The achievement was three years in the making, but the Knights of the Florida Wing’s Wesley Chapel Cadet Squadron are National Cadet Competition champions again.
Following two years of postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Civil Air Patrol resumed its National Cadet Competition from July 14-19 in Dayton, Ohio.
The Florida Wing team, representing the Southeast Region, came in first place, hoisting the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Sweepstakes Award Trophy for the third consecutive time, having previously finished first in 2018 and 2019.
Then came the Alaska Wing’s Kodiak Island Composite Squadron team, representing the Pacific Region, in second place. The Virginia Wing’s Burke Composite Squadron team finished third, representing the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Winners were announced July 18 at the competition’s awards banquet. In attendance were CAP’s national commander, Maj. Gen. Edward D. Phelka, and the national command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Todd Parsons.
“Congratulations team for overcoming adversity despite all the challenges presented to you,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Mollison, the Wesley Chapel commander, who informed squadron members via the unit’s Facebook page. “You have shown what ‘right’ looks like and continue to exemplify the core values of this amazing program and our parent organization.”
The national competition featured 16 cadet teams from eight regions around the U.S. – from Alaska to Puerto Rico. Cadets competed over three days on various aspects of cadet life, such as indoor posting of the colors, drill, a leadership and aerospace written exam, a team leadership problem, uniform preparation, fitness testing, and public speaking.
The championship squad’s team coach is Capt. Cesar Alayon, who has mentored the team to all three of its national titles, and the lead escort is 1st Lt. Sandra Weiss.
“I am extremely proud of our team,” Weiss said. “They have exceeded all expectations, despite many challenges. I feel our team truly deserves this victory, as they have trained for many long hours, sacrificing time with friends and family to give their all to the team.
“I’d like to thank them for their dedication.”
Mollison, in turn, voiced his appreciation for Alayon and Weiss, as well as former two-time national champions Capt. Andrew Alayon and Senior Member Elicia Smith, who assisted with training and logistics for the team during the past year.
“This could not have been achieved without the mentorship, tireless efforts, and selfless dedication of our senior member coaches and mentors,” Mollison said.
The competition, held at Wright State University, went off without a hitch, said Wendy Hamilton, CAP’s deputy director of cadet programs.
“We have waited impatiently to resume the National Cadet Competition and were pleased to be able to run this capstone event this year,” Hamilton said. “It is one of our favorites because we see everything from teams that have been together for years (like the Wesley Chapel team) to those that decided to hone their skills to compete this year.
“Despite a resurgence of COVID, soaring transportation costs, and lots of rain, the volunteer staff hosted a top-notch competition. Thank you to the regions for pressing on despite the many obstacles and sending teams to compete. We are already planning for next year.”
Top performers in the various team categories were:
Indoor Drill First – Southeast Region (Florida Wing) Second – Mid-Atlantic Region (Virginia Wing)
Inspection First – Southeast Region (Florida Wing) Second – Great Lakes Region (Indiana Wing)
Outdoor Drill First – Great Lakes Region (Indiana Wing) Second – Mid-Atlantic Region (Virginia Wing)
Physical Fitness First – Southwest Region (Arizona Wing) Second – Southeast Region (Florida Wing)
Service Project First – Southeast Region (Puerto Rico Wing) Second – Southeast Region (Florida Wing)
Speech First – Southeast Region (Florida Wing) Second – Southwest Region (Louisiana Wing)
Standard Drill First – Southeast Region (Florida Wing) Second – Southeast Region (Puerto Rico Wing)
sUAS First – Pacific Region (Alaska Wing) Second – Mid-Atlantic Region (Virginia Wing)
Team Leadership Problem First – North Central Region (South Dakota Wing) Second – Southeast Region (Florida Wing)
Written Exam First (tie) – Mid-Atlantic Region (Virginia Wing)First (tie) – Southwest Region (Arizona Wing)
Individual winners were:
Academic Excellence Award Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Robert Kammerer (perfect score of 70 on written exam) Mid-Atlantic Region (Virginia Wing)
Fleet Foot Award – Female Cadet 2nd Lt. Grace Ingebretsen (5:41 mile) North Central Region (South Dakota Wing )
Fleet Foot Award –Male Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Harrison (5:11 mile) Rocky Mountain Region Colorado Wing
Top Physical Fitness Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Natalie Salyer (195 score) Rocky Mountain Region (Idaho Wing)
The participating teams consisted of:
Great Lakes Region
Indiana Wing (Valparaiso Composite Squadron) Cadet Lt. Col. Brayden Schrock Cadet Capt. Tyson Borgelt Cadet 2nd Lt. Caleb Johnson Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Damon Virgo Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Noah Johnson
Michigan Wing (Maj. Kevin J. Adams Memorial Composite Squadron) Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Alexander Harrison Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Harrison Humes Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Alexander Nemecek Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Andrew Vandermolen Cadet Tech. Sgt. Shannon Armstrong Cadet Staff Sgt. Edward Warren
Mid-Atlantic Region
Maryland Wing (Bethesda-Chevy Chase Composite Squadron) Cadet Capt. Amie Huynh Cadet 2nd Lt. Joseph Sciortino Cadet 2nd Lt. Emily Sechler Cadet Master Sgt. Harold Fischer Cadet Master Sgt. Noble Gray Cadet Senior Airman Stephany Santoyo
Virginia Wing (Burke Composite Squadron) Cadet Maj. Lucas Bottorff Cadet Capt. Samjuel Ten Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Robert Kammerer Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Ethan Edwards Cadet Tech. Sgt. Tyler Webb Cadet Staff Sgt. Audrey Edwards
North Central Region
Minnesota Wing (Viking Composite Squadron) Cadet 1st Lt. Arjav Krishna Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Julia Gregory Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ethan Woitas Cadet Master Sgt. Levi Gregory Cadet Master Sgt. Elizabeth Lassila Cadet Senior Airman Bennet Nii
South Dakota Wing (Sioux Falls Composite Squadron) Cadet Maj. Keon Den Hoed Cadet 1st Lt. Zephaniahh Tolliver Cadet 2nd Lt. Ethan Den Hoed Cadet 2nd Lt. Grace Ingebretsen C Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Clara Giddings Cadet Master Sgt. Alexander Smith
Northeast Region
New Jersey Wing (Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. Composite Squadron) Cadet Capt. Jessica Hoschek Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Jake Cahill Cadet Chief Master Sgt. William Mares Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Nicholas Mascio Cadet Master Sgt. Daniel Clayton Cadet Tech. Sgt. Cassidy Kittel
Connecticut Wing (103rd Composite Squadron) Cadet 1st Lt. Andrew Serrazina Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Mason White Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Sigmund Cadet Master Sgt. Mia Wismar Cadet Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Cipollini Cadet Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Tobias
Pacific Region
California Wing (San Diego Cadet Squadron 144) Cadet Capt. Katelyn Winkleblech Cadet 2nd Lt. Isiah Gonzalez Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Horton Cadet Master Sgt. Benjamin Hartle Cadet Master Sgt. Fiona Wang Cadet Tech. Sgt. Jace Frazier
Alaska Wing (Kodiak Island Composite Squadron) Cadet 2nd Lt. Bella Klier Cadet 2nd Lt. Hunter Simeonoff Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Branden Lorch Cadet Senior Master Sgt. William Long Cadet Master Sgt. Carl Ancheta Cadet Tech. Sgt. Connor Burnside
Rocky Mountain Region
Colorado Wing (Mustang Composite Squadron) Cadet 1st Lt. Sydney Loos Cadet Chief Master Sgt. William Chen Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Harrison Cadet Master Sgt. Jonathan Pratt Cadet Staff Sgt. Alix Stielow Cadet Staff Sgt. Levi Stielow
Idaho Wing (Boise Composite Squadron) Cadet 1st Lt. Spencer McConnell Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Sihu Hwang Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Natalie Salyer Cadet Staff Sgt. Torin Brown Cadet Staff Sgt. Finnegan Cretser Cadet Airman 1st Class Hallie Esmiol
Southeast Region
Florida Wing (Wesley Chapel Cadet Squadron) Cadet Col. Michael-Anthony Mollison Cadet Capt. Maria Granados Reyes Cadet 2nd Lt. Matthew Santos Cadet 2nd Lt. Alexandra Weiss Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Mason Lockert Cadet Master Sgt. Trent Greco
Puerto Rico Wing (Dr. Cesareo Rosa-Nieves Cadet Squadron) Cadet Lt. Col. Michael Brito Cadet Master Sgt. Ian Acosta Cadet Master Sgt. Saul Andino Cadet Master Sgt. Andres Casiano Cadet Master Sgt. Jose Medero Cadet Tech. Sgt. Fabian Hernandez
Southwest Region
Arizona Wing (Deer Valley Composite Squadron 302) Cadet 1st Lt. Caleb Miller Cadet 2nd Lt. Dominic Agostini Cadet 2nd Lt. Liam Arnold Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Colin Mason Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Moses Lopez Cadet Tech. Sgt. Gianna Kordylas
Louisiana Wing (Tangipahoa Cadet Squadron) Cadet Capt. Josiah May Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Dave Dematteo Cadet 2nd Lt. Landen Parfait Cadet Tech. Sgt. Parker Blades Cadet Tech. Sgt. Katherine Price Cadet Senior Airman Marion Schenk
