COLTS NECK – The Colts Neck Naval Junior ROTC unit placed fifth at the National Orienteering Championships in Apopka, Fla. The competition took place from Feb. 16-18.
There were 28 varsity teams, 28 junior varsity teams and 18 intermediate teams at the event.
Colts Neck’s varsity team finished sixth, the junior varsity team finished fourth and the intermediate team finished fifth. Only the varsity and junior varsity scores were factored into the program’s overall score.
Orienteering is a group of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain while moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map which they use to find control points.
The students who competed were seniors James Clarke, Alexander Geissler, James McNamara, Aryana Muscara, John Pezzolanti, Robert Schandall and Jack Zemlanicky; juniors Lucas Albaladejo, Michael Fluck, Taylor Schandall and Sarah Shaughnessy; sophomores Christopher Halmi, Matthew Mentonis and Maxwell Miller; and freshmen Derek Haaf, Christopher Montefusco, Nathan Rowohlt, Joey Schandall, Dylan Smith and Grace Suhocki.
The students were accompanied to Florida by Master Chief David Loring.
Courses are color coded by difficulty; white for beginners, yellow for experienced beginners, orange for intermediate orienteers, brown and green short courses for advanced orienteers, and red and blue long courses for advanced orienteers.
In regard to individual performances, Shaughnessy finished first among female competitors on the orange course; Suhocki finished first among female competitors on the yellow course; Joey Schandall finished second among males on the yellow course; and Taylor Schandall finished 10th among females on the brown course.
“The trip was really fun and it ended up being more fun because we did so well. NJROTC has been great for me because I have had the chance to learn new things like orienteering,” Dylan Smith said. “I have made friends and have gotten opportunities like this to travel.”
“During my sophomore year, we finished ninth in the nation,” James McNamara said. “That was our second year in a row at ninth. Our major told us as we were leaving for (the 2017) championship, ‘Don’t come back if you don’t finish higher than ninth place.’ I wasn’t sure if he was serious or not, but we did improve last year from ninth to eighth and everyone on the team was very happy with that move up.
“This year, we felt like our team was stronger, but you never know what the other teams will be like. We were thrilled to finish fifth and achieve our highest finish ever. What made this trip more magical for me personally was that I got to visit Disney World for the first time. Our instructor, Master Chief Loring, took us there on the day after the competition prior to our flight home. It was great all around for me as I prepare to graduate,” James said.
“Orienteering is a great sport that teaches life skills,” John Pezzolanti said. “Whether it’s learning map reading or using compass skills, you are preparing for life because you are learning how to depend on yourself. It was a great honor for me to be a part of the highest placing orienteering team in our unit’s history.”