Mission

The mission of the United States Military Academy Orienteering Club is to improve the navigation skills of the team so that cadets become nationally competitive orienteers, capable of winning the national intercollegiate championships, placing at national-level orienteering races, and earning US Team membership, as well as to host a high-quality orienteering event annually, and to serve as a navigation training resource for our civilian community and the Corps of Cadets.

Core Values:
Navigational Excellence, Physical Fitness, Mental Toughness, Decision-Making, and Professionalism

News

2008-2009 Season

23 Nov 2008: Cadets from the USMA Orienteering Team braved the blustery cold on Saturday, 22 Nov 08 to race in the Hudson Valley Orienteering Club's meet at Sebago Beach in Harriman State Park. CDT Jordan Laughlin (C4, '11) navigated the advanced-level 7.5km course faster than 8 min/km to place first overall, and new team members CDTs Matt Luehrmann (H3, '12) and Hannah Burgess (B4, '12) qualified to move to advanced-level courses by navigating faster than 9 min/km and 10.5 min/km (respectively) on the 3.3 km intermediate-level course.

14-16 Nov 2008: This past weekend 14 members from the Orienteering team traveled to San Jose California to compete in a national-level ”O in the Oaks” competition, with sprint, middle distance, and classic distance races during the weekend. While hilly like West Point, the terrain offered a true challenge in that successful competitors had to quickly understand the contours of the terrain to be successful in a small but competitive field that included several US Team members.  Running well for the team were Charity Masaitis (2011, G2) who claimed top honors in all three races in her age group, and Michael Norris (2011, C4) won the sprint and classic and took second in the middle.  Michael Norris’s continued consistently outstanding performance strengthens his bid for a spot on the US Junior Orienteering Team that will compete in Italy at the Junior World Orienteering Championships this summer.  Madeline Lewis (2009, A3) had several strong performances, including placing second on the sprint in the women’s elite category.  Jason Trump (2011, G2) took second in the sprint and third in the middle distance in his age group, as well.  Other cadets with outstanding races on one or more days included Michelle Alderson (2009, B4),  Michael Rodriquez (2012, A1) and, Nickolaus Fuhriman (’10, H4). These performances bode well for many of these cadets who will race in similar terrain in May during the US Team Trials race series

25-26 October 2008: The USMA Orienteering Team continued an outstanding start to the 2008-2009 season with an outstanding overall performance at their second national competition this weekend in Holyoke, MA.  Cadets Michael Norris (C4, 2011) and Jordan Laughlin (C4, 2011) took first and second place respectively in the Junior Men’s category, building on their strong bids for slots on the US Junior Orienteering Team that will compete in the World Championships in Italy this summer.  Cadet John Klaben (H3, 2012) placed second in his age group and shows potential to be another US Team contender when he moves up to the Junior Men’s category in January.  Cadet Nicholas Lewis-Walls (B1, 2010) had a strong performance both days in the Men’s Elite category, and cadets Keith Andersen (H2, 2012) and Kevin Culberg(G1, 2011) had outstanding performances that qualified them to compete in the Men’s Junior category.  Cadets with personal bests on one or both days included Michael Rodriguez (A1, 2012), Alex Reiter (D2, 2010), Nickolaus Fuhriman (H4, 2010), Hannah Burgess (B4, 2012), and Justin Pettit (F4, 2011).

05 October 2008: Cadets from the USMA Orienteering Team competed at the 13th Annual Hudson Highlander race on Sunday, October 5th. The race was 26km of cross-country navigation in Harriman State Park, including 14km of very technical navigation on the course and map from the 1993 World Orienteering Championships, held at the same location. CDTs Josh Wiley ('10, A2) and Alex Reiter ('10, D2) had exceptional races, taking 9th and 11th place respectively in 4 hours and 25 minutes. Other cadet finishers under five hours included CDTs Jordan Laughlin and Michael Norris ('11, C4), and Nick Lewis-Walls ('10, B1).  Other finishers include: Shawn Soviak, Neal Trump, Jason Trump, and Brian Caston.

26-28 September 2008: The USMA Orienteering Team had a strong showing at the three day North American Orienteering Championships, 26-28 Sep 08, at various locations near Syracuse, NY.  The cadets' ability to navigate at high-speed was severely tested throughout the weekend by complex, glaciated terrain along with wet conditions.  CDT John Klaben ('12, H3) won the 16-18 year-old male category on Sunday's Long-distance race.  Other cadets with commendable race(s) were Cadets:  Michael Rodriguez ('12, A1), Keith Andersen ('12, H2), Matt Luehrmann ('12, H3), Neal Trump ('09, H1), Jordan Laughlin ('11, C4), Michael Norris ('11, C4), Nick Lewis-Walls ('10, B1), Jason Trump ('11, G2), Nick Fuhriman ('10, H4), and Josh Wiley ('10, A2).  The Orienteering Team has four weeks of internal practice before facing their next major competition at the end of October near Holyoke, MA.

12-13 September 2008: 25 cadets participated in a weekend training event at Hickory Run State Park, Pennsylvania. The annual event, held September 12-14, allows cadets newly selected to the Orienteering Team a chance to hone their skills prior to the competitive season. It also allows returning members of the team an opportunity to mentor new members and to further refine their abilities for future events under the tutelage of the US National Team Coach, who flew in from Sweden for the weekend. Training consisted of map familiarization, memory exercises, and course running with evaluation and critiquing. All cadets participated in a night orienteering event on Saturday and a "B meet" course on Sunday.

31 August 2008: Select members of the team competed in the Fair Hill Rogaine, a 6-hour navigation race in Maryland.  All cadets volunteered to participate while on pass, and provided their own lodging, transportation and logistical support.  During the race, they planned and executed a 19-26 mile optimized route to find as many checkpoints as possible.  After the race, most said it was the longest distance they had run and their toughest mental and physical endurance challenge to date. Results in the Men’s Team Category: 1st Place: CDT Jordan Laughlin (C4, 2011) and MAJ Jonathan Campbell (D/PHYS) were the only team to visit all the controls, a feat the course setter was hoping was impossible! (1st Overall) 2nd Place: CDTs Neal Trump (H1, 2009) and Jason Trump (G2, 2011) (6th Overall) 4th Place: CDTs Shawn Soviak (D4, 2010) and Michael Norris (C4, 2011) (10th Overall)   Mixed Team Category Results: 2nd Place: CDT Ryan Schubert (E3, 2011) and MAJ Victoria Campbell (D/HIST) (14th Overall).

Summer 2008

Five cadets represented the United States at the World University Orienteering Championship in Tartu, Estonia from 28 July to 3 August. Nickolaus Fuhriman, class of 2010, Nicholas Lewis-Walls, class of 2010, CDT Madeline Lewis, class of 2009, Jordan Laughlin, class of 2011, CDT Neal Trump, class of 2009

JCDT Jordon Laughlin, class of 2011 also competed on the U.S. Orienteering Federation's Junior World Orienteering Championship (JWOC) Team this summer.  The JWOC event was held 30 June - 6 July 2008 in Göteborg Sweden.

2007-2008 Season

24 April 2008: CDT Jordon Laughlin ('11, D3) was named to the U.S. Orienteering Federation's Junior World Orienteering Championship (JWOC) Team. CDT Michael Norris ('11, A2) was named as an alternate. See Post on AttackPoint. The JWOC event will be held 30 June - 6 July 2008 in Göteborg Sweden.

19-20 April 2008: The USMA Orienteering Team had another outstanding competition this weekend, competing at the US Relay and Middle Distance Championships in Rochester, NY. CDT Jordan Laughlin (D3, 2011) won Middle Distance Champion in his age group. USMA Relay Team placed 3rd in the elite category for the first time since the early 1980s, winning significant recognition from the orienteering community in addition to their medals: CDT Jordan Laughlin (D3, 2011), CDT Michael Norris (A2, 2011), MAJ Jonathan Campbell (D/Phys), MAJ Victoria Campbell (D/Hist). The following cadets also had notable races on one or both days of competition: Joshua Wiley (A2, 2010), Andrew Scholle (B2, 2011), Jason Trump (H3, 2011), Paul Caston (D1, 2010), Ben Scrivner (C4, 2008), Shawn Soviak  (D4, 2010).

13 April 2008: In a field of over 80 orienteers, CDT Jordan Laughlin ('11, D3) took 5th place in the annual "Billygoat" orienteering race, held near Mahopac, NY.  CDTs Michael Norris ('11, A2) and Matt Scrivner ('11, B2) also completed the 2+ hour cross-country navigation race in the top 25% of all finishers.

2-4 April 2008: The West Point Orienteering Team hosted their 4th Annual Orienteering Merit Badge Clinic May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. CDT Paul Caston organized the successful event that saw over 210 scouts earn the first set of requirements of their orienteering merit badge. Cadets taught orienteering skills, conducted hand-on exercises, and ran three courses near West Point’s Camp Buckner facilities.

4-6 Apr 2008: The USMA Orienteering Club had a successful weekend competing in the "Flying Pig" orienteering races near Cincinnati, OH.   On Friday at the Middle Distance, CDT Jordan Laughlin ('11, D3) took 1st place in his age-category (18-20 year-old males) and 2nd place among all racers on this course.    On Saturday at the 2008 US Sprint Distance Championships, Jordan also placed 2nd in his age-category, and CDT Michael Norris ('11, A2) took 3rd place.   On Sunday at the 2008 US Ultra-Long Distance Championships, Michael won the 18-20 year-old category.   Other cadets raced well at some or all of the events, including: CDTs Michelle Alderson ('09, B4), Jason Trump ('11, H3), Lon McBride ('09, H1), Andrew Scholle ('11, B2), Justin Pettit ('11, C3), Neal Trump ('09, H1), and Nick Lewis-Walls ('10, B1).   On Sunday, most cadets in the club completed courses that consisted of 2.5 to 4 hours of cross-country running and navigation.

March 2008: Five cadets were named to the U.S. Te named to represent the United States at the World University Orienteering Championship in Tartu, Estonia from 28 July to 3 August. CDT Madeline Lewis, B1, 2009 CDT Neal Trump, H1, 2009 Nickolaus Fuhriman, H4, 2010 Nicholas Lewis-Walls, B1, 2010 Jordan Laughlin, D3, 2011

19-20 Jan 2008: The top members of the US Military Academy Orienteering Team competed 19-20 Jan 08 in the Georgia Navigator Cup two-day orienteering race near Augusta, GA.  CDT Neal Trump ('09, H1) took third place in a field of 21 Blue-category (mens elite) runners.  Other cadets with notable races include Cadets Paul Caston ('10, D1), Jordan Laughlin ('11, D3), Dan Keyser ('09, G3), and Paul Freeman ('09, G3).  The Georgia Navigator Cup is an early season race, important for preparing Army's team for the US Intercollegiate Orienteering Championships, 23-24 Feb, near Tucson, AZ.

04 Nov 2007: The USMA Orienteering Team competed in two US Orienteering Federation national championship events held in Prince William Forest near Quantico, Virginia.    Friday, 2 Nov, at the Sprint-venue race, CDT Neal Trump ('09, H1) took 2nd place in the male 19-20 year-old category.    Over two days of competition on Saturday and Sunday in the Classic-distance venue, CDT Jordan Laughlin ('11, D3) took 3rd place in the 17-18 year-old category, and CDT Neal Trump ('09, H1)edged into 3rd place (19-20 category) by a mere second over a combined two days of competition, totaling 2 hours and 45 minutes.    In the developmental categories, CDTs Madeline Lewis ('09, A3) , Matt Scrivner ('10, B2), Josh Wiley('10, A2), Jaridd Leute ('10, C2) and Jason Trump ('11, H3) had notable two-day combined results.

07 Oct 2007: Jordan Laughlin finished 4th and Zach March finished 6th in the 26.3km Hudson Highlander race.  Shawn Soviak, Paul Caston, and Michael Norris all completed the race in under 5 hours.

01 Oct 2007: The USMA Orienteering Team faced a weekend of tough races in the complicated, glaciated terrain of New Hampshire this weekend. After two days of competition, CDT Neal Trump ('09, H1) had the combined winning time in the male 19-20 year-old category, and CDT Jordan Laughlin ('11, D3) took second place in the male 17-18 year-old category. Numerous other cadets had solid runs on one or both days as they gained valuable experience for the upcoming US Championships the first weekend in November near Quantico, VA.

24 Sep 2007: The USMA Orienteering Team competed in a national-level Sprint orienteering race on 22 Sep and the orienteering Relay Championship on 23 Sep in CT. At the Sprint race on Saturday, CDTs Jordan Laughlin (11, D3) and Michael Norris (11, A2) took 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the male 16-18 age category, and CDT Paul Caston (10, D1) took 3rd place in the male 18-20 age category. At Sunday's Relay Championship, the Team's top four-person-relay took 8th (out of 17 teams) in the 4-point category, and 9th (out of 15 teams) in the 8-point category.

 Resources

• Intramural Orienteering Briefing (Includes Five Skills of Orienteering)
• West Point Permanent Land Navigation/Orienteering Course (Permission to Access Land Required)
• Map Comparison Document - a quick look at imagery, orienteering maps, and military topographic line maps (TLM)

Accomplishments

• U.S. Intercollegiate Orienteering Team Champions: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978
• Field and Stream Intercollegiate Club Champions: 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978
• U.S. Intercollegiate Orienteering Individual Women's Champion: 2007 - Sarah Klaben, 2005 - Sarah Klaben, 1994 - Frances Danaher, 1989 - Amy Williams, 1988 - Kelly O'Rourke, 1987 - Donna Everson, 1986 - Donna Everson, 1983 - Mary Costello, 1981 - Marianne Keil, 1980 - Erin O'Connor
• U.S. Intercollegiate Orienteering Individual Men's Champion: 2008 - Jordan Laughlin, 2007 - Andrew Komm, 2002 - Josh Barten, 1999 - Pete Nelson, 1998 - Jeremy McKnight, 1980 - Mikell Platt, 1977 - Tim Daniels

• U.S. Team Member,  2006 World University Orienteering Championships Košice, Slovakia: Chelsea Cunningham ('07), Sarah Klaben ('07), Andrew Komm ('07), Matt Sherburne ('07), Zach Taron ('07).
• U.S. Team Member, 2004 World University Orienteering Championship: Jerre Hansborough ('04), Matt Mogensen ('04), Dave Howald ('04), Andrew Komm ('07)

Contact Information

• Officer Representative: LTC Michael Hendricks, Academy Professor Geospatial Information Science Program

The USMA team is sponsored by the Department of

with Special Technical support from the

Geospatial Information Science Program

Send comments to  LTC Michael Hendricks