WMU Sky Broncos again claim top spot at regionals, advance to national competition

BATTLE CREEK, Mich.—Western Michigan University’s precision flight team has claimed the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region III Championship for the third consecutive year. The College of Aviation’s 15-member Sky Broncos team swept first place in both flight and ground events at its regional competition Oct. 6-11 at Ohio State University, advancing to the national contest May 12-17 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

WMU competed alongside teams from Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Ohio State University and Ohio University to earn points for members who finish in the top 10 in a series of flight and ground events.

Besides clinching the regional title, the team had numerous individual event honors, including Daniel Souppa who was the competition’s top pilot, continuing a string of seven consecutive regional competitions where a WMU student earned that honor. 

“I am very proud of the hard work the team put in this season. We had 14 members return from last year, and seeing them build off of their success from last year was very exciting. Each event saw a good amount of growth from top to bottom,” says Coach Nick Olnhausen. 

“The team saw significant alumni support both at practice and at competition. I am very thankful for the continued support from the alumni helping me out at practices as well as showing the current team how valuable the connections from the team are down the road.”

Below are the 2024-25 Sky Broncos team members and their first- through 10th-place finishes at the 2024 NIFA Region III SAFECON. All members are aviation flight science majors, unless noted.

• Chris Balo, a sophomore from Kinnelon, New Jersey, placed fifth as dropmaster in message drop and ninth in aircraft recognition.
• Lucas Foster, a junior from Cornelius, North Carolina, placed second in computer accuracy.
• Nathan Gute, a senior from Owasso, Michigan, was named the seventh top pilot and placed first in aircraft recognition, second as safety observer in unlimited navigation, fourth in aircraft preflight inspection, fifth in power-off landing and ninth in short field landing.
• Nancy Hohlbein, a sophomore from Petoskey, Michigan, placed fourth in computer accuracy.
• Evan Hoyle, a senior from Rockford, Michigan, is team captain, was named the fifth top pilot and fourth top scoring contestant, as well as placed first as pilot in unlimited navigation, second in aircraft recognition, second in short field landing and sixth in power-off landing.
• Nicole Jaskowski is a senior from Hamburg, New York.
• Karsten Kotchenruther, a senior from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an aviation flight science and aviation management major, placed first in computer accuracy, fifth as pilot in message drop, sixth in ground trainer, eighth as safety observer in unlimited navigation and 10th in power-off landing.
• Jerry Lucas, a junior from Lake Villa, Illinois, placed ninth in simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation (SCAN).
• Andrew Maciejewski, a sophomore from Hudsonville, Michigan, placed third in computer accuracy and third as dropmaster in message drop.
• Nathan Merrill, a junior, from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, was named outstanding team member and placed fourth in aircraft recognition.
• Shaun Mirr, a senior from Hobart, Indiana, placed ninth in computer accuracy.
• Naman Mody, a senior from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, placed first as safety observer in unlimited navigation, fifth in SCA and seventh in aircraft preflight inspection.
• Tapan Puranik, a sophomore from India, placed 10th in aircraft recognition.
• Daniel Souppa, a senior from Jacksonville, Florida, was the competition’s top pilot and second top scoring contestant, as well as placed first in short field landing, second as pilot in unlimited navigation, third in ground trainer, third as pilot in message drop, eighth in SCAN and ninth in power-off landing.
• Dylan Van Holton, a sophomore from Lancaster, California, was named the fourth top pilot and sixth top scoring contestant, as well as placed fourth in SCAN and eighth as pilot in unlimited navigation.

View the results

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