On Saturday, the Bogalusa High School Jr. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Raider Platoon won the U.S. Army Jr. ROTC Raider Louisiana State Championship held at the Gillis Long Center, in Carville.

The Raiders encountered tough opposition from high schools across the state but earned their second consecutive state championship by winning first place in the Rope Bridge, Cross Country Rescue and Obstacle Course events, and finishing second place in the Team Run and Raider Fitness Test.

The BHS Raiders performed to the highest standard and achieved all their goals during the 2018 Raider Season and finished in first place during every competition they competed in. The Raiders were champions of the Northshore Raider Challenge, Fontainebleau Raider Challenge, Lumberjack Raider Challenge and U.S. Army Northshore District Champions.

“Through the course of the season, the Raiders overcame many obstacles, both literally and figuratively,” said Ret. Lt. Col. Gavin Guidry, U.S. Senior Army instructor for the Bogalusa High School Jr. ROTC. “A handful of Raiders, some of whom were the best athletes on the team, were kicked off the team due to a lack of commitment. Above all the championships and successes this season, the most valuable lesson learned by the Raiders was that a team with lesser athletic ability that has a positive attitude, commitment and effort can be more successful than a team with greater athletic ability with a negative attitude, a lack of commitment and poor effort.

“This lesson learned will definitely enable success as these future leaders embark on their life journey after high school.”

Guidry said that the Lumberjack Raiders have performed with discipline, respect and a strong work ethic that reflects great credit upon the Lumberjack Battalion, Bogalusa High School and the city of Bogalusa.