By Adam Justice
Cavalier Daily Life Editor
John Rogers-Cotrone and his teammates knew the competition would be fierce.
"It was kind of intimidating," the bus driver and fourth-year College student recalled.
No, Cotrone wasn't anticipating a marathon or athletic competition.
He, along with fellow University Transit Service bus drivers Damie Holligan, Chris Andino and Mike Goddard, was preparing for the Virginia State Transit Roadeo - the annual event inviting transit organizations around the state to compete in appearance judging (of the uniforms), safety quiz examinations, identifying problem with a defective bus and navigating an obstacle course.
Cotrone placed 15th out of about 40 drivers in the obstacle course, and had to face down competitors from professional transit services across the state.
Preparation involved reading through Virginia's commercial driver licensing manuals. But drivers already have most of the skills they'll need to use for the competition.
"I think you're just supposed to jump in there and do it," Cotrone said. "When you go around the cones, you pretty much know what you have to do."
More important than his own impressive finish, however, was the success of the operator team as a whole.
"I was more happy with the team's finish than mine," he said.
Director of Transit Operations David Kloss said "the bar has been elevated and a standard set for subsequent UTS operator teams."
The team's success is unprecedented in recent years.
"They hadn't placed this high in a long, long time," UTS Operational Supervisor Joe Stewart said.
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