Cadet teams from the Indiana Wing took all three top spots in the Great Lakes Region Cadet Competition, with the Valparaiso Composite Squadron placing first, the Anderson Composite Squadron second, and the Eagle Composite Squadron third.
Teams from the Illinois (Lewis Composite Squadron), Kentucky (Louisville Composite Squadron), and Michigan (Maj. Kevin A Adams Composite Squadron and Grand Rapids Metro Cadet Squadron) wings also competed at the event, held May 18-19 at Grissom Air Reserve Base near Peru, Indiana.
The six-member teams completed in events involving precision and teamwork, including indoor and outdoor color guard challenges, a written test of leadership and aerospace knowledge, a physical fitness test, team leadership problems (group problem-solving challenges). and a uniform inspection.
The eight Civil Air Patrol regions are all conducting their own competitions, previously held to select teams for the National Cadet Competition. The national event has been discontinued, with a goal of increasing participation across CAP while reducing demands on time and resources.
The Valparaiso Composite Squadron team consisted of:
Cadet Lt. Col. Tyson Borgelt
Cadet Maj. Caleb Johnson
Cadet Capt. Noah Johnson
Cadet 1st Lts. Brandon Bubalo and Matthew Fiore
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Draven Targgart
Escorts were Capts. Rein Johnson and John Keiper
The Valparaiso team placed first in three categories — Indoor Drill, Inspection, and Written Exam – and second in Outdoor Drill.
The Anderson Composite Squadron team members were:
Cadet Majs. Elliot Dearing and Cameron Milleman
Cadet 2nd Lts. Benjamin and Philip Mast
Cadet Chief Master Sgts. Carson and Garrett Tice
Escorts were 1st Lt. Erin Freuchtel and 2nd Lt. Jane Milleman
The team finished first in Standard Drill and in Public Speaking and second in Written Exam.
Making up the Eagle Composite Squadron team were:
Cadet Lt. Col. Andrew Wolfe
Cadet Capt. Lindsay Brandt
Cadet 2nd Lt. Izabelle Kammers
Cadet Master Sgts. Samuel Fomin and John Shirley
Cadet Tech. Sgt. Nikolai Stefanov
Escorts were Capt. Chad Brandt and senior member Dennis J. Shirley.
The team captured first place in Physical Fitness and Direction Finding and second place in Indoor Drill, Standard Drill, Public Speaking.
In addition, the Michigan Wing’s Maj. Kevin A. Adams Composite Squadron took first place in Outdoor Drill and second place in Inspection.
First place in Team Leadership Problem went to the Kentucky Wing’s Louisville Composite Squadron, which also placed second in Physical Fitness.
The Michigan Wing’s Grand Rapid Metro Cadet Squadron finished second in Team Leadership Problem.
Individual awards:
Top Physical Fitness:Cadet Tech. Sgt. Max Viveros, Grand Rapids Metro Cadet Squadron, Michigan Wing
Fleet Foot Award (fastest run), male:Cadet 2nd Lt. Tyler Miller, Lewis Composite Squadron, Illinois Wing (4:44)
Fleet Food Award, female:Cadet Capt. Lindsay Brandt, Eagle Composite Squadron (8:43 )
Academic:Cadet Capt. Noah Johnson, Valparaiso Composite Squadron, Indiana Wing
_____Lt. Col. James A. HimesPublic Affairs OfficerGroup VIIIOhio Wing
