Mansfield ISD Magazine Summer 2022 | Page 14

MANSFIELD HIGH CADETS PLACE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

After competing in back-toback championships this past weekend , the Mansfield High School JROTC program has proven it is among the best in the nation .

The Tigers placed fourth overall in the National High School Drill Team Championships , which is a competition for cadets in Army , Navy , Air Force and Marine JROTC programs across the country . Teams faced off with one another in various drill and command categories .
“ We were one of the youngest teams to compete . Eight are freshman , and three of the sophomores were competing for the first time ,” he explained . “ I feel very great because this is the best we ’ ve ever done in unarmed drill .”
Prior to the all-service competition , Mansfield High School competed in the U . S . Army Cadet Command JROTC National Drill Championships .
The team placed eighth overall and finished fourth in inspection . This is the second time Mansfield High School has qualified for the Army national competition . The Tigers won first place overall in 2019 . Sgt . 1st Class Kinnel said he believes his cadets can earn that title again .
“ We have put the Mansfield school district on the map ,” he said . “ They know who we are now and where we come from . We ’ ll keep practicing , and we ’ ll be back .”
Mansfield High also earned second in unarmed drill inspection and exhibition , and Amanda Vidal earned third place for drill team commander . Sgt . 1st Class Daniel Kinnel , the school ’ s JROTC instructor , said it was a major accomplishment for his cadets , especially since they are so young .
The Tigers competed in back-to-back national competitions in one weekend to showcase their drill skills .
The U . S . Army Cadet Command JROTC National Drill Championships were held on Thursday , April 14 . The National High School Drill Team Championships took place April 15-16 . Both competitions were held in Florida at the Ocean Center Arena and Exhibit Hall .

BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN

Three Mansfield ISD trustees were sworn in to their positions after they won the seats in the May 7 election .

The Place 4 seat is now occupied by Keziah Valdes Farrar . Bianca Benavides Anderson has the Place 5 seat , and Courtney Lackey Wilson now sits in the Place 7 seat . Each new member was sworn in at the regular school board meeting on Tuesday , May 24 .
Before the meeting , a farewell reception was held for the outgoing board members who did not run for re-election — Randall Canedy , Karen Marcucci and Darrell Sneed .
One more seat on the MISD School Board is up for election . There will be a runoff election for Place 3 between Dr . Benita C . Reed and Craig Tipping on Saturday , June 18 . Early voting is June 6-14 .
Runoff Election ON JUNE 18
Keziah Valdes Farrar Place 4
Bianca Benavides Anderson Place 5
Courtney Lackey Wilson Place 7
Dr . Benita C . Reed Place 3 Candidate
Craig Tipping Place 3 Candidate
14 MANSFIELDTODAY