St. Lucie West Centennial NJROTC Places at Florida State Drill Championships
The "Black Talon" unit competed against 18 squads statewide; one cadet ranked third in the state on the academic test
St. Lucie West Centennial High School's Navy JROTC unit traveled to Riverview on March 7 to compete in the NJROTC Florida Area 11/12 Drill State Championships, returning home with two top-six finishes and a standout individual honor.
The "Black Talon" Company, representing Centennial and the St. Lucie County School District, faced 18 other qualifying NJROTC units from across Florida — some of the program's top-ranked teams in the state. The cadets earned sixth place in Academics and sixth place in Armed Basic Drill, results that reflect months of preparation and competition throughout the school year.
The individual highlight belonged to Cadet Petty Officer Second Class Andrew Witz-Schaffer, who recorded the third-highest score in the state on the Championships' academic test — a remarkable finish on a stage that draws Florida's elite junior ROTC programs.
Spoto High School in Riverview, near Tampa, hosted the state championships. To reach the competition, Centennial's unit had to qualify through drill events held across the school year, meaning Saturday's field represented programs that had already proven themselves at the regional level.
The results signal that St. Lucie West Centennial's NJROTC program is building toward something bigger. A strong academic and drill foundation is already in place, according to program officials.
The Black Talon unit is now setting its sights on qualifying for the NJROTC National Championships. Families and community members interested in following the team's progress should watch for qualifying events scheduled throughout the 2026–27 school year.
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