Middleburgh’s Strobeck to Compete in Statewide Professional Welding Competition

ALBANY/SCHOHARIE – Four area high school students will put their skills to the test against the best of the best from across the state during a competition on May 2 in Albany.

Capital Region BOCES Welding and Metal Fabrication students Trista Smi, Wyatt Strobeck, Jonathan King and Owen VanVranken will compete in the New York State Thruway Cup welding competition on May 2 at the Career and Technical Education Center – Albany campus.

They will compete against the best youth welders from the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and the Twin Tiers regions of the state.

Smi attends BOCES from the Berne-Knox-Westerlo school district, Strobeck from Middleburgh, King from Shenendehowa and VanVranken from Bethlehem. Strobeck won a regional competition, Smi placed second and VanVranken placed third, defeating numerous others to advance to the state competition.

The students said they are looking forward to putting their skills up against the best of the best from across the state.

“It’s a good opportunity to get out there and see how I do against others,” Strobeck said.

Mattoon said the event really tests the abilities of the young welders.

“This competition is sponsored by our welding community across New York state and the American Welding Society (AWS). It gives students the opportunity to showcase their skills, work ethic and understanding of welding,” said Capital Region BOCES Welding teacher Don Mattoon. 

“What sets this competition apart is that students must compete all day using three different welding processes. Their work is evaluated according to AWS D1.1 and D1.2 industry codes. It really pushes them to the limits of their ability and gives them a clearer picture of what a career in welding looks like. It also gives young individuals an opportunity to network with industry professionals and peers across New York state,” he added.

A Capital Region BOCES team won the competition in Rochester last year, setting the stage for the event to be held in Albany this year.

“This is the biggest welding event Capital Region BOCES has ever held,” Mattoon said.