X

Clarkson's Army ROTC finishes second in competition featuring obstacle courses, weapons assembly, other combat abilities

Posted 10/30/12

A team of Clarkson University Army ROTC Cadets recently finished second of 44 teams in the Ranger Challenge competition held at Fort Dix, N.J. Kneeling: Taylor Macci (St Lawrence University). From …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Clarkson's Army ROTC finishes second in competition featuring obstacle courses, weapons assembly, other combat abilities

Posted

A team of Clarkson University Army ROTC Cadets recently finished second of 44 teams in the Ranger Challenge competition held at Fort Dix, N.J. Kneeling: Taylor Macci (St Lawrence University). From left in front are Tim Dudley (SUNY Potsdam), Devin Hallam (Clarkson), Tim Goldstone (Clarkson), and Emily Carrigg (Clarkson). In back from left are Nick Haluska (Clarkson), Eric O’Donnell (Clarkson), Steven Strait (Clarkson), and Michael Matroniano (Clarkson).

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University's Army ROTC finished in second place out of 44 teams in this year’s competition held at Fort Dix, N.J., in early October.

The competition is a series of 10 events that included two obstacle courses, timed assembly of military weapons, rappelling, inflatable raft operations, a telephone pole carry, hand grenade course, and a combat first aid challenge.

The teams competed in full gear (helmets, boots, uniforms, rucksack, and weapon) on a 7.5 mile course, which took the Clarkson team less than five hours to complete.

The nine-member team of students from Clarkson, SUNY Potsdam, and St Lawrence University are all enrolled in the Army ROTC program at Clarkson University and was coached by Master Sgt. Clifford Foster.

The team members from Clarkson University were captain Devin Hallam, a computer engineering major from Schenectady, N.Y.; senior Steve Strait, civil engineering, Lititz, Pa.; junior Eric O’Donnell, civil engineering, Oriskany, N.Y.; junior Michael Matroniano, interdisciplinary engineering and management, Fairport, N.Y.; sophomore Timothy Goldstone, interdisciplinary engineering and management, Accord, N.Y.; sophomore Emily Carrigg, electrical and mechanical engineering, Meredith, N.H.; and freshman Nick Haluska, civil engineering, Slingerlands, N.Y. SUNY Potsdam junior Tim Dudley, business administration, Potsdam, N.Y.; and St Lawrence University junior Taylor Macci, history, Fort Plain, N.Y., were also on the team.

The Golden Knights Battalion continued their annual strong performance in the competition that includes first place finishes in 2000 and 2007. Training six days a week since the beginning of the semester the team again finished ahead of many of their rivals.

Among the teams that trailed Clarkson this year were Syracuse, Penn State, Cornell, and RIT. The field was made up of schools from the 2nd Brigade, which encompasses 43 Army ROTC programs in the Northeast, along with teams representing the Naval Academy and West Point.