Ridgewater Students Excel in SkillsUSA Contests
April 29, 2026
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN – Fourteen Ridgewater College technical students recently competed at the annual Minnesota SkillsUSA competitions in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud in late March. Four Welding students qualified and will head to nationals in Atlanta in June – one individual champion and one team of champions.
Ridgewater’s Jackson Owens of Spicer earned gold champion honors in individual welding, while the team of Justin Deinken (Morton), Bradee Dwinell (Waconia) and Katheryne Noll (Norwood Young America) earned gold in Welding Fabrication.
This annual state contest event highlights the talents of Minnesota’s top Career and Technical Education (CTE) students. More than 500 students from 27 schools competed in nearly 60 trade, technical, and leadership contests in hands-on, real-world environments thanks to partnering industry professionals.
The individual welding competition was at the St. Paul Steamfitters Pipefitters Local 455. “Jackson’s competition consisted of six different welding contests: SMAW E7018 & E6010, GTAW, FCAW, OAC cutting torch, and a written knowledge test,” explained Cody Sarsland, one of Ridgewater’s Welding instructors. “He placed second last year and was determined to place first this year. Jackson had been working hard improving his overall welding skills, and it showed on competition day.”
The team fabrication contest was at Minneapolis Pipefitters. “The teams were tasked with building a portable rocket stove from raw materials in six hours,” Sarsland explained. Dimensions and weld quality were key. “Our gold winners were returning champs from last year. They will return to Atlanta to try to improve on last year’s first try at national competition.”
Ridgewater earned silver and bronze honors also in team Welding Fabrication. Silvers went to the team of Owen Utendorfer (Green Isle), Nicholes Turbes (New Ulm) and Isaac Gutwasser (Kimball). Team bronze included Josh Sellner (Sleepy Eye), Logan Day (New London) and Ben Strickland (Atwater).
In addition, Natalie Campagne (Willmar) earned bronze for her welded sculpture titled, “Childhood Garden,” and McKenzie DeCasas (Howard Lake) and SaVanna Christophersen (Kimball) took sixth and tenth places, respectively, in individual welding.
“Natalie’s inspiration came from years of working with her father in his family garden,” Sarsland said. “Her outstanding welding skills were greatly demonstrated on her sculpture.”
In the Automotive Technology contest, Dawson Blair (Starbuck) earned a bronze in the high school division. He competed in multiple automotive testing stations, including engine performance, brakes and suspension, electrical diagnosis, a written test, and a job interview.
To learn more about the Ridgewater Welding program, go to www.ridgewater.edu/welding. To learn more about Ridgewater automotive careers, go to www.ridgwater.edu/automotive-technology.
