Year after year after year, this Oxford High School program consistently sends students to shine in the state spotlight and it has nothing to do with athletics or the arts.
Seniors Chad Simmers and Eric Patrell will represent the OHS automotive technology program when the hoods go up May 7 during the state finals of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition at the Macomb Community College Expo Center in Warren.
Of the 37 OHS students who took the on-line qualifying exam for the competition, Simmers and Patrell achieved the highest scores.
‘It feels great,? Simmers said. ‘Glad to make it. It was a goal I had.?
‘I was a little surprised that I made it,? Patrell said. ‘I haven’t had as much training as some of the other kids that took (the test).?
Auto Instructor Dan Balsley is ‘optimistic? about the quiet duo’s chances to win the state championship.
‘Both of them are very intelligent students,? he said.
Simmers and Patrell will compete against two-man teams from nine other schools in a hands-on competition during which they are given 90 minutes to diagnose and repair a variety of electrical and mechanical defects (i.e. bugs) purposely placed in a 2015 Ford Fiesta SE.
Repairs must be made with the highest quality workmanship in the lowest total time.
The team with the fewest demerits for workmanship and the best combined score for repair time and written exam will be declared the winner and move on to the national competition in Dearborn.
Balsley believes Simmers and Patrell are ‘bringing the same strength? to the table.
‘They’re both thinkers and problem-solvers,? he said. ‘I think they’re both good at diagnosis.?
What they must focus on now, according to Balsley, is the hands-on application of their knowledge.
‘I see that as an area that we need to work on strengthening,? he said.
Fortunately, the Skalnek Ford dealership in Orion Township donated the use of a 2015 Ford Fiesta for practice purposes.
‘We have to do a lot of training between now and then to learn the vehicle and become comfortable with all the systems,? Balsley said. ‘We’ll learn how panels and components are installed and removed, where they’re located, how they’re wired and work . . . This will give us, hopefully, an edge in the competition.?
Skalnek’s been loaning the auto program practice vehicles since the early 1990s and Balsley said the dealership’s generosity has played a pivotal role in ‘our continued success? at the state and national finals.
‘It’s just critical that we have a vehicle to become familiar with before the competitions,? he said. ‘Skalnek has continually supported our efforts. We’re really grateful. A sincere thanks to Skalnek. We couldn’t do it without them.?
In the coming weeks, Simmers and Patrell will be spending many hours during class and after school preparing for the competition.
Balsley typically works with his teams five days a week until 7 p.m.
‘I try to put in as much time as I can with them,? he said.
The fact that Simmers, who’s in his fourth year with the OHS auto program, qualified for state finals was no surprise to Balsley.
‘I had my eye on Chad because he’s done well in previous competitions and he scores well in class,? he said.
In last year’s Michigan Industrial & Technology Education Society’s (MITES) automotive competition, Simmers, who works part-time at the Fix-N-Go Auto Center in Oxford, finished third overall in the advanced portion and placed in seven individual categories.
His impressive showing earned him a $22,500 scholarship to Ohio Technical College in Cleveland. He plans to go there and study diesel repair.
Patrell, who’s in his second year with the auto program, was the dark horse in all this.
‘Eric blindsided me,? Balsley said. ‘He came out of nowhere. I didn’t have enough (of a) foundation with him to anticipate him scoring as well as he did, so I was completely surprised.?
‘The fun thing was so was he,? he continued. ‘When I announced that he was going to state finals, you could tell by the look on his face that he was completely taken by surprise.?
Patrell was accepted to Kettering University in Flint and plans to study mechanical engineering.
During his 29 years teaching at OHS, Balsley estimated he’s had teams qualify for the state finals about 26 times.
Over the years, Oxford teams have won five state championships, but no national championships.
Oxford made it to the national finals in 2013 and 2014.
‘It’s awesome,? Balsley said. ‘I don’t take it for granted. I appreciate the ability to go (to the finals). I’m proud of the program and the students? continued success.?