RAEFORD — The Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy drill team, the John L. Foye Rifles, finished second overall this past weekend at the 19th annual Hoke County High School Drill Meet in Raeford.

The drill team finished just behind Bandy High School from Catawba.

In addition to overall winner Bandy, the drill team competed against 15 other teams from across North Carolina.

The team won trophies in eight out of nine events:

— Cadet SSG Elijah Hayes commanded Regulation Squad without arms which finished in second place.

— Cadet Hayes would also finish in second place in Exhibition Armed Individual.

— Cadets Hayes and CPL Nigel Willis finished in second place in the Exhibition Armed Duet Competition.

— Cadet Willis also finished in second place in the Regulation Armed Individual competition.

— Cadet CSM Stanari Ballard finished in first place in Regulation Color Guard.

— Cadet SSG Passion Graham commanded Regulation Platoon Armed competition which won second place.

— Cadet 1LT Iyanna McAllister won second place in Exhibition Squad Unarmed competition.

— Cadet SGT Maria Baza won second place in Regulation Squad Armed competition.

The drill team has competed in four drill meets over a four-week period and finished this stretch with one overall and two second-place overall trophies. The team will have two weekends off before attending their final North Carolina meet, traveling to Pikeville on April 9 to compete at the fifth annual Charles B. Aycock High School Golden Falcons Drill Meet.

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Staff report