ADAMS -- Jesse Cherney better be good.

Eagle Scouts outnumber Boy Scouts in Troop No. 114, 14 to 8.

Those kind of numbers raise the bar of scouting excellence a notch or two. Nobody fails, everybody succeeds at some level or another.

"We have a 95 percent of our scouts become Eagle Scouts," said Dick Weaver, scoutmaster. "That's a rate of 95 of 100 compared to the national Boy Scout rate of one of 100."

Only 11 years old, Troop No. 114 has established a new standard of excellence for Boy Scouts of America. How do they do it?

"We keep them active. We challenge them to be the best they can be and give them all the help they need," Weaver said.

Court of Honor ceremonies for the new Eagle Scout were held Saturday afternoon at Little Cedar Lutheran Church, Adams.

Weaver, scoutmaster of Troop No. 114, was master of ceremonies.

The Rev. Shari Mason, pastor of Little Cedar and Marshall Lutheran churches, gave the invocation and benediction.

Troop No. 114 presented the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance and recitation of the Boy Scout oath.

Scouting executives, including Wayne Gorman, Terry Zabel and district executive Pat Kunkel also participated.

In addition to Troop No. 114's scoutmaster, John Carlin, assistance scoutmaster, had a part in the ceremonies.

The new Eagle Scout was also honored by Vance Erie, commander, and Roger Jax, representing Adams American Legion Post No. 146, sponsors of the Boy Scoots of America troop.

A reception in the youth's honor was held after the ceremonies Saturday in the Little Cedar Lutheran Church fellowship hall.

The new Eagle Scout, 14, joined Cub Scouts of America in September 1995 and became a Boy Scout in December 1998. By October 2000, he was a First Class scout and became a Star Scout in February 2001 and a Life Scout in August 2001.

In September 2002, he was notified he had satisfactorily fulfilled all the requirements to become an Eagle Scout.

He has served Troop No. 114 in a variety of capacities, including patrol leader, historian and scribe and has 26 merit badges to his credit.

The son of Mike -- himself an Eagle scout -- and Cheryl Cherney, the Eagle Scout has a younger sister, Kristen, 11.

"This is a proud moment in my life," the Eagle Scout said Saturday.

A freshman at Southland High School, Cherney said he didn't feel any pressure to advance to the rank of Eagle Scout despite the troop's long list of Eagle Scouts.

Asked if he felt pressure to become a role model for Brad Kiefer, who is expected to be the next Eagle Scout and other Eagle hopefuls in the troop, Cherney said, "I don't feel any pressure, but I want to help them just like everybody helped me."

The remarkable success of Troop No. 114 in producing Eagle Scouts shows a more than one per year average. Last fall, four scouts advanced to Boy Scouting's most coveted rank.

One Eagle Scout, Matt Decker, is an assistant scoutmaster for the troop.

The list of Eagle Scouts includes Jeremy Bottema, Adam Chapek, Jesse Cherney, Matt Decker, Brandon Dvergsten, Mathew Flesner, Matthew Hanson, Steven Huper, Tyler Irvin, Bradley Kiefer, Lance Miller, Isaac Schmitz, Benjamin Smith and Johnathon Weaver.

Troop No. 114 covers the Southland school district.

Carlin, a retired Austin police detective, who now lives and works in Lanesboro, is one of the most honored scouting leaders anywhere.

He observed his golden anniversary in scouting three years ago.

"It's a wonderful program for young men," Carlin said. "Scouting has so many opportunities."

Three sons of Carlin's -- Bryan, Steven and David -- all earned Eagle Scout honors.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com