Washington High School Air Force JROTC cadets recently finished the drill competition season off on a high note, turning in strong performances at the Northwest Drill and Rifle Conference Championships on April 16 and a 27-school meet May 7 at Liberty High School in Renton.

Washington High hosted the April 16 meet, welcoming a combined 27 schools from Washington and Oregon.

"While our cadets were very hospitable off the competition floor, they were relentless on it," said Col. John Pardo, the school's senior aerospace science instructor and unit commander.

The unarmed drill team went undefeated for the year, finishing first in the conference and its commander, Josh Stage, whose father is a master sergeant on active-duty at McChord Field, took the top spot in the commander category (something he did four out of five times this year).

The marksmanship team, composed of Kushaiah Pritchard, Jonathan Fagin, Cody Barnett and Kurtis Howard, took first in the Sporter category and the unit's alternate shooter, Francesca Pratt, took first individually among all 59 Sporter shooters, while Barnett managed third place. All five of the unit's marksmen finished in the top 15.

Pratt's performance was that much more impressive considering she shot in a situation where she knew the exact score she needed to get.

"She had a little pressure on her," Pardo said. "She's shot well this season, but she's never put together a string like that."

Additionally, color guard team No. 2, comprised of Jasmine Kim, Barnett, Adrianna Camacho and Dani Tenorio took second place. Cody Hoefs snagged fourth place in the unarmed drill down to cap off a great day for the unit, which earned a second place overall in the conference championship.

"We were real happy with the way the teams competed," Pardo said.  

The JROTC detachment earned another second place overall finish at the meet at Liberty High, fueled by a first place finish in unarmed drill.

More than 400 cadets from 27 schools competed in the meet, and Washington High's detachment had teams competing in armed and unarmed drill, individual armed exhibition drill, dual armed exhibition drill, color guard (No. 1 and 2 teams), marksmanship and physical fitness

The cadets notched a first place finish in marksmanship, again placing Pratt and Barnett in the top six.

"Francesca (Pratt) was actually our alternate shooter, but still managed first place," Pardo said.

All five of the unit's shooters finished in the top 15 (out of 59 competitors).

The color guard No. 2 team and color guard #2, under Kim's command, took second.

Cadets will now turn their attention toward attending summer leadership school at Camp Hahobas on the Hood Canal June 26 through July 1. The camp will host more than 250 cadets from Washington and Oregon.