USMA Black wins Sandhurst 2019
Story by Brandon OConnor United States Military Academy at West Point WEST POINT, N.Y. -- As soon as the second-place team was announced, USMA Black knew they had won. Score updates throughout the two-days of the 51st Sandhurst Military Skills Competition had kept them on edge as they bounced in an out of first. Sometimes, they’d hear they were atop the leaderboard. Other times, their family and friends who had gathered to cheer them on would spur them ahead with the news they had fallen into second or even third place. But following two days, more than 27-miles of rigorous rucking and 13 obstacles including physical fitness, marksmanship and land navigation challenges, USMA Black stood above the competition. “We were in a lot of anticipation this year because this was the first year where throughout the day, almost on the hour, they would post updated rankings,” Class of 2020 Cadet Kevin Shinnick, USMA Black squad leader, said. “We all trusted each other, we trusted that we...