WEST POINT, N.Y. (Jan. 8, 2015) - The U.S. Military Academy at West Point Cadet Parachute team won the National Collegiate Parachuting Championships at the Lake Wales Skydiving Center in Lake Wales, Florida, from Dec. 27-Jan. 2.
Army defeated its closest competition, Air Force, by winning the Gavin Gavel award, the Most Competitive Collegiate Skydiver award and the most medals to take the national collegiate parachuting championship. One hundred and one collegiate competitors took part in the parachuting championships, both team and individually.
Air Force had 60 cadets and fielded four teams to compete for the Gavin Gavel award. Army had 26 cadets and fielded two teams. Army's best team won the Gavin Gavel award with a total of 112 points. Additionally, Army won 40 medals (18 Gold, 9 Silver, and 13 Bronze). Air Force won 26 medals.
Teams can be comprised of jumpers from one school, or formed by jumpers from different schools. The point system is an objective scoring system based on placement in events, applied to the eight individuals who comprise a team.
For advanced and novice class events, each team member in the event scores five points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two points for fourth place and one point for fifth place. Open and single class events have an additional point awarded to each place. Additionally, setting a collegiate record earns an additional point per competitor.
The events and classes include Sport Accuracy (Masters, Intermediate, Novice classes), Classic Accuracy (Single class), Team Accuracy (Single class), Formation Skydiving (Open four-way, Advanced four-way, Novice four-way), Vertical Formation Skydiving (Single class two-way) and six-way (Single class).
The Cadet-in-Charge, Class of 2016 Jordan Komm, won the "Most Competitive Collegiate Skydiver" with two Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals. During the Sport Accuracy Masters event, Komm scored four consecutive dead centers.
The cadets won a Gold medal in the six-way event that was traditionally dominated by the Air Force teams. Two months ago, the cadets could not break 12 seconds. After training intensively, their three round competition times were 5.91, 7.02 and 8.22 seconds. Their performance was a testament to their dedication, team cohesiveness and warrior spirit.
Related Links:
U.S. Military Academy at West Point website
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
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