Sarasota Military Academy Cadets Participate in First Orienteering Competition

Dateline January 14, 2006.

Eight cadets from the SMA CAP Cadet Squadron participated in their first Orienteering Competition at Tucker Hill in Withlacoochee State Park, Brooksville, FL. The cadets were accompanied by Lt Col Petrucci and Sergeant Major Swiney. Cadets formed two-man teams and competed first in the “white” course, a beginner’s course. Several teams then competed in the “yellow” course which is one degree of difficulty greater than the white course. There were five courses available to the Orienteering teams.

Orienteering is a recreational and competitive sport, a kind of hiking/running game, which involves using a detailed map, and a compass, to find one's way through unfamiliar terrain. Competitors can participate as individuals or in groups.

The objective is to locate a series of designated positions, indicated by circles on the map. At each position a marker, a distinctive white and orange flag called a control, is placed in a visible location. Each control has a patterned punch, which is used to mark the competitor’s card.

There are a number of possible courses for different skill levels ranging from a beginner’s course to highly advanced courses for competitors with years of experience.

Orienteering originated in Sweden in the early 1900's as a military exercise and came to the U.S. in the 1940's. In 1971 it became officially organized in this country when the U.S. Orienteering Federation (USOF) was founded. The U.S. Orienteering team regularly participates in international competitions, but orienteering is primarily a recreational activity for the weekend athlete, the fitness hiker, and the puzzle junkie.

The map and compass skills used in Orienteering are useful to hunters and backpackers, as well as all those interested in fitness and the outdoors.

The Tucker Hill competition was sanctioned by the Florida Orienteering Club (FOC). FOC is dedicated to promoting the sport of Orienteering in the Central Florida area. FOC is a member of the US Orienteering Federation (USOF) which provides support for orienteering in the US, and oversees the rules of the sport.

Results of the competition were:

White Course–

First Place:      Matt Biron and Vaughn Warrelmann

Second Place: Kyle Chmielewski and Patrick Grazawski

Yellow Course

Third Place:    Kyle Chmieleswki and Vaughn Warrelmann

Fourth Place:  Matt Biron and Patrick Grazawski