METTER — The Statesboro High JROTC drill team topped Area 9 in the Region Championship drill meet on Tuesday, April 22, in Metter.
    Some notable mentions are Demarka Smith, who led the male armed squad to first place and Jean Williams, who led the SHS male unarmed platoon to another first place.
    In the female division, Semeria Jones directed the unarmed squad to a first-place finish. Tatsy-ana James led the female armed platoon to receive first place for the second year in a row.
    Additionally, the SHS females won the first- and second-place spots for dual exhibition drill and Angel Pacheco placed third in the Armed Knockout event, which includes both males and females.
    First Sergeant David Redwine, who coaches the SHS drill team, shared his thoughts about the season ending.
    “It has been a long season due to rainouts having to be rescheduled. We also endured having our state championship meet cancelled due to Army cutbacks, so the Region Championship had to serve as our Super Bowl," Redwine said. "With the seniors leaving, the female drill team will be hurt the most because they are losing a lot of experienced cadets. The males will miss Jean Williams’s leadership. Jean is fun but firm when needed and very mature for his age so the cadets really respond to his leadership.”
    Despite losing a lot of experienced team members the future is still bright for the Drill Devils because cadets in leadership positions have prepared people under them to take their place. As Redwine declared, “We don’t rebuild, we reload!”