Airport High Schools Golden Talon Brigade brings home more top honors in drill competitions

West Columbia, SC 02/04/2022 - Airport HIgh School’s Army JROTC drill team is bringing home more top honors from recent competitions, despite the school year’s COVID-19 challenges.

The team hosted and competed in the recent Palmetto State Drill Team Championship, taking first place overall in the event. It is the 14th consecutive year that Airport’s drill team has won the state championship. In November, the team also competed in the Greater Midlands Area Drill Team League Championship at Lower Richland High School, placing first overall for the 15th consecutive year.

This weekend, the Golden Talon drill team is heading to Hickory, N.C., for the 4th Brigade Best of the Best on Saturday, Feb. 5, where Airport will compete against schools from seven states. It’s an event Airport has won six out of the past seven years.

CSM Harry Ferguson, who leads Airport’s drill team, said this year’s group is smaller than usual, with 20-25 mostly freshman members rather than the more typical 30-40, a trend Ferguson said is being seen at other schools across the nation amid COVID.

“We have been fortunate enough to compete this year and have not had to cancel any meets,” Ferguson said.

At the recent State Championship meeting, the team also finished:

First Place - Duet Exhibition w/o Arms

First Place - Regulation Squad w/o Arms

First Place - Regulation Platoon w/o Arms

First Place - Regulation Platoon Inspection w/o Arms

Second Place - Regulation Color Guard w/o Arms

Second Place - Platoon Exhibition w/o Arms

Looking ahead, Airport will cap its season with the Army and all-branch nationals this spring in Daytona Beach, Fla.

CAPTION: This year’s Airport High School drill team