Last Saturday, November 23, 2024, Navigation Games had the privilege of delivering the Area 1 NJROTC Regional Orienteering Championship, hosted this year by Massabesic High School, Waterboro, ME. Held at College Woods on the University of New Hampshire campus in Durham, the event utilized a high-quality map provided by Up North Orienteers (UNO). The day saw 56 cadets from six schools compete on five courses (Green, Brown, Orange, Yellow, and White), striving to qualify for the 2025 National Championships.
For many cadets, this was their first foray into orienteering, and they tackled the challenge with enthusiasm and grit, despite cold and wet conditions. By the end of the day, all competitors returned safely, leaving with valuable experiences and a sense of accomplishment. Congratulations to all!
Results and Highlights
Competitors: 56 cadets, representing a mix of male and female participants, 9-12 grade. Full individual results are available here. Livelox tracks for the event are available here.
Team Scoring:The team standings followed the Orienteering USA (OUSA) methodology, which scores women and men separately, and then aggregates the top three individual scores from each school team within each division.
Varsity Division:
Brewster High School claimed first place, with standout performances including 1st, 2nd, and 8th in Varsity Male.
Notre Dame placed second, led by 2nd and 3rd in Varsity Female and 4th in Varsity Male.
Western NY Maritime secured third, with the 1st place Varsity Female and 3rd in Varsity Male, but lacking a third successful finisher to strengthen their score.
Junior Varsity (Orange Course):No competitors successfully completed this challenging course.
Advanced Beginner (Yellow Course):Two schools participated:
T.R. Proctor took first place with two successful runs.
Brewster High School placed second with one completed course.
Beginner Division (White Course):This level saw fierce competition:
Dover High School took first with seven completed runs, including 1st and 2nd for Men and 1st for Women.
Massabesic High School came second with three finishes, including 3rd place Male.
T.R. Proctor took third, with 2nd and 3rd in the Female category.
Brewster also had 2 completed courses, taking 4th and 5th in the Female group.
Overall Ranking: Using a composite ranking system across levels, Brewster High School emerged victorious. Notre Dame narrowly edged Western NY Maritime for second place thanks to fielding three successful Varsity runners. Interestingly, neither Notre Dame nor Western Maritime had successful runs in the other levels, which could have changed the results.
Acknowledgments
This event was made possible thanks to a collaborative effort between experienced advisors, dedicated volunteers, and the enthusiastic participation of students and schools.
Key Advisors:
Gord Hunter, Ron Hojnowski, and Thomas Rycroft provided invaluable insights into NJROTC competition operations.
Ernst Linder managed permissions, offered crucial advice, and supported the event day logistics.
Partners:
New England Orienteering Club (NEOC) and Up North Orienteers (UNO) assisted with permissions, maps, equipment, and manpower.
Volunteers from both clubs—including Jon, Tori, and Peter Campbell, Jim Arsenault, and Ernst—went above and beyond to ensure the event’s success.
University of New Hampshire allowed the use of their athletic field and woodlands for the event.
CRLS orienteering team members Min-Jae KUO, Andy Driscoll and Rose Freedman-Riles generously spent a weekend day assisting on course testing and timing.
Event Team:
Evalin Brautigam, as meet director, orchestrated the event with precision.
Mikayla Moss managed operations, while Kieran Woods handled results remotely from New Zealand and pre-checked the map in person. Barb Bryant and Maija Pratt supported the event at all levels and worked closely with participants throughout the day.
Individual volunteers like Brian Hauschild, Rhona Thomson, Will Kessler, Ed Bacher, and supportive parents from participating schools played vital roles in setup and operations.
Massabesic High School:
Captain Doug Howell and Chief Joe Lipp provided exceptional support as the host school team.
A Community Effort
Events like these require tremendous effort and coordination, and we are immensely grateful for the contributions of everyone involved. From cadets to coaches, volunteers to advisors, the shared passion for orienteering brought us together to create a memorable experience for all.
A heartfelt thank you to the participating schools, the University of New Hampshire for their scenic venue, and the broader orienteering community for fostering the growth of this sport. Together, we are building a stronger orienteering culture, one event at a time!
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