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It's becoming more and more apparent to the drill world what team will be competing for World titles in the very near future. With the conclusion of NHSDTC 2017, Generation Drill now has TWO demilitarized solo titles, and are the only independent team to have won any.
Following Chris Revetta's stunning medals round routine in 2016, Cooper Donlin (also the third place finisher in 2016) gave us more of what we've come to expect. An intense, gorgeous routine that walked away with the 1st place trophy. Armbars and BTBs aplenty, Donlin amazed with the power and precision in every one of his tricks. Putting the rifle down at the end of the routine with authority only served to claim the deck and the title as his. Watch out for Generation Drill this coming year, as two members are now seniors in High School. Can GD do what no one has ever done and win 3 back-to-back titles? At this point, you'd be crazy to rule it out. Another year, another title for the Fern Creek Lady Leathernecks. After a slip-up two years ago, which saw them losing the title for the first time in over a decade, Fern Creek has now rattled off back to back titles in the Alternate Arms division. Interestingly enough, this seemed to be a down year for the team, with less than stellar performances at local competitions. However, being able to push through adversity it what makes a good team great, and no one does it better than this team.
From a competition standpoint, there are very few teams in the mix right now that stand a chance at dethroning the Lady Leathernecks. Seneca Magnet Career Academy, Heights HS (formerly John H. Reagan HS), and John Jay's Marching Mustangs are the few that come to mind. And here's why no one will get the best of Fern Creek for more than a year. Seneca: The closest the Redhawks came to defeating FC was in 2016, with a 2nd place overall finish in the division. The problem for this unit has always been there exhibition. They have no trouble keeping in regulation, but their exhibition scores follow a very low trend. Unless someone within or outside the program steps up to make changes, it's fair to assume this will continue. Heights HS: Already defeating FC once in 2015, this unit would be the best bet to beat FC again in the near future. They know what it takes to win and how to achieve the goal. Using half weighted rifles may be a hindrance to their exhibition scores, but that can only be a guess. John Jay: First year in competition and the Marching Mustangs captured 2nd place in the division. There's still a lot of unknowns here though, as it was made up of both females and JV males. Will Jay continue this make-up or switch to an all female team in the coming years? Winning is in Jay's DNA, however, starting a brand new division may prove tougher than some think. We'll have a better gauge on what direction this team is headed after another year of Master's level competition. |
