After missing a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the orienteering team at McDonough High School and the Academy for Advanced Studies has won its seventh national championship this spring, sweeping all scholastic events in the competition.

The squad competed on a recent weekend in a rescheduled Interscholastic South Eastern Orienteering Championship that takes place in Georgia each year, according to coach David Moss. Everyone receives a national ranking after completing two days at the event, and most runners also compete at the national level.

The Warhawks entered the courses on the first day just as three hours of heavy rains began to pour after its chief competitor, Hillgrove High, had completed its event.

“Running through the woods cross country is already very difficult; it’s hard to train for this type of environment,” said Moss. “But our orienteers maintained their focus and had an excellent day, much better than I could imagine.”

After a detailed virtual debriefing that night, the team of 12 regrouped the next morning at Don Carter State Park in Gainesville. They were seeking a clean sweep of all four categories for the fourth time in five years.

There was no awards ceremony due to COVID-19 safety rules, but the Warhawks got word online at the end of the day that they had won all categories.

“This was a record-breaking performance,” said Moss. “No team has ever had a clean sweep except for the Warhawks, and now four out of five years. I am so proud of this group of students.”

The performance also marked a huge personal comeback for returning team members, who landed in Washington D.C. in March of last year just in time to receive word that the Navy national championship meet was cancelled as the pandemic began.

“Our hearts were simply broken,” said Moss, Henry County High School’s Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016. “Even having a season [this year] was something many never thought would happen.”

Team members include Kevon Benton, Conner Malone, Tanasya Francis, Mikal Moreland, Fredrick Godby, Angelina Vargas, Amari Cooper, Nizayah Carter, Ethan Adams, Sahara Brewington, Roman Colley and Gabriel DeGracia.
Benton, Godby and Vargas are seniors. Benton is the team captain. Malone, Francis and Moreland are co-captains.
Moreland attends Woodland High. Vargas attends Locust Grove High. Adams and DeGracia attend Hampton High.