The Missouri Military Academy Fusileer Drill Team traveled to Daytona, Florida for the 2021 National High School Drill Team Competition, taking part in the US Army Drill National Championship on May 1 and the All Service Drill National Championship on May 2.

The trip proved worthwhile. The Fusileers placed first in the nation in Armed Regulation at the All Service Nationals Master Level and first in the nation for Armed Color Guard for both the All Service Nationals Master Level and the US Army Drill National Championship.

The national competition capped off a successful competitive year for the MMA team, which has earned a total of 49 trophies, including 20 first place finishes, competing in six contests in Missouri (Ozark, Waynesville, Joplin, Blue Springs), Kansas (Leavenworth) and Daytona, Florida (nationals).

“This year’s Fusileers team has brought back MMA’s tradition of success at the national level, competing with the nation’s top drill teams,” said MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret). “They demonstrate MMA’s high expectations and pursuit of excellence, as well as our cadets’ hard work, self-discipline and teamwork — all characteristics of a premier military boarding school.”

In Daytona, the team also placed second in the nation in Armed JROTC Drill, Armed Exhibition Team and Armed Commanders Cup at the All Service Nationals Master Level.

Five MMA cadets — Cadets Gorka Yarte-Zertuche, Gabriel Iglesias, Phasakorn Cunningham, Ezekiel Richardson and Michael Henderson — finished in the top 10 out of 400 cadets drilling in Armed and Unarmed Individual Drill Knockout Competition:

Led by Cadet Drill Team Commander Bryce Bowen, members of the Fusileers Drill Team competing in the national contest in Daytona included Cadets Braeden Andrews, Dhalil Belko, Gage Blanton, Damien Brown, Dmitri Cary, Mutale Chilufya, Phasakorn Cunningham, Rene Garcia Garza, Matthew Hallam, Matthew Hamilton, Michael Henderson, Domingo Holguin, Gabriel Iglesias Osorio, Migaruka Bruno Kuzwayezu, Diego Lopez, Michael Machary-Pagan, Jude Mesa, Lance Newland, Victor Patino Matos, Patricio Regis, Ezekiel Richardson, Kevith Sangster, Yu-Jen Tong, Sun Kit Tsui, Angelo Urdaneta, Timothy Varley, Kevin Wang, Brennan Williams, Parker Woodruff and Gorka Yarte-Zertuche.

The team is coached by Rick Dehlinger, MMA Class of 1993.

The Fusileers also earned a first place finish in the 2021 (AMCSUS) national drill competition (held virtually), competing against military schools from across the nation, such as Marine Military Academy, Randolph-Macon Academy, Army and Navy Academy, Riverside Military Academy, Fork Union Military Academy, Fishburne Military School, St. John’s Northwestern, Valley Forge Academy and more.