Cadets in the Thomas County Central JROTC Mixed Team help their team members over the wall during the Raider Compeition on Thursday afternoon.  

THOMASVILLE- Thomas County Central’s Army JRTOTC program hosted the season’s first Area 1 Raider competition on Thursday afternoon, where their Mixed Team placed 4th overall. 

According to Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Ingram, the Area 1 Raider Competition featured eleven teams from nine schools. The teams are grouped together by area, regardless of size. However, when looking at who competed within their region, TCC placed 2nd in the competition. 

Because this is an area competition instead of a region competition, Lt. Col. Ingram said they use them as practices. 

“It’s not like football or baseball when they play someone out of region,” he said. “We try to do our best, but we are not as concerned with how we do here, as opposed to region.” 

The competition has five standard events: Team Run, One Rope Bridge, Cross Country Rescue, Raider Fitness Test and the Tire Flip. 

The TCC Mixed Team placed 1st in the Cross Country Rescue and 2nd in the Rope Bridge. Lt. Col. Ingram said the Mixed Team faced some trouble with the Raider Fitness Test, but that is to be expected, as many of the cadets on the Mixed Team are brand new and have never done anything like this. 

“It was just a good opportunity to get one under their belt,” he said. “It taught them how to pace themselves in intervals.” 

Lt. Col. Ingram explained the entire competition can last between 5-6 hours. 

“I feel good in them going forward,” he said. “They should be strong competitors in the region. 

The Male Team did not participate in this competition, but helped host and got to view some of the other teams such as Lowndes, who they helped train.  

However, they will be competing with the Mixed Team this week as they hit the road and head to Turner County, where they will begin their quest to repeat the title of Region Champions. 

“I expect the Male Team to do well,” Lt. Col. Ingram said. “They are the strongest and the fastest in the program.” 

If they dominate the region, the Male Team will compete in the region championship on October 8 at Crisp County, which will serve as an Area 2 State Qualifier competition.