Wayne Walden, PR Officer Paducah Public Schools
Sunday, September 21, 2014 5:35 pm

Members of the Paducah Tilghman Navy Junior ROTC unit who participated in the eighth annual Tornado Triumph JROTC Sports Challenge include (left to right): Javin McCoy, Kayla Ragan, Hannah Seli, Korie Pearl, Quran Dunbar, Johnathan Farr-Finch, Kelton Rag

The Paducah Tilghman High School (PTHS) Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) unit hosted its eighth annual Tornado Triumph JROTC Sports Challenge on Saturday, September 13. Twelve JROTC teams from ten high schools in Western Kentucky participated in the physical fitness meet held at Paducah Tilghman.

In addition to the Paducah Tilghman Navy JROTC unit, Navy programs from Daviess County and Butler County Schools competed. Army JROTC units from Muhlenberg County, Graves County, McLean County, Henderson County, Owensboro High School, Fort Campbell High Schools, and the Air Force JROTC unit from Hopkins County Central High School attended. An estimated 450 cadets from the various schools competed in the sports challenge.

The JROTC cadets vied for honors in twelve events that included a volleyball tournament, tug-of-war and tiny tug-of-war tournaments, around the world basketball shooting, a one mile relay, 50 meter dash, football relay, ski board races, silly games, shot put, and "Best Sportsmanship and Team Spirit."

The Paducah Tilghman NJROTC team won three first place, one second place and two third place trophies during this year's competition. The award winning Paducah Tilghman NJROTC program is in its fourteenth year at the high school.