Recent students from Ridgewater College’s Willmar and Hutchinson campuses have made a significant impression at the Minnesota state-level SkillsUSA competition in March and April. The seven welding students have now qualified for the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia, in June.
Competitions and Achievements
- More than 550 students from 25 schools competed in 57 trade, technical, and leadership contests in hands-on, real-world environments.
- Ridgewater students took part in the Minnesota competitions, showcasing their skills in welding, automotive service technology, and auto body collision repair.
- The top performers included Aydyn Zabel and Bradee Dwinell, who won the general welding skills competition and welded wildlife sculpture, respectively.
At the fabrication competition, the challenge was to create a welding table, a task that required creativity, precision, and teamwork. The college-level fabrication team, consisting of Dwinell, Katheryne Noll, and Justin Deinken, demonstrated exceptional skills, finishing with ample time to spare and producing the best projects.
High school students also excelled in the fabrication competition, with the top team consisting of Braxton Londerville, Benny Blessing, and Phillip Ahlgren. These talented students, who are taking courses via Post-Secondary Enrollment Options, have shown remarkable growth and dedication to their craft.
Instructor Praise and Reflections
“The fabrication teams had very tough competition compared to years past, but worked very well together, finished with ample time to spare and had the best projects,” said John Travis, Ridgewater welding instructor.
Jason Eastling, another Ridgewater welding instructor, added, “It’s a very proud moment for the Ridgewater welding instructors as they nearly sweep the podium in three different categories. It shows that hard work and dedication pay off in the end.”
College and High School Individual Rankings
| College Individual Rankings | High School Individual Rankings |
|---|---|
| Welding | Aydyn Zabel, 1st |
| Welding Sculpture | Bradee Dwinell, 1st |
| Fabrication | |
| College Team: Dwinell, Noll, Deinken | High School Team: Londerville, Blessing, Ahlgren |
Additional Achievements
- College-level achievements: Jackson Owens, 2nd in welding; Joseph Kotila, 3rd in welding; Peyton Smith, 2nd in auto body collision repair and refinishing; Max Kenney, 2nd in automotive service technology; JT Karels, 3rd in automotive service technology; and Steven Wagner, 2nd in high school auto body collision repair and refinishing.
- High school achievements: Hudson Nelson, 3rd in welding; Dawson Blair, 2nd in automotive service technology; and Benny Blessing, 1st in high school fabrication.
These outstanding achievements demonstrate the exceptional talent and dedication of Ridgewater College students in the welding, automotive service technology, and auto body collision repair programs.
