Raider Domination

White County JROTC team wins state championship

  • Members of the White County JROTC Raider team are, from left, River Shack, Dason Adcock, Asher Page, Michael Kimbrell, Asher Stewart, Sam Harkins, Kayden Pace, Dawson Brown, Timothy Little, Collin Thibeau, Clay Christopher and Bryson Howe. Not shown are Sawyer Martin and Max Autry. WCHS JROTC/SPECIAL
    Members of the White County JROTC Raider team are, from left, River Shack, Dason Adcock, Asher Page, Michael Kimbrell, Asher Stewart, Sam Harkins, Kayden Pace, Dawson Brown, Timothy Little, Collin Thibeau, Clay Christopher and Bryson Howe. Not shown are Sawyer Martin and Max Autry. WCHS JROTC/SPECIAL

    Staff report

    The White County High School JROTC Raider team earned six trophies last weekend  at the 2025 Raider State Championship held at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville. The team brought home the biggest piece of hardware as they earned the one being the Championship Trophy, competing against the Top 25 teams in the state.

    “The warriors were incredible, they gave 110 percent and came back as champions because they held nothing back. They believed in each other and they left it all on those fields”, said LTC Richard Hobson, White County High School JROTC Senior Army Instructor.

    Members of the team are River Shack, Collin Thibeau, Michael Kimbrell, Asher Stewart, Sam Harkins, Kayden Pace, Clay Christopher, Timothy Little,  Dawson Brown, Dason Adcock, Asher Page, Bryson Howe, Sawyer Martin and Max Autry.

    This year, the nine-hour competition consisted of 5K teams run, Physical Team Challenge, Cross Country Rescue, Rope Bridge, and Raider equipment relay. This all day competition is ferocious and demanding. “Just surviving until the end is an accomplishment in itself,” Hobson said.   

    Cadet Command Sergeant Major Sam Harkins highlighted the rope bridge event as “one of our best this season”. The team placed first on the rope bridge, constructing and crossing the 96-foot obstacle in1:21, a new course record.

    “Our team excelled during every event, fighting for every second, which proved to be the difference” said Raider Clay Christopher.

    This year’s team consisted of four seniors who have competed on the team for four years with Christopher and Bryson Howe earning their second state championship patch with this year’s win. “Regardless of where you place in this competition there are no losers,” Hobson said. “We are proud of our team and each warrior.”

    With this win, the White County team earned a slot at the US Army Raider Nationals to be held at Fort Knox, Ky., on April 17-19. This is a great end to the regular season and we wish these warriors luck as they prepare for the nationals.