The North Little Rock High School Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps unit won Coed Champion honors April 10 at the first annual Hope High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps “Bobcat Bash” field events meet at Hammons Stadium.

– Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools

HOPE – The Hope High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps AR-20101 hosted its first-ever unit invitational event April 10.

The ROTC Bobcat Bash field event, a fitness competition, brought teams from Arkansas and Texas to Hope and Hammons Stadium on the HHS campus.

“It was the first event ever hosted by AR-20101 since its inception in 2010,” HHS AFJROTC Senior Aerospace Instructor Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mark Hart said. “The schools in attendance were Beebe Air Force JROTC, Bryant Air Force JROTC, Hot Springs Navy JROTC, Marhall, Texas, Air Force JROTC, and North Little Rock Army JROTC.”

Lt. Col. Hart said competitions were held for male, female and co-ed divisions in sprint races, tug of war, dodge ball and a combat relay that included puzzle-solving skills which counted toward relay times.

“AFJROTC is a cadet led program and cadets were responsible for planning and executing the event,” Hart said. “The cadets did an outstanding job hosting the event. They were gracious hosts, made new friends, and learned many lessons in leadership.”

Division awards were presented as follows:
Female Unit Champion – Marshall High School.
Co-ed Unit Champion – North Little Rock High School.
Co-ed Unit Runner Up – Beebe High Schools.
Co-ed Unit Third Place – Hot Springs High School.
Male Unit Champion – North Little Rock High School
Male Unit Runner Up – Marshall High School.