Windsor Central High School seniors Donald Cieslinski and Landyn Bailey will represent Windsor and Broome-Tioga BOCES at the Skills USA state competition in Syracuse on April 22-24.


Cieslinski will compete in automotive vehicle maintenance after finishing third in the regional competition at SUNY Morrisville on February 6th. Bailey will do the same after finishing tied for third in the regional welding competition.

“I’m looking forward to the overall trip itself. The welding part will be different than regionals, but we’ll have the same written test,” said Bailey.

“I’m 100% looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to going to Syracuse with my friends and hopefully placing. Even if I don’t, being a mechanic is something I have a passion for so I might as well take the opportunity while I can,” said Cieslinksi.

Bailey and Cieslinski have plans to pursue their trades past high school. Bailey will attend the Western Welding Academy in Wyoming to pursue a career in welding, preferably on a pipeline. Cieslinski will enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps as a mechanic.

“I come from a military family. I just want to serve and protect my country,” said Cieslinski, who is enlisting with fellow WCHS senior Teahen Hegedus. “I love the complexity of being a mechanic. It brings me joy to see something broken and me being able to fix it with my bare hands.”

For Bailey, his time studying welding has allowed him to learn more than a single trade.

“Gaining leadership skills has honestly been the biggest part, getting the confidence in myself and helping others trying to learn,” said Bailey.

The New York State Skills USA competition is at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Winners will move on to the national Skills USA competition in Atlanta in June.