Lawrence resident John Bergman wins 1st place at Ranger Buddy competition

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From left, John Bergman, Lawrence, and teammate Stuart McConnell, Newton.

LAWRENCE, KS (04/13/2012)(readMedia)-- John Bergman, 22, a University of Kansas senior in business management and leadership, won First Place Male Division at the 18th annual Ranger Buddy Competition.

Bergman is the son of Kathy and Ray Bergman, and a graduate of Free State High School.

Two-person teams from 28 colleges and universities in 12 states competed at the 18th Annual Kansas Army ROTC Ranger Buddy Competition on March 31 at the Sesquicentennial Park area at Clinton Lake southwest of Lawrence.

Cadets on male, female, or co-ed teams went through a series of grueling events as they vied for the title of Best Ranger Buddy Team.

In the end, the Jayhawks emerged from the 250 cadet competition as the "Top Battalion" or best overall school. Making the victory possible, KU won first place in the Male Division and Female Division for the event. Leading the way with four first place finishes in the 9 event competition was Cadet John Bergman – Free State HS, Lawrence, KS – and Stuart McConnell – Newton HS, Newton, KS. Repeat champions from last year's event, Bergman and McConnell finished with a convincingly 60 point lead to their nearest competitors.

The nine events for this year's contest included a 15 km Ruck March, 7 round robin events, and a 5 km race. The round robin events consisted of mini-obstacle courses that tested cadets' knowledge of knots, planning process, classes of supply and logistics, shooting skills, grenade skills, and first aid skills. Additionally, each round robin event included a historical theme to remind cadets of past battles that rangers have fought. For instance, Pointe-du-Hoc included a challenge to scale a hillside reminding cadets of the Rudder's Second Ranger Battalion's battle to scale the cliffs during Normandy landings in World War II.

Overall Best School and "Top Battalion" - University of Kansas

Male Division

1st Place: Bergman and McConnell, University of Kansas

2nd Place: Hartfield and Weaver, Pittsburg State University

3rd Place: Harris and Brodersen, Oklahoma University

Female Division

1st Place: Meyer and Wilcox, University of Kansas

2nd Place: Skaggs and Barbour, Pittsburg State University

3rd Place: Snamiska and Kehl, Marquette University

Coed Division

1st Place: Peno and Williams, North Dakota State University

2nd Place: Johnson and Senff, North Dakota University

3rd Place: Oberg and Henson, Iowa State University

The following schools competed in this year's event: University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, Central Missouri State University, University of Colorado – Boulder, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois-Chicago, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Marquette, University of Minnesota –Mankato, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, University of Missouri – Columbia, Missouri Science and Technology, Missouri Western State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, Northeastern State University, University of Northern Iowa, University of Oklahoma, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University, The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, Washington University, and Wentworth Military Academy.

For more information, please contact LTC John Clark at: jdclark@ku.edu.