Grafton scores well at SkillsUSA | Ozaukee County News | News graphic

GRAFTON — Grafton High School students performed well this year at the SkillsUSA State Competition, as two medals were won and another placed in the top 10 in her category.

Grafton High School seniors Owen Pryga and Michael Rose competed in the SkillsUSA State Finals earlier this month in the auto maintenance and light repair category, with Pryga taking the gold medal and Rose winning the silver medal.

“The national career and technical organization, SkillsUSA, hosts state finals competitions, like the one held (April 5 and April 6) in Madison, where students can demonstrate their skill levels and know- bring 21st century technology to more than 70 different career fields,” Grafton High Schools Automotive Service Technology Instructor Nic Fullington said in a statement.

The competition involved high school and technical college students working at 12 automotive workstations for nearly four hours. At each workstation, competing students showcased their understanding of theory, diagnostic problem-solving and repair skills, according to Fullington’s information.

Job positions in this year’s SkillsUSA Automotive Competition included engine overhaul, air conditioning, manual and automatic transmission, brakes, suspension and steering, electrical and electronic systems, engine performance, engine maintenance, hiring, electronic data retrieval, and a written automotive test.

With the state’s victory in Madison, Pryga qualified for the national SkillsUSA competition to be held in Atlanta in June. The competition includes more than 7,000 students from across the country competing in 70 different categories, and Pryga will represent Wisconsin in maintenance and light repair.

At the state competition this month, Grafton High School was also represented by junior Waylon Smith, who competed in the cabinetmaking category. He ranked sixth in the state.

“Faced with a pile of raw materials at 7:30 a.m., Waylon had about seven hours to build a nightstand. When the sawdust was cleared and judging was done, Waylon had an impressive finished wardrobe,” Fullington said.

According to the SkillsUSA website: “SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. We help every student to excel. A national nonprofit education association, SkillsUSA serves middle school, high school, and college/post-secondary students preparing for careers in the skilled trades, techniques, and services.