SkillsUSA Sends U.S. Team to Shanghai for WorldSkills Competition Sept. 22-27
PRNewsWire
Published: Sep 11, 2026, 12:51 AM
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Nine U.S. competitors—all SkillsUSA champions in their home states—will showcase their career skills against the best-of-the-best from around the world. Held every two years, the WorldSkills Competition is the world's largest international gathering of skilled talent. An estimated 1,400 competitors from 73 countries and regions will compete in 64 skills, including seven new emerging occupations.
"This extraordinary group of U.S. competitors represents the absolute pinnacle of American talent, dedication, and technical skill," said Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA. "They represent the best of American career and technical education and the vital workforce talent driving the national economy. We have unwavering confidence in their skills, their character, and their readiness to show the world what American ingenuity can achieve."
The 2026 WorldSkills USA delegation includes: Automobile Technology: James Cahill, 20 (Missouri) — A skilled automotive student who has demonstrated mastery over complex mechanical diagnostics and vehicle systems. Carpentry: Tristan Coates, 22 (Florida) — A business owner and former national champion who brings extensive structural and craft excellence to the team. CNC Milling: Alexis Squyres, 21 (Pennsylvania) — A graduate of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and national bronze medalist, specializing in complex multi-axis precision machining. She is the first female to represent the U.S. in this skill competition. Cooking: Elizabeth Brown, 22 (Missouri) — A culinary champion prepared to showcase world-class culinary technique, speed and artistic precision. Heavy Vehicle Technology: Benjamin Strupp, 21 (Wisconsin) — An exceptional diesel technician specializing in heavy industrial machinery, diagnostics and large-scale transportation repair. Mechatronics: Evan Chow, 24, and James Sutherland, 24 (Tennessee) — A powerhouse duo representing Tennessee in the intensive two-person industrial automation and robotic systems engineering competition. Plumbing and Heating: Charles Goede, 20 (Connecticut) — A dedicated plumbing apprentice backed by broad industry support, mastering advanced fluid, pressure and climate systems. Welding: Mikala Sposito, 21 (Michigan) — A welding champion whose mentor is a former WorldSkills competitor, demonstrating exceptional precision in complex structural and metallurgical joining. She is the first female to represent the U.S. in this skill competition.
SkillsUSA, the #1 workforce development organizations for students, has served as the official U.S. representative to WorldSkills since 1973 with the first U.S. delegation competing in 1975. More than 300 Americans have competed at WorldSkills.
"It feels incredible that someone from a small town in Wisconsin could train, work hard, and be chosen to represent my skills and knowledge as the competitor," said Strupp, the team's Heavy Vehicle Technology competitor. "My instructors believed in my potential, provided guidance and resources, and challenged me to work harder. This opportunity represents the results of that support, my dedication, and the chance to represent my country on an international stage."
To ensure peak performance in Shanghai, each team member is supported by business and industry partners and paired with a dedicated technical expert w
Source: PRNewsWire
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