KU Army ROTC excels at 2023 Task Force Leavenworth Ranger Challenge

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Army ROTC Ranger Challenge teams showcased their skills and determination as they participated in the highly anticipated 2023 Task Force Leavenworth Ranger Challenge competition, which took place Oct. 13-14 at Camp Dodge, Iowa.

The Ranger Challenge is the “varsity sport” of ROTC, a two-day competition designed to test the mettle of warrior athletes by challenging them physically and mentally through a series of infantry ranger tasks. This year's event, hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, drew participation from ROTC programs from across Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. 

At the conclusion of the competition, KU was the only program to bring home two trophies in both competition categories, a significant achievement in the program’s recent history. The KU nine-person team secured third place overall out of nine participating teams, while the KU five-person team finished second place out of six competing teams.

On the first day of the competition, teams covered 17.5 miles while carrying 50-pound rucksacks, fighting load carriers, weapons and helmets. They navigated through a rigorous series of events, including the Army combat fitness test, basic rifle marksmanship, weapons assembly/disassembly, functional fitness, hand grenade assault course, one rope bridge and a grueling 10K timed foot march.

Day two brought a fresh set of challenges as the teams continued to traverse the course with their 50-pound rucksacks, covering 12 miles. The day included events testing Army knowledge, claymore mine employment, camouflage application, knot tying, moving under direct fire, calling for fire, and providing for first aid under fire.

The KU nine-person team (including two alternates) was made up of junior and team captain Jairub Constable, Baldwin City; sophomore Jaden Murff, Overland Park; junior David Spenny, Blaine, Minnesota; junior Emma Hanson, Minnetonka, Minnesota; senior Reagan Warburton, Cedar Vale; junior Mark Stump, St. Louis; sophomore Will Rues, La Crosse; freshman Elijah Mortensen, Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia; sophomore Nate Lundgren, Olathe; and sophomores Alex and Luke Rogers, Shawnee. Senior and team captain Caleb Megee, Leavenworth; freshman Braxton Camp, Andale; freshman Taylor Reboulet, Olathe; sophomore Alayna Clayton, Holton;  junior Sam Kirk, Overland Park; and sophomore Ben Nash, Shawnee, comprised the KU five-person team (including one alternate).

At the conclusion of this 48-hour competition, KU was the only program to have brought home two trophies in both competition categories, a significant achievement in the program’s recent history. The KU nine-person team secured third place overall out of nine participating teams, while the KU five-person team finished second place out of six competing teams.

Top photo: Back row, left to right: Jairub Constable, Jaden Murff, David Spenny, Emma Hanson, Reagan Warburton, Mark Stump, Will Rues and Elijah Mortensen. Front row, left to right: Nate Lundgren, Alex Rogers and Luke Rogers.

Bottom photo: Back row, left to right: Braxton Camp, Caleb Megee and Taylor Reboulet. Bottom row, left to right: Alayna Clayton, Sam Kirk and Ben Nash.