Lucia Lowe and Tiyan JROTC cadets bring home honors from South Korea drill meet

Tiyan High School’s Air Force JROTC cadets represented Guam at an international drill meet in South Korea, finishing fifth overall among 14 teams and taking second place in the Armed Duo Exhibition Division. Cadet Major Lucia Lowe said the team felt nervous before competing, but believed it could perform well against experienced rivals. The trip came after a challenging stretch for the Titans. When KUAM previously spoke with the cadets, Tiyan High was closed and the team was practicing at the Barrigada Mayor’s Office. Lowe said the unit was returning to compete in some divisions for the first time in years, adding to the significance of the event. Cadet Major James Devaney also described the competition as daunting. He said many of the opposing schools had participated in those divisions before, while it was the Guam team’s first time competing in Korea. Still, the cadets felt they had performed to the best of their ability by the end of the meet, according to his comments to KUAM. The Armed Duo award went to Cadet Master Sergeant Ginsel Gabriel and Cadet Chief Master Sergeant Bersie Aiden. Gabriel said the team’s training paid off despite having to practice away from its usual campus and adjust to changing practice arrangements. Returning to Tiyan, she said, also helped the cadets regain confidence. Both duo members said they knew their routine, though working out how to enter and leave the drill area took effort. The team included 11 cadets, six of them seniors. The report also highlighted junior Aylisa Quinatilla as she prepares to help the team move forward as experienced members graduate.