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The University of North Georgia (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Ranger Challenge team finished ninth among ROTC teams and 21st out of the U.S. teams while coming in 37th out of 48 teams overall in the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition held May 1-2 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Ranger Challenge is the varsity sport of Army ROTC.

While it wasn't the result the Â鶹ÊÓƵ cadets were hoping for, they were grateful to compete at Sandhurst for the first time in four years and see firsthand the standard they are chasing.

Micah Dell, a senior from Newnan, Georgia, pursuing a degree in strategic and security studies with a specialization in Chinese language, appreciated the camaraderie and teamwork he said was present until the very end.

"We worked very hard for each other and made sure no one was left behind," Dell said. "If someone was struggling, we picked them up."

Casey Dunn, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Ranger Challenge coach, said his group will graduate six seniors, but the underclassmen now have extra motivation and insight for the future.

"They showed a lot of grit and determination. They were up against some stiff competition," Dunn said. "They've seen what it looks like now, and they're ready to get after it so we can get back and compete at the highest level."

Dunn said Â鶹ÊÓƵ performed best in the functional fitness lane and M-17 pistol shoot events.

Dell is also grateful for the foundation set for Â鶹ÊÓƵ's younger Ranger Challenge cadets.

"The mindset going forward is to continue to improve upon our current structure," Dell said.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ had been the top ROTC team in its previous four Sandhurst trips: 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. It also finished in the overall top four of the competition each of those years.

This season marked a breakthrough when Â鶹ÊÓƵ finished second at Titan Ranger Challenge in January to make it back to Sandhurst.