2026 North Central Region Cadet Competition Results

Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron Sweeps the Competition

Cadet Lt. Col. Kaylin Walters, CAP
August 23, 2026

Cadet Competition showcased the best cadets from across the region to demonstrate their skills and knowledge of the cadet program. This year the North Central Region held their competition on August 14th-16th at Camp Dodge, IA. Five Teams were sent from four different wings.

This year, we had competing;

• Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, Missouri Wing

• Konza Composite Squadron, Kansas Wing

• Sioux Falls Composite Squadron, South Dakota Wing

• North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 1, Minnesota Wing

• North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 2, Minnesota Wing

Each team had many successes during the competition but two teams became region level champions.

The first place team, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, competed at last year’s Region Cadet Competition and won second place. This year they continued the winning streak and earned first. This year’s team consisted of team commander C/2d Lt Abie Nievar and team members C/Lt Col Rhian Fletcher, C/Capt Cj Taul, C/2d Lt Dru Ridgeway, C/CMSgt Abi Uhl, and C/CMSgt Justin Jagneaux. This team won many individual events like Public Speaking, Standard Drill, Uniform Inspection, Indoor Posting and the Sportsmanship award.

The second place team, Konza Composite Squadron, also competed in last year’s Region Cadet Competition and ended up succeeding with flying colors this year. This year’s team commander was C/Capt Ethan Birkhead with the team consisting of C/Maj Maitland Wood, C/Capt Harriet Massey, C/Capt Jackson Merry, C/2d Lt Charles Merry, and C/CMSgt Emma Birkhead. They were extremely successful during the Team Leadership Problem portion of the competition in which they displayed exceptional teamwork in an overall completion.

The third place spot was taken by two teams in a tie, the Sioux Falls Composite Squadron and the North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 2. Both teams competed their best and were able to keep up with each other to tie in the overall standings. The Sioux Falls Composite Squadron took first in the panel quiz and the North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 2 took second in multiple events.

The individual events won were:

• Fastest Male Runner: C/Maj Christopher Barranco, SDWG

• Fastest Female Runner: C/2d Lt Abie Nievar, MOWG

• -Physical Fitness First Place: North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 1, MNWG

• Physical Fitness Second Place: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Sportsmanship Award: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Standard Drill First Place: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Standard Drill Second Place: North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 2, MNWG

• Uniform Inspection First Place: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Uniform Inspection Second Place: North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 2, MNWG

• Indoor Posting First Place: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Indoor Posting Second Place: Konza Composite Squadron, KSWG

• Team Leadership Problem First Place: Konza Composite Squadron, KSWG

• Team Leadership Problem Second Place: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Public Speaking First Place: Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, MOWG

• Public Speaking Second Place: Konza Composite Squadron, KSWG

• Panel Quiz First Place: Sioux Falls Composite Squadron, SDWG

• Panel Quiz Second Place: North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 1, MNWG

Overall, cadets were able to showcase their skills and compete at the region. With this competition over, teams can look forward to the competition next year!

Team photos, from top to bottom: First Place, Table Rock Lake Composite Squadron, Missouri Wing; Second Place, Konza Composite Squadron, Kansas Wing; Third Place (tie), North Hennepin Composite Squadron Team 2, Minnesota Wing; Third Place (tie), Sioux Falls Composite Squadron, South Dakota Wing.

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