Army's Youth Challenge draws throng of students

<p>Area students going through the U.S. Army's Youth Challenge on Friday at the Gainesville Raceway got a chance to see up close that the physical and mental challenges faced by soldiers and drag racers are somewhat similar.</p><p>About 2,300 students from the region took part in the Youth and Education Services program - YES - sponsored by the U.S. Army in conjunction with the National Hot Rod Association as part of Gatornationals.</p><p>Soldiers and top racers coached students through the paces to test their ability to work as a team.</p><p>Palatka High School beat Ocala's Marion Technical Institute in the challenge finals by one second to take top honors. Students raced through moving boards without touching the ground, solved a military strategy question and linked their bodies together to complete a series of push-ups.</p><p>Cory McClenathan, top fuel dragster for the Fram racing team, told students that what they see in the pit is teamwork at its best.</p><p>He said the career opportunities in the industry are vast, "so you need to watch and learn to see what all goes on. You may find something you are interested in."</p><p>Soldiers and dragsters answered a variety of questions from students and pointed out that computers and technology play big roles in each field.</p><p>Kate Dorresteyn, 17, a senior in the automotive program of the Professional Academies Magnet at Loften, said she was glad to learn from Sgt. 1st Class Franklin Riggs that there are careers with the military that don't require enlistment.</p><p>Her senior classmate, Michael Fair, 18, said it was cool seeing the race cars up close and obtaining tips on leadership development.</p><p>Ray Fayo, director and instructor of Loften's automotive program, said he likes for his students to spend the day at the track because it helps reinforce the importance of teamwork and responsibility."It shows them what it takes to work on cars and realize they have to be responsible to make sure it's working properly, because someone is going to drive it," he said.</p><p>Tony "The Sarge" Schumacher, whose car is sponsored by the Army, told students it is important they are prepared for school and their futures.</p><p>"This is a gift to be able to choose what you want to do," he said. "If they don't prepare for what they want to do, they will be stuck. And I say it's better to be over prepared than to go with the flow."</p><p>Driver Antron Brown told students he did just enough to get by in school but knew he could have earned A's if he had tried harder.</p><p>He became a professional drag racer at age 20, but it took him seven years to drive a top-fuel car.</p><p>"A lot of people told me it would not happen, but I did not give up," he said.</p><p>"And now, when I wake up every morning, it's like putting my hand in the cookie jar because I love what I do for a living," he said.</p><p>As the morning concluded, students were given tickets to enter the midway at the raceway to visit pit crews and check out qualifying races.</p><p><i>Contact Harriet Daniels at harriet.daniels@gvillesun.com or 338-3166.</i></p>