Blue Ridge Rifles excel in national event
The University of North Georgia (UNG) Blue Ridge Rifles earned a fifth-place overall finish out of 31 teams in the 52nd annual Mardi Gras Invitational Drill Meet earlier this month at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
"I am very pleased with the Rifles' dedication, determination and resilience throughout this year. These cadets show up before sunrise, push through long days and hold each other accountable in ways that remind me why this unit has endured for generations," Wesley Boling, commander of the Blue Ridge Rifles specialty unit within the Corps of Cadets, said. "The Mardi Gras competition is one of the biggest and longest standing drill meets for college teams from around 30 schools, and there was a strong showing from many."
Boling hails from Rydal, Georgia, and is pursuing a degree in secondary education with a major in Biology. He is in his senior year.
"Regardless of our overall standing this meet, I've never seen our team this sharp across the board — academically, physically and mentally," he said. "This is the strongest we've been in a long time, and I know great things are to come from the team after me. I am beyond proud of everyone who has put in countless hours of dedication to our craft."
The results contributing to the fifth-place overall mark included second place in Platoon Basic; fourth place in Platoon Inspection, Platoon Exhibition and Individual Exhibition; 12th place in Color Guard; and 13th place in Squad Basic Drill.
Matthew Andrade, Color Guard commander, said he was impressed with his group's contributions.
"This was an excellent experience for all the personnel who went and will offer them valuable insights on what to expect moving forward," he said. "It is important to note that the UNG Color Guard has and always will perform to the highest standard in accordance with the U.S. Army drill and ceremony manual."
Earlier this year, in anticipation of the Mardi Gras event, the team participated in the Cornell Invitational in Ithaca, New York, under the leadership of retired Lt. Col. Kevin Fowler. The team came home with second in Squad Based, second in Color Guard, and third place in 2-Man Exhibition Drill.
"They performed magnificently," Fowler said. "They were a very cohesive and professionally developed looking team. They performed well against the competition. They obviously would have liked to have taken first place, but they were happy with their performance."
Damian Pratt, drill master, is from Ellijay, Georgia, and has been with the Rifles since his freshman year and was promoted to drill master this semester. He is a senior pursuing a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
"I thought the Cornell drill meet went very well, especially since it was our first time competing there,” Pratt said. "I am proud of everyone who competed, and it helped to boost morale and make us want to win next year even more."
In 1950, a drill platoon was formed for use in spring parades at North Georgia College. The team was named Honor Platoon. The name was later changed to the Drill Platoon. In 1958, the Drill Platoon was renamed the Blue Ridge Rifles in honor of the Dahlonega volunteer unit.
The Blue Ridge Rifles were the 2001 and 2002 national champion Precision Drill Team.
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