FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2007

Contact: K.E. Schwab  

724.738.2199

 karl.schwab@sru.edu

SRU Army ROTC Challenge Team earns regional competition honors

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The culmination of six weeks of six-day-a-week training paid off for the Slippery Rock University Army ROTC Ranger Challenge team when it recently captured second place in its tier and third place overall in the annual 2nd Brigade Eastern Region Ranger Challenge. 

            Ranger Challenge is the varsity sport of Army ROTC. The competition focuses on infantry skills in which squad-sized teams of 10 cadets compete against other colleges and universities in the eastern region. The region includes colleges and universities from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. 

            Specific competitions are conducted in: rifle marksmanship, constructing a one rope bridge, patrolling, weapons assembly and disassembly, an Army Physical Fitness Test, land navigation, obstacle course, hand-grenade assault course and 10-kilometer forced road march.  

            The SRU team took first place in the one rope bridge competition with a time of nine minutes, six seconds. The team took second in the weapons assembly/disassembly competition and fifth in the fitness test, obstacle course and road march competition.  

            The competition, which involved 19 teams, was at Fort Indiantown Gap. 

            The SRU cadet team includes: Jonathan Turner of Pittsburgh, Micah Linderman of Winchester, Va., and Chris Spudic of Cranberry, all seniors; Collier Wright of Pittsburgh, Bradlee Spudic of Cranberry, Emma Christensen of Mountaintop, and Zachary Majzun of Bethesda, Ohio, all juniors; Chad Baker of Freeport, Zachary Foster of Volant, sophomores; and Merle McConnell of Aliquippa, a freshman.

            Team alternates are: Jessica Brothers of Mahaffey, Ruth Pippin of Knox, Michael Botjer of Lake Aeriel, and Patrick Plumberg of Denver.

            The team is coached by Master Sgt. Sheldon Monroe and 2nd Lt. Andrew Sharp.

            Competition top honors went to IUP in first place and Lehigh University in second place.

PN, PGN, WPN, PR --

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.