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Top Honors for Northwood Tech Students at SkillsUSA Wisconsin
April 11, 2025
Northwood Technical College’s construction and cabinetmaking students recently competed at the 52nd Annual SkillsUSA Wisconsin State Leadership and Skills Conference held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on April 1-2, with the competition taking place on April 2. Nine Northwood Tech students competed in the cabinetmaking and carpentry categories this year, taking all three podium spots and sweeping both categories, which earned them two qualifications for Nationals.
“This year at the SkillsUSA State Competition, our students represented our program and Northwood Tech at the highest level I’ve ever seen,” said Scott Theilig, construction and cabinetmaking instructor at Northwood Technical College. “I’m very proud to be their instructor in the Construction and Cabinetmaking program. Representing Wisconsin at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, are Isaiah Buck, a first-year student in cabinetmaking, and Braydon Ahlberg, a second-year student in construction. They will both be competing against the best from each state.”
Pictured left to right: Deagan Cleveland, Noah Lauterbach, Jared Raatz, Edward Brannon, Owen Meurett, Braydon Ahlberg, Isaiah Buck, Theodore Lund, Riley Holm
Their success at the state level was part of a strong overall showing by Northwood Tech students in both categories.
The following students participated in the event:
First Place
- Braydon Ahlberg, Rice Lake, Wisconsin – Carpentry
- Isaiah Buck, Turtle Lake, Wisconsin – Cabinetmaking
Second Place
- Deagan Cleveland, Spooner, Wisconsin – Carpentry
- Theodore Lund, Hudson, Wisconsin – Cabinetmaking
Third Place
- Riley Holm, Montreal, Wisconsin – Carpentry
- Owen Meurett, Hudson, Wisconsin – Cabinetmaking
Additional Participants
- Edward Brannon, Osceola, Wisconsin
- Noah Lauterbach, Shell Lake, Wisconsin
- Jared Raatz, Cadott, Wisconsin
Among those earning top honors were Braydon Ahlberg and Isaiah Buck, who will advance to the national stage to represent Wisconsin and Northwood Tech.
Reflecting on his second appearance at state level for SkillsUSA, Braydon Ahlberg compared his first place finish this year to his fifth place in 2024.
"I feel like the contest went really well for me this year. I felt pretty confident throughout the whole competition, thanks to my amazing instructors. I am super excited to be able to represent not only myself and my college, but also Wisconsin in carpentry at nationals. I could not have done it without all the support I've been given."
Still feeling the excitement of a first-place win, first-year student Isaiah Buck also shared his experience at the state competition and his anticipation for what lies ahead.
"My week at SkillsUSA was pretty wild and fun. I got to spend time with my classmates and eat at a few places with them. I liked the ease of the overall competition. It was a good chance to ramp up the pressure and see what my maximum efficiency could amount to. Even if I didn’t end up winning, I still would have loved it, as any sort of competition is worth it to me. I’m excited to see what I can do at nationals!"
With the national competition on the horizon, excitement is building for these two outstanding students. Their dedication, craftsmanship and perseverance have earned them a well-deserved place on the national stage—where they’ll proudly represent Northwood Tech. Their success is a testament not only to their own hard work, but also to the excellence of the Construction and Cabinetmaking program that helped shape their path. The entire college community will be cheering them on as they showcase their skills and passion for the trades at SkillsUSA’s National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC), taking place June 23–27, 2025, in Atlanta.
For those interested in learning more about the Construction and Cabinetmaking program at Northwood Tech, please visit NorthwoodTech.edu/Construction.
Braydon Ahlberg, first place in carpentry, with his project at the 2025 SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference.
Isaiah Buck, first place in cabinetmaking, with his project at the 2025 SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference.
