2023-24 Sky Broncos
BATTLE CREEK, Mich.—Western Michigan University’s precision flight team, the Sky Broncos, swept first place in both flight and ground events at its regional competition Oct. 16-21, advancing to the national contest in May 2024 in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Besides earning the most points overall, the 15-member team had numerous individual event first-place finishes as well as claimed the regional top pilot at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region III Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON), held at home this year at the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field.
WMU competed alongside teams from Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Ohio University and Ohio State University to earn points for members who finish in the top 10 in a series of flight and ground events.
Coach Nick Olnhausen said this year's team had to fill spots left by several seniors who graduated last year, including adding seven first-time competitors and replacing all of the flight event competitors from last year.
"I am very proud of the hard work and effort this year's team put in leading up to the competition. They were faced with the huge task of filling the shoes left by those who departed the team. Everyone stepped up into the roles they were asked to fill and exceeded our expectations. It has been a ton of fun watching this group go from almost zero experience to regional champions in just a few short weeks," says Olnhausen, who along with coach Jack Skoczen are both Western graduates and current flight instructors at the College of Aviation. Ryan Seiler, aviation master faculty specialist, is the team’s faculty advisor.
"As soon as the semester began, the team started their rigorous practice schedule preparing for the competition, which consists of about 20-30 hours of practice per week on top of classes, flight training, jobs and other commitments. After spending so much time together practicing, it was very rewarding to see how many of them placed well in their events."
2023-24 Sky Broncos
This year's team had to fill spots left by several seniors who graduated last year, including adding seven first-time competitors and replacing all of the flight event competitors from last year.
Below is the 2023-24 Sky Broncos team members and their first- through 10th-place finishes at the 2023 NIFA Region III SAFECON, hosted by Western. All members are aviation flight science majors, unless noted.
Chris Balo of Kinnelon, New Jersey, is a first-year student.
Lucas Foster, a sophomore from Cornelius, North Carolina, placed fifth in computer accuracy.
Nathan Gute, a senior from Owosso, Michigan, was the fifth-highest scoring contestant; named seventh top pilot; tied for first in unlimited navigation as safety observer; and placed first in aircraft preflight inspection, third in aircraft recognition and third in power-off landing.
Nancy Hohlbein, a first-year student from Petoskey, Michigan, placed ninth in computer accuracy.
Evan Hoyle, a senior from Rockford, Michigan, was the top scoring contestant; named top pilot; and placed first in aircraft recognition, first in ground trainer, second in power-off landing, third in message drop as pilot, third in unlimited navigation as pilot and fourth in short-field landing.
Karsten Kotchenruther, a junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and aviation flight science and aviation management and operations dual major, was the 10th-highest scoring contestant.He tied for first in unlimited navigation as safety observer and placed second as outstanding team member, second in computer accuracy, fifth in ground trainer and 10th in power-off landing.
Gerald Lucas of Lake Villa, Illinois, is a sophomore.
Andrew Maciejewski, a first-year student from Hudsonville, Michigan, placed third in computer accuracy.
Nathan Merrill, a sophomore from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, placed sixth in aircraft preflight inspection and eighth in aircraft recognition.
Shaun Mirr of Hobart, Indiana, is a junior.
Nauman Mody, a sophomore from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, and aviation flight science and aviation management and operations dual major, was the ninth highest-scoring contestant and placed first in simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation (SCAN), second in aircraft preflight inspection and third in unlimited navigation as safety observer.
Angelo Molina, a senior from Davidson, Michigan, was the seventh highest-scoring contestant; named sixth top pilot; and placed first in unlimited navigation as pilot, sixth in power-off landing and 10th in aircraft recognition.
Daniel Souppa, a sophomore from Jacksonville, Florida, was the second highest-scoring contestant; named second top pilot; tied for first in unlimited navigation as pilot; and placed first in short-field landing, second in SCAN, third in message drop as dropmaster and sixth in-ground trainer.
Markus Vanderzwaag, a sophomore from Elkhart, Indiana, is studying aerospace engineering and placed sixth in SCAN.
Dylan Van Holton, a first-year student from Lancaster, California, placed fourth in SCAN.
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