ON Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, the Saipan Southern High School Manta Ray Battalion, alongside with other battalions from different schools, participated in the 4th annual Extreme Raider Competition.
The event was held at MHS from 5 to 4 p.m. Saipan Southern had two teams: the Co-ed Team, which was mixed with females and males and the Male Team.
Before heading to MHS, the cadets were to be at Southern by 4 to 4:30 a.m. to load their equipment and other essentials.
Cadets rode in the van and carpooled as transportation and arrived at MHS from 4:30 to 5 a.m. and had a team check in from 5 to 5:15 a.m.
The teams were separated: the males had their separate room while the females had to share with different schools.
The first event was the Cadet Challenge which was from 6 to 7:30 a.m. It’s where cadets individually perform push ups, sit ups, a half a mile run, and pull ups for the males and flex-arm for the females. All the cadets from different schools, including southern, were separated and assigned to a grader.
After the Cadet Challenge finished, all the cadets had to change out and prepare for the Mt. Tapochau hike from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. Around 8:50 to 9:15 a.m., the cadets should be at Mt. Tapochau. By the time it’s 9:15 a.m., the cadets should have started hiking up Mt. Tapochau.
The Male Team went first, followed by the Co-ed Team. Despite the heat and long pathway, both teams were determined to complete the hike with the best time possible and worked really well to reach the top of Mt. Tapochau.
After the hike, there was a Raider Ceremony from 10:45 to 10:55 a.m. At 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. all the cadets returned to MHS. Lunch was provided and cadets had a break from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Cadets were instructed to be in their designated rooms.
After lunch, cadets were to be out of their rooms before 12:30 p.m. to participate in the Round Robin.
The Round Robin consisted of the litter obstacle which had the cadets run through tires, carry two litter boxes, and run a zigzag and repeat.
The beach run was when cadets had to run 1 mile at the beach.
The rope bridge had the cadets put on harnesses and get into a single file line and proceed to make it to the other side.
The team relay was where they had battle buddies and helped each other flip tires, carry tires, and firemen carry each other.
The Co-ed Team completed the beach run, team relay, litter obstacle, and the rope bridge.
The Male Team completed the team relay, litter obstacle, beach run, and the rope bridge.
A few hours passed and it was time to present the awards and have the closing ceremony. The Co-ed Team was able to get 1st place overall and 3rd place for the Beach Run.
The Manta Ray Battalion Co-ed and Male Team gave it their all and performed well despite competing for the first time. The cadets have been practicing and prepared months earlier for the competition. This was their first and certainly won’t be their last. The cadets were proud to be a part of and able to compete for the 4th Annual Extreme Raider Competition. BIBA CO-ED and MALE TEAMS!
