Maroon Platoon/”Laf Squad” (1991-Present)

With the disestablishment of the Lafayette Leopard Battalion, students wishing to participate in ROTC enrolled in the Lehigh University Steel Battalion.  Numbers have fluctuated, but Laf squad is growing.

Lafayette cadets are consistently some of the best in the Steel Battalion, participating in numerous extracurricular activities. Lafayette cadets participate as Division-1 athletes. In the graduating class of 2019, the three Distinguished Military Graduates (top twenty percent of cadets in the nation) from the Steel Battalion were Lafayette graduates. Lafayette cadets have been integral parts of Ranger Challenge teams which have placed in the top three out of forty-two teams at the Brigade Competition. They participate in top academic events as well.

Here are some accomplishments of recent Laf squad graduates:

In 2018, Dave McGriff, ’18, won the Patriot League championship in discus throw and hammer throw. He was the Field Athlete of the Meet as well.

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Trent Crossan, ’19, earned Academic All-American Honors as a captain of the football team.

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In the Class of 2019, the top three graduates from the commissioning class were from Lafayette: R. Brad Au II, David Sadvary, and Harvey Situ commissioned as the only Distinguished Military Graduates.

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Sam Fishbein, ’21 placed ninth at the USATF U20 National Championships. He competed at the 2018 Outdoor IC4A Championships in the hammer throw.

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At the 155th meeting between Lafayette and Lehigh, Jeffrey Kordenbrock, ’21, kicked the winning field goal to seal a Leopard victory, 17-16. It broke a four-game winning streak by Lehigh. In the same game, Jake Liedtka, ’20, played wide receiver.