The 2009 King of the Rock cadet staff – Cadet 1st Lt. Zachary Hagner, cadet commander, and Cadet Master Sgt. Robert Reynoso, cadet commander -- discuss operational order with the cadet competitors. Additional photos are also available online for viewing.
(Photo by 2nd Lt. Frank Wayne)
Capt. James Kalemis
Commander
Group 22 Cadet Initiative
Illinois Wing
ILLINOIS – Fifty cadets from six Illinois Wing squadrons gathered over the weekend to compete in the 10 mental and physical challenges making up the 8th annual Group 22 Cadet Initiative, informally known as “King of the Rock.”
Sixteen senior members oversaw the contests, which featured a string obstacle course, a LEGO rocket ship, a Solar System puzzle, a medallion search while remaining mute, a pipe balancing challenge, a plank elevation trial, a balancing rod and a PVC pipe blowgun.
The competition is held yearly at Rock Cut State Park near Rockford on a campground adjacent to a pond. That arrangement makes water-related challenges possible – this year, a water tower with elevating ping pong and a watergun competition.
The contestants divided into nine teams of four to six cadets from the Boone, Chicago Midway, Lake in the Hills McHenry, Lewis, and Woodfield composite squadrons, representing not only Group 22 but also groups 2 and 14.
Each team also got a “seventh member” -- a prop that had to be carried at all times and “participated” in each event. If the seventh member is lost or destroyed, a penalty is possible. This year the seventh member was a foil balloon; eggs, tomatoes and watermelons filled the role in the past years.
The Honor Cadet Award was selected by the senior member staff, ended in a tie between the Lewis squadron’s Cadet Master Sgt. Sarah Goldman, who showed incredible concern and motivation; and the Lake in the Hills unit’s Cadet 1st Lt. Danny White, who exhibited excellent leadership.
The first-place team, with 886 points, was Lewis’ Black Sheep, who keep the King of the Rock Cadet Maj. Jacob Reuth Memorial Trophy for another year. Led by cadet Jack Wood, the team also consisted of Hannah Geiger, Kevin Pendl, Jonathan Rhodes and Brandon Villarreal, as well as Robert Wlosek of the Midway Composite Squadron.
Placing second, with 883 points, was Lake in the Hills’ Watson Warriors, who had won four of the past seven years and really wanted to take the trophy back. Cadet Danny White led the team, which also included cadets Alex Amann, Sabryna Peters, Nathan Philips, Andrew Sim and Keenan Wresch..
Boone County’s Neitzel Red Ninjas finished third with 838 points. Leading the team was cadet Max Bahling. Rounding out the roster were cadets Trevor Botkin, Paul Hornick, Michael Kunz, Ben Meek and Dylan Powers.
Along with competing in the field, the participating teams also had to make Saturday evening dinner, judged by the cadet staff -- Cadet 1st Lt. Zachary Hagner of the Lewis squadron, cadet commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Reynoso of the Chicago Midway unit, first sergeant -- and 1st Lt Diane Workman of the McHenry County squadron.
The McHenry County team, in an attempt to outdo the others, dined the judges under candlelight and with an appropriately attired maitre d’. The Watson Warriors tried to sway the judges by serving excellent steak. And Lewis’ Black Sheep went with a birthday party theme, complete with cake.
The clear winners in the meal content, though, were the Iron Five team from Woodfield with almost a perfect score, thanks to an unusual menu of Mediterranean and Middle East fare that left the judges speechless – literally!