MVP Sports Magazine - July 2013

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contents 6 – The Chick Whips Roller Derby Meet the girls and their alter egos from this contact sport of blocking, jamming, hitting and whipping.

10 – Exceptional Athlete 6A state golf champion and Washburn Rural golf phenom, Andrew Beckler.

12 – Little Apple Over the Big Apple Shawnee Heights 2013 graduate Jordan Floyd has to decide between K-State and the Yankees.

16 – She Thinks She Can Dance…

So Does FOX Washburn Rural 2013 graduate Hayley Erbert dances her way onto FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”

20 – Coach Talk Mark Elliott interviews incoming Washburn Rural Head Football Coach Steve Buhler.

24 – Going National Three area teens are selected to play for the USA National football team.

26 – Commitment to Serve The JROTC ventures go far beyond presenting the colors at sporting events.

30 – State Champions MVP congratulates the state champions of the 2013 high school spring sports.

Hayley Erbert pg 16

CONTRIBUTORS

On the Cover: Karin Juarez

Publishers Braden and Tara Dimick

Seaman High School

Sara Steele

Editor-in-Chief Tara Dimick

Coach of Chick Whips

Assistant Editor Heather Hooper

Brittney Sparkman Santa Fe Trail High School

Photographer Rachel Lock

From the Topeka roller derby team, Chick Whips.

Designer David Vincent Contributing Writers Melissa Brunner Heather Hooper Adam Vlach Bridget Walter

Like us - MVP Sports Magazine

Account Executive Tara Dimick 785.217.4836

Follow us - @MVP_SportsMag

Check out this issue online at www.MVPSportsMagazine.com

Next Level Dancers Antanette Vance, Highland Park Cloud County Community College

Briehana Huggins, Highland Park Coffeyville Community College

Subscriptions 785.217.4836 or taradimick@gmail.com MVP Sports Magazine PO Box 67272 Topeka, KS 66667

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Exceptional Athlete: Andrew Beckler - Page 10

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locking, jamming, hitting and whipping. While these words are likely part of your vocabulary, you probably don’t use them in quite the same context as the eight high school girls from Chick Whips, Topeka’s own junior roller derby team.

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Alter Ego While they are all skating together toward a similar goal, each of these girls has a very unique derby personality that manifests in each player in different ways. Whether it is her colorful tights or sequined shorts, each girl has the opportunity to take the sport and make it her own. It’s

almost as though they create an alter ego that lives and breathes roller derby and only exists in the rink.

The girls are also given the privilege of picking their own derby name. After all, no superhero is fully equipped without a super cool name.

Girls Only This is a contact sport, unlike most other contact sports, it is predominately played by female athletes.

“I like that [roller derby is primarily a female sport]. There are so many guys’ sports and co-ed sports, I think they should just have a girls’ sport,” said Brittney “Babe Love Crash” Sparkman.

The Chick Whips displayed their confidence during practice, even teasing the male referees by asking them if they wanted to join in. To which they enthusiastically declined.

Skate Therapy Just being in the rink and watching the girls practice, you can tell that roller derby has its own following that could almost be described as its own society where everybody is accepted and encouraged to excel. It’s a society

where tough girls come together to get a little skate therapy. “It relieves my stress, when I go out there and skate really fast, it just helps,” explains Chasity “Chasmanian Devil” Hawks.

Many of the girls came upon roller derby because a friend invited them to ‘give it a try’ and in every case, they haven’t looked back. “It is just so much fun to do. You get an adrenaline rush every time you’re out there. You don’t want to stop once you get started,” describes Kelsee “Diva Destruction” Garinger.

Fami ly Roller derby is also a sport that can be passed down through generations.

Garinger was introduced to the sport by her mother and her sister, both of whom play for the Capital City Crushers, Topeka’s adult roller derby team.

All of the girls have become so close as a result of being a part of the team that they call themselves a family. “I didn’t have anybody to talk to before and now

The girls were quick to take on leadership and mentor roles by offering constructive criticism and words of encouragement to their newer/younger teammates. According to Karin “Fizgig” Juarez, her favorite parts about playing roller derby are that she gets to have fun, be a leader, and help the other girls.

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I have all of these girls that I can talk to that know what I’m going through,” said Michelle “Lucky Smalls” Roy when describing the relationship she has with her teammates.

Love of the Game It is obvious that this is a tightknit group of girls have a few very important things in common: a love for skating, hitting and competing.

“I love to skate. I’ve always loved to skate. And I love to hit. And those two things put together are just perfect,” said Emma “Emmagedon” Medill.

Future Crushers When looking to the future, all of the girls had one goal in common, to keep playing roller derby as long as they can. Mickela “Dora the Destroyer” Johnson said that she would love to be on the Capital City Crushers and go

on to be captain or co-captain. They all work hard to make sure that this goal is realized by training twice a week with scheduled practices. Many of the girls also use their free time to either skate outside, or go to open skate at their nearest rink.

The Chicks also want to share their love for the sport and keep the buzz about it growing in the Topeka area.

If you think you might be interested, come check the girls out on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. at Sk8away on Fairlawn. They are happy to welcome newcomers and add members to their family.

MVP

Rules of the Game Originating in the 1930s, roller derby has gone through various transformations, leading up to the form in which we view it today.

• Two teams consist of five players each. For every play, each team will designate one player as a jammer who will score the points, while the other players become blockers.

• Play begins with the blockers from both teams at the starting line while the jammers line up at the jammer line 30 ft behind the blockers.

• On the blow of a whistle both the blockers and the jammers will begin to skate. The blockers are required to ‘maintain the pack’ or stay within 10 ft proximity of each other.

• The goal of the jammer is to make it through the pack before the other jammer, skate full circle, and make it through the pack again.

• The jammer who makes it through the most times, scores more points, and their team wins that play.

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Jordan Floyd chuckles when asked how summer school is going.

“It’s a dance class. We just finished ballet,” he says. “We have a good time.”

It’s an interesting twist, considering the recent Shawnee Heights graduate is turning heads for his talents with his arm, more so than any fancy footwork. The left-handed pitcher started his summer being drafted by the New York Yankees.

“Shocked, surprised and also pretty excited,” Jordan says of his reaction to the news he was selected in the 25th round, 764th overall.

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He knew a call was coming, he just didn’t know who would be on the other end of the line. Jordan let it be known that it would take a lot for him to head straight to the pros, so most teams focused their attention elsewhere. He had the most contact with the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals.

So, on June 8, the last day of the draft, Jordan was going through pregame preparations with his summer team, the Kansas Crush, in Hutchinson. He says his sister heard first and called his dad, who then came down to the dugout and told Jordan to look at his phone.

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“I had eight missed calls and a voicemail from the Yankees,” he said. “They’re one of the most tradition-rich teams in baseball.”

Which takes us back to that dance class. Jordan enrolled in it at Kansas State University this summer so he can use their facilities to work out with the school’s other student-athletes. Despite what might seem a dream phone call—and he says, in many ways, it was—Jordan plans to honor his commitment to play baseball for the Wildcats.

“I’ve dreamed since I was a little kid of being drafted and playing in the pros,” he said. “Now that it’s here, I had to take a step back and think about my life. I’m still a kid. I want to go to college and be a kid a little longer.”

With the draft looming, Jordan says he consulted fellow Thunderbird alum Jordan Cooper, who was drafted out of high school but opted to play at Wichita State University and is now in the Cleveland Indians’ farm system.

“He said his favorite time of his life was in college and he got better in college,” Jordan said.

It all sounds very practical, but, still, Jordan admits to feeling a pull.

“It’s a lot of money, but it’s not life-changing to where, if I get hurt in the minors and don’t have a college degree, what am I going to fall back on?” he says.

Jordan is going to get that something to fall back on—a degree in athletic training— and, he believes, he’s going to improve his baseball skills. He’s excited by the prospect of helping K-State build on its best baseball season ever, which ended one win shy of the College World Series.

Putting his big league dreams on hold, he knows, is a risk. But he believes the odds are in his favor to achieve bigger goals in the end.

“God forbid I get injured or something happens in my life that I don’t get the chance (to play professionally). If it’s four more years and I’m done with baseball, I’ll be fine with that,” Jordan said.

“You have to look at the overall picture of your life. Six or seven years isn’t your whole life. You need to set yourself up for success and not just having fun for a few years.” mvp

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Jordan Floyd 2013 Shawnee Heights Graduate

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Hayley Erbert 2013 Graduate Washburn Rural very year thousands of hopeful young dancers audition for the FOX television show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

From there, 33 dancers remained to vie for 20 spots in the competition. Erbert was announced as one of the 10 female competitors on the June 18 broadcast.

Hayley Erbert endured intense competition, sleepless nights of dance rehearsal and several eliminations to secure one of 20 spots in the dance competition.

“I told her, don’t worry about it. Just enjoy it. Look how far you’ve come,” Schwartz said.

Erbert, a 2013 graduate of Washburn Rural High School, has been a fan of the show since she was in fourth grade. She traveled to Austin, TX for the audition and wowed the judges.

The judge’s panel sent her straight to Las Vegas for an intense week of six dance rounds and eliminations, each in a different dance style. Her mom Debbie Schwartz said there were about 150 dancers sent to the Las Vegas callbacks.

Erbert joined the Dance Factory when she was five and then at age 12 moved to the Kansas City dance company, Priscilla & Dana. She joined their competitive dance team and learned a range of dance styles from ballet to hip hop.

Her dance instructor, Dana McGuire, said Erbert has what it takes to go far in the competition. She has good technique, good feet, personality, the right look and the willingness to learn.

“She’s the complete package,” McGuire said.

MVP caught up with Hayley Erbert while she was rehearsing for the show in Los Angeles.

MVP: How are you holding up under the rehearsals and the pressure?

HAYLEY: Vegas week was very hectic trying to learn so many styles of dance with such little time, but in a great way. The pressure was intense with everyone fighting for a spot in the top 20. It was such an amazing experience to be surrounded by people that share the same passion as me.

MVP: What is a typical day for you?

How many hours are you rehearsing?

audition one style, people would get eliminated, and then we’d be on to the next style without knowing in advance what the style was.

MVP: How is this different from other dance competitions you’ve been involved in?

HAYLEY: The only difference is that this one is televised. Also, for competitions with my studio, we rehearse dancing for five or more months. For Vegas week, we had an hour to learn it and then we performed it immediately.

HAYLEY: In Vegas, we never knew what was coming next. We would July 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com

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MVP: What has been the most challenging?

HAYLEY: The most challenging style for me was ballroom, only because I had only taken a ballroom class twice in my life before Vegas week.

MVP: How has it been working with a partner?

HAYLEY: Partnering with someone you have never danced with is pretty challenging. I have done partnering before, but with people I have been dancing with for years.

MVP: What keeps you motivated to stay in this competition?

HAYLEY: What kept me motivated the most was just trying to give it my all and show the judges what I’m really made of.

MVP: What has been the hardest part so far?

HAYLEY: The hardest part was not getting any sleep and trying to function on only a few hours of sleep.

MVP: What kind of sacrifices have you made for dance? Has it been worth it?

HAYLEY: I have sacrificed my entire life for dance. Growing up I didn’t have much of a social life because I was always at dance. I rarely got to see my friends or even family. I drive an hour and fifteen minutes to get to my dance studio. It all has definitely been worth it.

Haley Erbert 2013 Graduate Washburn Rural MVP: How hard is it trying to dance so many different styles?

choreographer wants it to look.

MVP: What is your favorite dance style?

HAYLEY: I think trying to dance different styles is more fun than difficult.

I have such a great time trying to adapt to every style and make it the way the

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HAYLEY: Contemporary is my favorite style because it is more like my personality.

I’m so blessed to have an immense amount of love and support.

Erbert plans to attend Chapman University in Orange, Calif. as a dance major on scholarship. After college, she plans to go into dance as a profession. mvp

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Coach Talk With Mark Elliott

Mark Elliott talks with Steve Buhler, former head football coach for Rossville High School, and incoming head football coach to Washburn Rural High School.

Mark Elliott WIBW 580 AM SportsTalk Silver Lake High School Graduate ELLIOTT: You had a great run at Rossville with 120 wins in 15 years. Washburn Rural starts a new chapter in your life.

BUHLER: We’re excited to be able to stay here and still have the opportunity to move up to the 6A level.

This is something I’ve always wanted to do. It was the right fit at the right time.

ELLIOTT: This is a unique situation where the two head coaches, 6A Washburn

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Rural and 3A Rossville, have switched spots. Have you guys talked at all?

BUHLER: We have. Derick (Hammes) and I have known each other with the Shawnee County Coach’s Association.

Most of what we’ve talked about were transitional things: where certain things are at, the type of equipment, and who to contact.

ELLIOTT: Go through a timeline of your past to where we are today.

MVPSportsMagazine.com July 2013

BUHLER: I got my degree in communications, radio and television production.

After my graduate work, I worked in public relations for five to six years, but I always had an itch to be around athletics. My dad had been a high school coach for 35 years, and I grew up at the practice fields and on the courts.

While in Great Bend, I took advantage of the Rural 10 situation that we have in Kansas where people who

are not involved in education are able to coach; and I loved it. I went back to school and got my teaching certificate and started bouncing around from place to place and ended up in Rossville.

ELLIOTT: Your first time in Rossville was as an assistant coach for Tony Trimble; you then went to Hayden under Tom Stringer; and when Tony Trimble left Rossville, you came back as head coach.

BUHLER: Tony’s a great coach and I learned a lot from him when he was here. Then I took a jump over to Hayden, and that had a lot to do with family. I grew up going to Catholic schools and playing Catholic schools and when the opportunity arose I took advantage of that.

When the job opened up at Rossville, again it’s similar to what I’m going through now. You aspire to be a head coach when you’ve been an assistant. You’d like to try your own things and see how it works. You always think you’re prepared for the next step, especially when you’re going from an assistant to a head coach. You could be an assistant coach as long as you want to be, but I don’t think it ever really prepares you to be a head coach. It’s just something you learn as you go.

I’ve been lucky to be around some good coaches that taught me a lot of good things about how to handle kids and relate to kids. I think the biggest thing to the success we’ve had is being able to build relationships with kids and helping them learn how to succeed.

ELLIOTT: Coach Hammes has done a nice job at Rural where they’re always 5-4, 4-5, but they never got over that hump for that breakthrough year, but they made the playoffs for the first time in a long time.

They’re not used to the type of success you’ve had at Rossville. So what’s different from 3A to 6A?

BUHLER: I think it is a big advantage for me as a coach moving up to the 6A level in the sense that at 3A you have the tendency to wear a lot of different hats. I coached receivers while I was also

of wanting to do things and my attitude towards how we want to get where we want to go and have the successes we want to have.

head coach and offensive coordinator.

enthusiastic about something new and the challenge of trying to get to the level that we enjoyed in Rossville.

With the number of kids and number of coaches that we have at Rural, it’s more of a management position. I don’t have quite as much say as far as the OC and the DC go. I’m letting them do the coaching and I’m given the overview. That’s going to be important because it allows me to get around and connect with the kids in a different way.

Derick has done a good job setting the foundation, but we all have our own personal quirks as far as how we like to do things, our own personality. I think not having to worry about being a coach at a position is going to allow me to relate my way

It’s fun to go into a place where they’re excited and they’re

ELLIOTT: You know, at the same time, besides the kids being excited, it’s not bad for an old coach to have a new spot and a new challenge.

BUHLER: I found myself to be very energetic with the kids the last couple of weeks.

It’s been a lot of fun, and it is a challenge. You can kind of see as you’re working with the kids you’re just kind of molding things to the way you’d like to see them done.

It’s kind of like being back 15 years ago.

ELLIOTT: At a bigger school, you tend to get more sport specific athletes. Tell us

about what all goes on in the summer.

BUHLER: We finished a three-day team camp down at Pitt State. We’re involved in the 7-on-7 passing league at Washburn (University),

and we’ve had our own week-long camp leading up to the Pitt State camp.

I was pleasantly surprised by how many kids are involved in at least two sports. You don’t get the three-sport guys like you do in the smaller classifications, but we had a whole group of kids who got back Tuesday night and left for Colorado Western State University for a week-long wrestling camp.

You may not have all the kids all the time because you’ve got them going different places, but the difference is I can find 50 kids who have the time to go down to Pitt State. I can find 14 guys to go play 7-on-7 every night and not have to worry about not having enough kids there.

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ELLIOTT: At Washburn Rural, Derick Hammes was a full time strength coach.

His office was in the weight room and he ran the weight room. You’re not going to be in the weight room, you’re going to teach English class. The weight room has gotten bigger and bigger and more important for football especially, but all the sports as well. I think it’s unique to have a full

time strength teacher at Washburn Rural.

BUHLER: They hired Coach Tyler Pfizenmaier. He is young, energetic, and he knows his stuff. We’ve been able to work well together.

He has been good about coming to the coaches and asking what we want to get out of the athletes in the program we’re going to put together.

It is exciting to have somebody in the school who can focus on weight lifting because, let’s face it, all the coaches can’t all be in the weight room at the same time, and we can’t be with our kids all the time. This offers us the opportunity to have somebody very

knowledgeable work with our kids when we’re not able to be there.

The kids hear from us coaches all the time on the practice field and in the games, and then all over again in the summer; sometimes it’s good to hear it from somebody else. I believe in the philosophy that Coach Pfizenmaier is doing and to hear him reinforce what I believe, to have the kids hear it from somebody else lends credibility to what we’re trying to do with this program.

ELLIOTT: You left the MidEast League, which has a great history. Now you go to the Centennial League, a great league without question. What are your thoughts on the Centennial League?

BUHLER: You’re either going to compete or you’re going to get stepped on. I’m excited about that challenge. It’s a great league and the district is probably one of the best in the state.

Coach Steve Buhler

Washburn Rural High School Football

A lot of times in other years Rossville didn’t have the size and speed of other schools, but we learned to compete.

It’s just kind of built in now.

You learn to try a little harder, try more things, and you work harder to become successful. They know how to compete at that level.

I told a lot of people that when I took the job I’m

never going to promise state championships or playing for state championships because there’s a lot of luck involved as well as the talent that has to go with it. We are going to strive to be a consistent playoff team. We are going to keep knocking at the door and hopefully get back to the level they enjoyed when Coach Bowen was here and that run they had in the 80s and 90s. If you can get to that point, you can feel pretty proud about what you’ve done because you’ve played some great competition to get where you’re at.

ELLIOTT: Final question then, obviously you’ve been in Shawnee County at Rossville but there are a lot of people in Topeka who might not know who you are because they don’t follow the smaller schools, so tell people about the family.

BUHLER: I’m originally from Denver. My wife, Shelly, is from Junction City and is a Shawnee County Commissioner. We both attended Benedictine College. We have three children, Matt and Mitch play football for Washburn University and our daughter, Marah will be an eighth grader at Rossville.

ELLIOTT: Congratulations on the great run you’ve had at Rossville and the best wishes for you at Washburn Rural.

It will be a new challenge. It will be an exciting one.

Good luck. mvp

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July 2013 MVPSportsMagazine.com

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Seaman juniors Wyatt Steenson and Wyatt Hendrix, along with incoming Washburn Rural freshman Alex King were selected for the USA National Football team.

going National

by Heather hooper

The program is used by colleges and the NFL to recruit and scout new talent.

“Only 100 boys per age group were selected for the national team, and all three Topeka boys made the cut,” said Dennis Reedy, football director of the YMCA. Steenson and Hendrix will attend a weeklong camp in Austin, TX, while

King will head to Canton, Ohio in July.

They will learn football skills, character building and leadership.

“They’re looking for the kid who has very strong character and is coachable,” said Reedy.

Their instructors will be former NFL players, and coaches from the high school and college levels. Each player is given a written skills assessment by an NFL scout.

“They get to hone their skills with the best in the business,” Reedy said.

Head’ s Up Football The Head’s UP Football program provides education in concussion awareness, better equipment fitting and techniques in ball carrying and tackling to both coaches and players.

“The three teens will lead clinics based on the training that they will receive at USA Football Camp. Participants will also work with an on-site NFL player, likely from the KC Chiefs, who will be a safety advisor,” said Dennis Reedy, football director of the YMCA.

Wyatt Steenson

Wyatt Hendrix

Alex King

Quarterback // Seaman Junior // 6’2”// 205 lbs

Defensive End // Seaman Junior // 6’5” // 220 lbs

Defensive End // WRHS Freshman // 6’2” // 200 lbs

“It was a real eye-opener seeing the competition from the other states,” said Steenson. He hopes to work on leadership skills as well as fixing his throwing motions.

“It was really exciting being able to be taught by the NFL players,” said Hendrix. He worked closely with retired linebacker LaVar Arrington of the Redskins and Giants.

Alex King said the skills camp in Dallas was great, but he didn’t expect to be chosen for the team. “I didn’t care if I made it. I was just glad I went.”

Steenson said having two USA Football players on the Seaman team is definitely going to give them an advantage this season, especially since there will be a leader on offense and defense.

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Hendrix said he isn’t nervous about attracting the attention of college and NFL scouts. “It just makes it more exciting. It makes you want to work harder.”

King wants to work on new techniques, which he believes will take his game to the next level.

The best advice he’s gotten so far, “Work hard and stay focused.”

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Cadet First Sergeant Chris Houser, Topeka West; Cadet Private First Class Derrick Tremblay, Topeka West; Cadet Captain Hannah Anderson, Washburn Rural; Cadet Major Megan Unrein, Charger Battalion Commander, Topeka West

On Zac Vick’s first day of high school he walked down freshman hall with pants around his knees, sporting a triple XL white tee and feeling like the top dog. Suddenly a Marine Sergeant comes up, looks at his shirt and boxers, and gives him the glare. What to do?

Cadet Colonel Vick, now a senior at Topeka High, joined the ranks of Junior Reserve Officer Training Core (JROTC).

Topeka has JROTC programs for each branch of the military: the Marines at Topeka High, Army at Topeka West, Navy at Shawnee Heights and the

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Air Force at Highland Park and soon Washburn Rural. Most people know what JROTC is, but they don’t know what they do.

Coaching Cadets are taught by instructors who have fought for freedom half way around the world, piloted helicopters, or directed aircrafts. Such experiences enrich individuals with exceptional discipline, prioritizing, time management skills, and commitment.

These life-long qualities are being passed passing on to the next generation.

“My favorite part of Junior ROTC has been watching kids realize the potential they have and then put it to use. So many of them can and do accomplish really great things once they develop a little confidence and believe in themselves,” said Lt. Col. Richard Hodgson, instructor at Topeka West.

Commitment One of the biggest commitments JROTC cadets make upon joining a unit or battalion is time. During competition season, which lasts most of the school year, the cadets of each school drill every morning of the weekday for an

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hour and a half, usually before school around 6 a.m. CWO 3 Curtis “Gunner” Kelly’s Topeka High Marine cadets will sometimes practice at his own home on the weekends for three to five hours at a time, when circumstances demand it. The instructors themselves often work 60 or more hours a week.

However, it is possible to be involved in other activities while in JROTC. Students in JROTC have also participated in sports, music, theater and other activities; it just takes time management, an invaluable skill.

Competition The units from each school compete both in and out of state. Different branches of JROTC perform slightly differently in competitions, but on average each drill performance lasts three and a half to seven minutes. It is through these competitions that

military. In essence, JROTC is not preparation for the military, but rather preparation to a successful life.

Service and Responsibility JROTC

pays

its

own

way

for

“In JROTC, you are given a tremendous number of opportunities that would probably never have been possible outside of the program” - Cadet Major Megan Unrein of Topeka West units win trophies, one of the aspects that Cadet Lt. Colonel Derek Floyd of Highland Park finds most rewarding.

Though it may seem like it, joining JROTC is not a commitment to the military. Many JROTC members go on to college and civilian life. In fact, only 7% of Air Force cadets join the

transportation, dinners, recreation.

All of the money for such events is raised by the cadets and instructors.

Each summer Topeka High’s unit raises $30,00 to 40,000 through fundraisers.

In addition to raising money, Topeka’s JROTC members give back to the community. Last year the units totaled 12,000 hours of community service.

“In JROTC, you are given a tremendous number of opportunities that would probably never have been possible outside of the program,” said Cadet Major Megan Unrein of Topeka West.

Camaraderie A sense of camaraderie is guaranteed as well. Referring not only to his school but all the Topeka cadets, Topeka West’s Cadet Sergeant First Class Scott Williams said, “These are my brothers and sisters.”

Education JROTC emphasizes the importance of school. “One of, if not the, most important things that JROTC does,” Gunner Kelley said, “It keeps kids in school.” mvp

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