No better way to kick off the new year than jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet. That’s what 88 collegiate skydivers from across the country were doing at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. It was all part of the United States Parachute Association’s National Collegiate Championships.
One after another students took turns dropping out of the sky, many of them have been dreaming about this moment for years.
“I grew up going to football games at West Point, and I saw the team jumping into the stadium for football games and I looked up and I said, ‘I have to do that,”’ said Teresa Metz of West Point.
The majority of these competitors are from our service academies. The Army, Navy and Air Force, all bringing out the best in one another.
“They come in and they enjoy all the competitions, they are in multiple disciplines, so it’s absolutely fascinating and it’s wonderful to see all the schools connecting,” said Amanda Owens, with the United States Parachute Association.
They are judged on a series of team and individual jumps, focusing on everything from formations to speed to accuracy.