On Oct 12., Taft’s NJROTC participated in a sports challenge at Gately park with other CPS schools that have NJROTC programs. This event includes sports sections like Tug of War, Hand release push ups, Curl ups, a 4 legged race, 60m Sprints, an 800m relay, and a 50lb litter carry.
This year our Taft NJROTC students placed second in push ups. The four in the featured picture (Destiny Nunez (sophomore), Izeyah Avila (junior), Anthony Miller (junior), and Jenny Hoffman (senior) succeeded with 160 push ups. It’s been expressed by Jenny Hoffman, a Taft High School senior, that they, “Haven’t really placed high, last year we placed 5th and this year we placed 2nd so there is a lot of growth there.”
In preparation for these events, Taft’s NJROTC have multiple physical training days that feature the challenges done at these events. Izeyah Avila, a Taft High School junior, said, “How I prepared was just PT (Physical Training) in RO and some open-mat wrestling. Nothing crazy, but it will soon be this winter.” Avila has been a member of NJROTC for three years and will be continuing for a fourth. Avila explained that their PT wasn’t anything crazy but who knows what’s in store for NJROTC members in winter based on what he had to say.
Hoffman has been a member of NJROTC all four years of high school yet when asked if she looks forward to these events she said, “Yes I do, we have probably three or four so it’s really great especially since we meet new schools.” Taft High School senior, Julia Saluga, can agree as well, she said, “I look forward to them because I love supporting them and taking pictures of them.”
The members of our Taft NJROTC program are very proud and happy with their placement but are still going to further improve and get first in their next event. Let’s see what NJROTC has in store for us with the upcoming events.
