The Jupiter High Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, Raiders female and mixed team competed at the state championship on Dec. 3, at flaming arrow scout reservation, following a first place at regionals on Oct. 29.

The last team to make it to states was the mixed team four years ago, and this is the first time the female team is in attendance.

“They have been working really hard together as a team and I’m really proud of them,” Chief Javier Gonzalez, JROTC instructor, said.

The raiders put in their best efforts against the competition they faced. 

“We have worked so hard and we kept gaining a place every time we went to competitions. We put our all into [training] and we put our 100 percent into it every time,” Ava Williams, sophomore on the female team, said.

Williams has been looking forward to this win since last year, and was excited to go to the state championship with her team. 

“[Last year] we got second place at regionals so we didn’t get to go, so I am so happy we got to this year,” Williams said. 

Joslyn Riddle, on the mixed team, went to states as a freshman.

“To go to states as a freshman in my first year in raiders, I’ve never done anything like this,” Riddle said. 

Dylan Ruth, junior, decided to try something new this year and is satisfied with the results. 

“This is the first year that I’ve done raiders, I wanted to change it up a bit. I’ve been on the robotics team for 2 years. [Raiders is] definitely more exciting than robotics, as much as I love robotics,” Ruth said.

Riddle is sad to see the season end so soon. 

“It’s how I first made good friends that have common interests. It’s sad, but I have all these next years to compete again,” Riddle said. 

Both of the teams shared their eagerness to go to the state tournament this season. 

“We’re very excited to go to the states. The teams haven’t gone in a long time so everyone is really, really excited,” Riddle said.

After battling over 120 teams, the female team grabbed fifth place, while the mixed team took home seventh.