HOPKINS, S.C. — The Lower Richland High School JROTC drill team marches in step as the best regional armed drill team in the area.
For seniors like Jasmine Hartley, this is their first regional win.
“I really can’t imagine leaving this team because they’re like a family to me. to come from a person who’s very antisocial to seeing my family grow to this big win was really fun. i loved it,” Jasmine Hartley says.
Hartley says the drill team is more than just an after school activity to her.
“As soon as I got into ROTC and joined the drill team I met amazing people that I never want to replace because they made me who I am. my coach made me who I am. I've become very disciplined, I know who I am inside and that I could be a great leader,” she said.
The students hold a state and regional title, but now they’re working towards the national high school drill team championship
"Watching others team’s success made these guys successful or want to be successful and they see that winning can be contagious and that’s what’s happened so far, winning has become contagious,” SGT. First Class Tracy Vaulx said.
Vaulx has coached the drill team for 14 years, in his eyes his these students have already won.
“However we do, I'm going to be satisfied with it because they’ve already won by making it this far,” he said.
The drill team has qualified for the national high school drill team championship and will be headed to Daytona Florida in May.