FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tampa, Fl. (October 30, 2026) – Newsome High School’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Raider team earned top honors on the national stage in October, finishing second overall in the Masters Division at the National Raider Competition held in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Competing in the Mixed (Male & Female) category, Newsome turned in an impressive performance across multiple events, demonstrating strength, endurance, teamwork and determination.
The team’s results included:
2nd Overall – Masters Division, Mixed (Male & Female)
1st Place – Gauntlet
2nd Place – Ultimate Raider
3rd Place – 5K
3rd Place – Physical Team Test (PST)
“This is an incredible accomplishment for our Newsome High School students and a tremendous source of pride for our entire district,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Competing at this level requires discipline, teamwork, perseverance and countless hours of preparation. These students represented Newsome and Hillsborough County Public Schools exceptionally well on the national stage, and we congratulate them and their instructors on this outstanding achievement.”
Raider competitions challenge JROTC cadets through physically demanding events that require competitors to work together while demonstrating fitness, leadership, and teamwork.
Newsome’s second-place overall finish, along with top three finishes in four individual events, highlights the team’s strong performance throughout the national competition.
Learn more about the JROTC programs at Hillsborough County Public Schools at hillsboroughschools.org
