North Central High School: Raider Team Claims 4th Brigade Championship

The North Central High School Raider Team from Kershaw, South Carolina won the “Best of the Best” 4th Brigade Raider Competition last month at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Pictured are cadets Jasmine-Cruz Salinas, Briseyda Valladolid Valdovines, Gavin Payne, Cooper Quigley, Jacob Reed, Victoria Frank-Vega, Heath Scheller, Arbee San Jose, and Hannah Grace Epps. (photo by Cadet Jessica Frank-Vega)

Written by Army Instructor Chad Young

The North Central High School Raider Team is ready for the JROTC National Raider Challenge, coming up April 16-19 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Last month, the team claimed the 4th Brigade JROTC “Best of the Best” Raider Competition Championship, earning First Place Overall in the Coed Division against elite teams from across South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.

North Central’s cadets delivered their strongest performance of the season, placing in four of the five events and demonstrating exceptional teamwork, endurance, and determination.

The team earned first place in the One Rope Bridge, second place in the 5K Team Run, second place in the Knot Tying Relay, and third place in the Litter Carry. Each event in Raider competition demands both physical endurance and mental toughness, requiring teams to execute complex tasks under pressure while racing against the clock.

“This team pours their heart and soul into every event,” said Army Instructors Chad Young and Owen Smith. “What they accomplished at Best of the Best is absolutely remarkable, and we are incredibly proud of the way they represented North Central High School.”

The championship victory highlights what has been an exceptional season for the North Central Raider Team, who now hold a 48–6 record for the year. Their success reflects months of intense training, discipline, and commitment from the cadets.

With the regional title secured, the team now sets its sights on the JROTC National Raider Challenge, which will take place April 16-19 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.