Canon City High School Army JROTC

At the end of the semester, all of the winning Cadets of the Month compete for Cadet of the Semester.  The winners for the second semester of the 2008-2009 school year were Cadet Hannah Ensley and Cadet Miguel Montelongo.  Both cadets were promoted to Sergeant First Class.

Cadet Miguel Montelongo is May's Cadet of the Month.  Before is competition at Cadet of the Month, Cadet Montelongo was a Corporal.  After winning the competition, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

C/CPT Justine Fellhauer competed in the Junior Olympic Women's Air Rifle National Championship, held at the Olympic Shooting Center in Colorado Springs.  The match was held on April 3, 4 and 5.  This national match brought in the very best women's air rifle competitors between the ages of 14 and 20, including many NCAA athletes.  Justine scored 739 points, and is now ranked #95 nationally.  In separate competitions, she also qualified to compete in the NRA Junior Air Gun Championship, held at Camp Perry, Ohio, in early July.  Congratulations, Justine!

Both the precision and sporter teams recently won the US Army Junior Air Rifle Open state championship.  Individual awards also went to David McClure (sporter, gold), Ryan Picco (sporter, silver), Justine Fellhauer (precision, gold) and Ryan Lang (precision, silver).

Saturday evening, April 4, 2009, several cadets assisted with the local Friends of the NRA Banquet, providing a color guard for the event, and assisting with the live auction.  Our rifle team has benefited greatly from past grants from the NRA Foundation, and we enjoy supporting this very worthwhile event each year.

On Thursday, April 2, 2009, the Tiger Battalion conducted a flag disposal ceremony at Canon City High School.  Unserviceable US flags from the community, school, and students, were destroyed by burning in a special ceremony under the command of C/MAJ Sammie Addington, acting battalion commander.  Over 100 unserviceable flags were brought in to the ceremony.

C/MAJ Sammie Addington conducts the ceremony at the flagpole.

The Tiger Battalion salutes the colors during the ceremony.

The color guard moves the colors from the flagpole to the disposal site.

SFC Vertrees talks with CCHS students about the ceremony.  We had a good number of teachers and students observe.

Cadet Cody Easter is April's Cadet of the Month.  Before is competition at Cadet of the Month, Cadet Easter was a Private First Class.  After winning the competition, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Cadets Taryn Chapman and Josh Bufmack are March's Cadets of the Month.  Before their competition at Cadet of the Month, both cadets were Privates.  After winning the competition, they were promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Cadets Hannah Ensley and Christopher Fahouris are February's Cadets of the Month.  Before competing for Cadet of the Month, both Ensley and Fahouris were Privates First Class.  As a result of winning, they were promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

On Saturday, December 13th, eight members of the sporter air rifle team competed at the 2008 Colorado JROTC State Air Rifle Championship.  This match attracted nearly 100 competitors, representing over 20 high schools from across Colorado.  It was held at the Olympic Training Center ranges in Colorado Springs.  Our Tiger Rifles 4-person team placed third in the state, and our 2-Person team placed second.  In the individual standings, Ryan Lang placed 9th overall, and Justine Fellhauer won the prone event with a score of 98 out of 100.  Congratulations on a strong showing at state!

L to R:  Amber Koenig, Ryan Picco, David McClure, Ryan Lang, Connor McClure, Justine Fellhauer, Lacey Ravanelli, Montana Buckhaults.

The Tiger Battalion conducted its semi-annual formal inspection on Friday, December 12th.  Cadre from University of Colorado-Colorado Springs inspected our cadets, with an in-ranks inspection and a drill with arms evaluation.  Our battalion staff kicked off the day with a formal staff briefing.  The Color Guard also provided a demonstration for the inspectors.  Cadets were inspected for appearance in the uniform, knowledge of JROTC subjects, and proficiency in armed drill.  Congratulations to Alpha Company for being named Best Company.

Congratulations to C/SGT Montana Buckhaults, our December Cadet of the Month!

Several recent events have kept our cadets busy!  On December 5th we put on our semi-annual Military Ball.  Cadets attending the ball must wear the Class A uniform, with guests in formal attire.  This year's royalty included Queen C/LTC Brittany Carnes and her escort C/MAJ Tyrel Matthews, LET 1 Attendants C/SFC Dominic Sorrenti and C/SGT Amber Koenig, LET II Attendants C/1SG Patrick Tilton and C/MSG Shakoda Walck.

The next evening, Saturday, December 6th, our entire battalion marched in the Canon City Christmas Parade, with our Color Guard leading the entire procession.

The Tiger Rifles sporter team finished the Southern Colorado Rifle League season in second place, beaten only by Pueblo County High School in a season tie-breaker.  Pictured below are Justine Fellhauer, Ryan Lang, Connor McClure and David McClure.  Congratulations!

On November 10th, the Canon City Board of Education honored the October and November cadets of the month.  Pictured below are (l. to r.) Dr. Robin Gooldy, Canon City Schools Superintendent, C/SGT Constance Thuente, C/SSG Amber Koenig, C/SSG Trevor Cook, C/SGT Dominic Sorrenti, and Mrs. Charlene Seaney, School Board President.

Cadet Staff Sergeant Trevor Cook (Charlie Company) and Cadet Sergeant Amber Koenig (Alpha Company) were selected as this month's Cadets of the Month during the board held on Thursday, October 30th.  Both cadets were promoted and presented with a Commendation Ribbon.  Congratulations! 

On October 30th, the Tiger Rifles rolled over the Pueblo Central Wildcats 955-862.  Coach Vertrees and the team traveled to Pueblo for the match on Thursday.  The Tigers are now 4-1 for the season so far.  We have two matches remaining in the Southern Colorado Rifle League season, a competition against the Pueblo South Colts and the SCRL Tournament, held at Canon City High School on November 30th.

On October 28th, the rifle team overtook Pueblo West 979 to 901 in competition at Heinen Range.  This is the third straight win for the Tiger Rifles.  Justine Fellhauer led the squad with a new personal record of 262 points, followed by Ryan Lang and David McClure at 241 points, and Connor McClure at 235 points.  We will travel to Pueblo Central High School for our next match on Thursday, October 30th.

Our Rifle Team posted another win on October 21st in their match against Pueblo Centennial.  The Tiger Rifles won 960-851.  Ryan Lang led the team with his personal 3X10 record of 254 points.  Other scores were Connor McClure-248, David McClure-228, and Justine Fellhauer-230.  Our next competition will be against Pueblo West on October 28th at Heinen Range at Canon City High School.  Match time will be 3:00 PM.

During our first week of competition in the Southern Colorado Rifle League, our team had its ups and downs.  Our sporter team fell to one of our old rivals, Pueblo County High School 894-928, on October 7th.  Congratulations to Pueblo County for a very good season opener!  The Tiger Rifles came back on October 9th to beat Pueblo East High School 964-789, posting the highest team score in the league so far this season. 

Our September Cadet of the Month board was held on September 25th.  Each company nominates one male and one female LET 1 cadet to appear before the board.  The board is comprised of Company First Sergeants, and the Battalion Command Sergeant Major serves as president of the board.  Cadets are evaluated on personal appearance in the Class A uniform and knowledge of JROTC subjects.  One male and one female cadet are selected as Cadets of the Month.  Winners receive a promotion to Cadet Sergeant, and are presented with a Commendation Ribbon.  This month's winners were Cadet Sergeant Constance Thuente and Cadet Sergeant Dominic Sorrenti.

Magness Adventure Camp, Kiowa, Colorado     June 2-6, 2008

Assistant Principal Jerry Schott and Major Turnnidge with the Number 88 National Guard car.