Tahoma Orienteering Team is set out to defend its Junior National Championship on January 14 and 15th, 2023 in the forests of Pine Mountain, Georgia. In 2022, Tahoma won the JV and Varsity national titles. This year they will have two varsity teams and will be competing against the best youth orienteers in America in their home forests. Florida and Georgia orienteering has historically been the top dogs for USA youth orienteering, and specifically, McDonough High School has been a powerhouse for over a decade. However, this year as the defending National Champs, Tahoma remains the favorite in the team category as well as the individual categories.
7 time National Champion Benjamin Brady looks to repeat in the varsity male category. It will be easier said than done though. Some of his toughest competition comes from his own team. Particularly Ben Cooper and Ben Conley have closed the skill gap and will be looking for the upset. Jack Barkley and Jackson Rupe (#1 M-16 USA Ranking) have the potential to make it interesting. There will also be multiple experts from Georgia that might have something to say about it. Particularly, Conner Malone who is ranked number 2 in the USA under 18 category and Georgia’s best youth orienteer from a consistency standpoint. Other standouts include Mori, Finlayson (New England Orienteering Club) who is currently ranked #1 in the M-18 catergory, Max Ahmed (Quantico Orienteering Club), Roman Colley (Georgia Orienteering Club), Tian Zheng Wang (Cascade Orienteering Club), Michael Lipham (GAOC), Luke Foresman (GAOC) and Ian Dunlap from OCIN. Those on the varsity level know how to move through the forest quickly!
In the girls division, it will be an even tougher road for Tahoma’s girls. Led by 3 time national champion and senior Zariah Zosel (current #2 F-18 and #7 F-20 ranking), Tahoma will have to have to get past a few highly experienced veterans. Anna Campbell (New England Orienteering Club) is the highest ranked girl in the field (#2 in the F-20 category). Georgia throws two fantastic orienteers at the problem with Alexis Gabriel and Sahara Brewington, either of which have the ability to easily win. However, Tahoma has a new kid on the block: Greta Leonard. She is already ranked #1 in the F-16 category in the USA, and is undefeated in Washington this year. This is her first chance to race against the “big kids”. And if Greta doesn’t have the perfect weekend, Tahoma also has Clara Sherwood and “Miss Consistency”, Aubree Winters. All told, I like Tahoma’s chances.
Also competing in the intermediate division (grade 9 and under) are 4 Tahoma students: Bryce Winters, Leah Jergensen, Hollie Barkley, and Tucker Rupe. All but Bryce Winters are middle schoolers and will have to compete against mostly high school freshmen.
Are the winners of an orienteering race that cut and dry? No. Never. Each race is an elaborate scavenger hunt in the forest where you are searching for hidden orange and white cube’s (checkpoints). Anything can and will go wrong. Your map, which you may only look at once the race starts, shows you the location of your checkpoints. In order to find them, you may only use your map, compass, and your wits. This means that you get to pick your own route, are responsible for not getting lost, and are the only one to blame when you decided to unnecessarily climb a mountain because it seemed like the thing to do at the time. Every race, every checkpoint, and every step comes with risk. Getting wet, cold, injured, exhausted, scared, or lost are risks of the sport. Just finishing is an accomplishment. What the Tahoma kids do is absolutely amazing for anyone, much less kids this age. These kids have worked for years and years for this goal and spent countless hours in the forest being cut up, twisting ankles, dealing with wildlife encounters, and climbing mountains. Wish them luck as they attempt to prove they are the best in the US.
