Gonzaga U. ROTC Bulldog Battalion Captures Ranger Challenge Championship for 19th Time in 20 Years

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr., a 1979 Gonzaga alumnus, congratulated the championship cadets .

Competition Helps Form Leaders

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga University ROTC Bulldog Battalion’s Black team defeated a strong field from 10 other schools Saturday to capture the U.S. Army Cadet Command 8th Brigade Task Force East Ranger Challenge. The win marks the Bulldog Battalion’s 19th championship in the past 20 years of the event.

Gonzaga ROTC Bulldog Battalion members prepare to cross the finish line Saturday, Sept. 29.

The Bulldog Battalion (comprised of students from Gonzaga and Whitworth University) prevailed over fierce competition from teams representing Boise State University, University of California at Davis, Eastern Washington University, Idaho State University, University of Montana, Montana State University, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of Nevada-Reno, University of San Francisco, and Washington State University. The competition was held at Camp Seven Mile in Riverside State Park.

The Bulldog Battalion’s Black team includes Cadets Erin Cannon, Gabe Conlon, Alexis Crosby, Dan Dawson, Joe Honeycutt, Levi Pauley, Micah Raric, Matt Schepergerdes, Chris Smith, Connor McKeegan, and Nolan Saam.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Caravalho, Jr., a 1979 Gonzaga alumnus, congratulated the champion cadets and noted the significance of the competition in forming lifelong winning habits for the future leaders.

“I recognize these events represent the underlying character, determination and leadership skills that carry our grads through life. I thoroughly enjoy seeing our alumni excel as Army Officers,” noted Caravalho, a physician and the commanding general of the U.S. Army’s Northern Regional Medical Command. “Many of them point to this ROTC competition – and the arduous preparation leading up to it – as defining events in their preparation as leaders. Again, from a fellow Zag, congratulations!”

View the video in which Brig. Gen. Caravalho explains what it means to be a Zag.

For more information, please contact Christopher Bartenhagen at (505) 288-8580, or Alan Westfield at (509) 313-6517 or via email.