinting. The final “ultimate raider” event combined swimming, running and obstacles into one grueling course.
“It was a very fun experience. It was very meaningful to me because throughout the year we’ve been working really hard for this,” Cadet 1st Lt. Austin Craig said. “All the practices, all the running, the rope bridges — the work we put into this built up to that one moment, and we achieved what we set out to do.”
The third-place finish capped months of early-morning practices, conditioning and team-building exercises that pushed cadets both physically and mentally.
“They competed against teams from all over the world — Germany, Samoa, Korea, Japan and across the United States,” Summer Creek High School’s Senior Army Instructor Maj. Sammy Woodburn said. “Watching how much hard work they put in throughout the school year and seeing it pay off was incredible. Watching them grow and achieve is why I’m here as a teacher.”
Team members emphasized that the accomplishment was a collective effort built on trust and support.
“Our whole team is the reason we were able to do that,” Cadet Lt. Col. Alexandra Kozarsky said. “I’m very grateful for that experience. I’m also extremely grateful to our instructor. No matter what’s happening, even when there isn’t anybody standing next to you, Major’s always there.”
The national finish marks a significant achievement for Summer Creek’s JROTC program and highlights the dedication, teamwork and discipline of its cadets on a global stage.
The following cadets represented Summer Creek High School at the National Raider Challenge:
C/LTC Alexandra Kozarsky
C/CSM Chris Nguyen
C/CPT Aviana Martinez
C/CPT Alexander Montiel
C/1LT Ashley Pereyda
C/1LT Austin Craig
C/2LT Kortland Gordon
C/SFC Kennedy Frenza
C/SSG Alexandra Lanza
C/SGT Derrian Boling
C/CPL Cailer Catalon
C/CPL Zachary Kimble
C/CPL Nathan Cormier
C/CPL Daylon Estes