North Salem JROTC Color Guard Does Salem Proud at National Championships

In their first appearance in a national competition, North Salem finished in sixteenth place.

North Salem JROTC

(SALEM) - On Friday, May 5th in Daytona Beach Florida, North Salem High School's JROTC Color Guard A competed at the National High School Drill Team Championships.

Fresh from a second place finish at the Northwest Regional Championships two weeks earlier, the Vikings went up against the thirty-two best color guards in the United States.

Lieutenant Colonel Dwight Morse, the color guard coach, was pleased with the results of the competition. `Going in, we weren't quite sure what to expect. We were surprised to be one of the few coed color guards in the field.

These cadets prepared and performed very well. They learned a great deal about what it takes to win at this high level, and that will make us even more competitive when we return next year."

The color guard commander, senior Francisco Garibay, was proud of his team's performance. `It was an honor to represent the State of Oregon and to have the opportunity to compete against the best color guards in the nation.

We are excited to have set the standards for North Salem's upcoming color guards to compete at the nationals in years to come."

Other members of this team, all seniors, are Heather Belshe, Kristine Weltz, and Justin Stuart.

Justin Gates, the competition director of the event, said `North Salem cadets have much to be proud of. Their experience is one they will each remember for the rest of their lives.

It was our honor and pleasure to host the Vikings.