Saturday’s early morning sun hit Fortera Stadium as 176 Junior ROTC cadets from 12 regional high schools laced up their boots, cinched their rucksacks, and prepared for a long day of teamwork, sweat, and grit. Sixteen teams in total gathered for the annual APSU Raider Challenge, hosted by Austin Peay State University’s ROTC battalion, the Governor’s Guard. Running since the 1990s, the APSU Raider Challenge is more than just a competition. It’s a proving ground designed to test mental toughness, physical endurance, and the kind of leadership that will carry these cadets well beyond the high school classroom. Maj. Nicholas…
