AIR FORCE Drill team places 4th in competition

The 051 Team represented the Ohio Wing and the Great Lakes Region.
VIENNA -- The 16-member Civil Air Patrol 051 Drill Team, all members of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station Composite Squadron, placed fourth overall out of eight teams at the recent CAP National Cadet competition.
Competition events took place at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Wright State University and the Air Force Museum, all in Dayton.
The 051 Team was first overall in the Ohio Wing, the State of Ohio, and the Great Lakes Region, consisting of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan, and represented those states at the national competition.
At the nationals, the 051 Team was second in Volleyball, and third in Standard Drill and Open-Ranks Inspection. The Southeast Region Drill Team from Puerto Rico won first place overall.
The competition included academic, precision drill and physical fitness events.
Cadet Maj. Steven Kotheimer of Boardman was 051 Team commander. Cadet team members included: Maj. David Eck, 1st Lt. Michael Sammartino and 2nd Lt. Bradley Hrinko, all of Austintown; Capt. Andrew Small, Chief Master Sgt. Jace Melick, M/Sgt. Steven Csernik and M/Sgt. Christian Kotheimer, all of Boardman; Airman 1st Class Michael Hnat of Leetonia; 2nd Lt. Joshua Clegg and Technical Sgt. Eric Thompson, both of Newton Falls; Senior Airman Jacob Tornow and Airman 1st Class Nicholas Tornow, both of Niles; Capt. Nathan Kish and T/Sgt. Daniel Kish, both of Salem; and Lt. Col. Leigha Samples of Vienna. Civil Air Patrol officers, Capt. Theodore Pifer and 1st Lt. Patricia Hrinko were team escorts.
The CAP, consisting of cadets ages 12 to 21, is the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force. Its programs emphasizes leadership, scholarship and a drug-free lifestyle.