For students in the Demopolis High School JROTC program, it isn’t enough to participate. Local cadets want to be the best.

Recently, the school’s JUROTC program held their annual Cadet Challenge and received rave reviews from Sgt. Mike Black.

Participation numbers for this year’s challenge, Black said, were the most encouraging aspect.

“Having 82 out of 90 participate is an outstanding number,” Black said. “Our kids really do a good job.”

Participating in the event, Black said, is no easy task. There are a number of events that wear on the cadets.

“The cadets have to do four different events,” Black said. “They have to do a one- mile run, a shuttle run, pull-ups and a V-stretch.”

Thursday, Black handed out awards for the school’s top finishers in this year’s challenge.

In the girl’s competition, Valissa Sams took first place, followed by Aleshia Arnold and Stephanie Wilson.

For the boy’s, Joe Johnson took top honors, followed by Josh Julian. Wesley Watts and Jack Rainey finished in a tie for third place.

The Cadet Challenge, Black said, is something the group prepares for each afternoon.

“We prepare them every day by doing grass drills that are made up of several different kinds of events,” Black said. “They run through cones and then when they get through them, they have to complete several different types of exercise and so forth. The purpose of the event is to have a good physical fitness test.”