The ACC Fire Academy cadet team placed second in the Academy Division at the 52nd Buda Fire Challenge on Oct. 3. The Buda Fire Fest draws firefighters from all across the state and this year was only the second time ACC had a team participate at the event. The six cadets who competed, Jonathan Gonzales, Christian Scacco, Brain Yeasley, Jacob McBride, Andrew Marsh, and Chris Sukup, were chosen by their peers out of the class of 33 to represent the Academy.
"The anticipation is ridiculous. The anxiety I have right now is overwhelming," said Cadet Jacob McBride before his heat. McBride was the last ACC cadet to compete on Saturday.
"I wish I was first to go but for some reason I'm last. It was luck of the draw or bad luck of the draw," said McBride.
The six cadets on the team waited for McBride's turn in the ACC tent that had been set up at the event. The cadets crowded under the tent, escaping the rain that had begun to fall, and gave McBride advice on how to navigate the five challenges on the course.
"Look down at the ground and pump your legs," advised Christian Scacco. Scacco was the first ACC cadet to run the course and he posted the teams best time at 1 minute and 35 seconds.
"Breathe. Remember to breathe," said McBride of the advice he got from Paul Menches, Department Chair of ACC's Fire Protection Technology Department.
"We're exceeding all expectations," said Menches. He was as excited about the competition as any of the cadets. He had a clipboard with the day's schedule and each cadet's individual time. He was the team's coach, and he always had advice to give before the cadets competed and paced nervously whenever one of his cadets was on the field.
The ACC team went up against teams from fire departments all across the state as well as local rival, Oak Hill Fire Academy.
"Oak Hill fielded two full teams, and they are good, don't get me wrong. They are a great Academy, and they've been doing this for a long time," said Menches.
The ACC team came in as an underdog and at a disadvantage with older bulkier equipment and less time to practice, but that didn't stop the team from turning some heads at the Fire Fest.
"They [Oak Hill] have already said you guys really stepped it up, and to hear that from the competition that's always a good thing," said Menches.
This is only the second year ACC has competed in the Fire Challenge, and Menches said some people questioned his decision to field a team.
"The only way to get better is to compete," said Menches who was thrilled with the cadet's performance this year. "They don't give up, and that's what it's all about."
The rain was still coming down when McBride finally got his chance.
"If I do as good as any other guy on our team, I'm happy," said McBride. His teammates crowded around the field in the rain to watch him race. They ran along next to him and cheered him on as McBride ran the demanding course.
Menches held his clipboard tight and stood quietly off to the side watching his team.
"I just tell them we are proud of them. I hug them, and I say I'm very proud of you. Just finish. That's all you got to do. You've come a long way," said Menches of the last thing he tells the cadets before they compete. "I pat them on the back and you do that to a firefighter and they can get it done."
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