“The pinnacle for any automotive person to get to,” said North Kansas City Schools automotive instructor Jack Stow, an A.S.E. certified master automobile technician.

Stow said they competed against college students and adults, coming out on top. But they didn’t get there by chance.

“We used every chance we could get,” Madinger said. “We’d come in during class, on weekends and just take the engine apart and put it back together again. We even did writing assignments where we had to imagine the steps without looking.”

Madinger said a short preparation time was one of the biggest challenges they faced. 

“We only had about three weeks to prepare,” Madinger said. “We didn’t know how much time other teams had or what kind of times we should be aiming for.”

The North Kansas City Schools Auto Tech students arrived in Las Vegas, and to their surprise, they were the only high school team competing. 

“We didn’t even know that until we got there,” Madinger said. “We just went out there and did our best.”

Once the competition started, the build began smoothly. Then, the boys were faced with a major complication when pistons seven and eight became swapped and two rod caps were the wrong way. 

“That moment was stressful,” Madinger said. “If you mix up pistons, you have to take everything apart again. It’s a whole process.”

Madinger and Aljallad were able to quickly fix their problem through the verbal guidance of Stow. 

“They had developed such a strong rhythm together,” Stow said. “Watching them work, it was unbelievable. Some of the best engine builders in the country were standing there, and they were all cheering for our students.”

They finished in first place with the rest of the competitors a considerable amount behind them.

“These two young men demonstrated incredible focus, even when they ran into challenges, in a very high-pressure environment,” said Bernard Tansey, who co-emceed the event and owns Euro Clinic, an independent repair shop based in Santa Clara, Calif. “There was a large crowd watching; people had their cameras out, and yet their attention remained centered on the task at hand.”

The students won the very first AAPEX Engine Build Competition and earned recognition and respect from major industry leaders, including the secret service. 

“They said when we turn 21, we should come to D.C. and apply,” Madinger said. 

About three and a half weeks before the competition, Stow was contacted and asked if he would like to bring a high-school team to compete. He asked both of his junior and senior classes, and only two students stepped up for the challenge: Madinger and Aljallad. 

With help from the district and a former student, within 48 hours  Stow had an engine for the boys to begin preparations for the competition with. Madinger did not compete with hopes of getting the national recognition that he received or even to win.

 “I mainly did it for the experience,” Madinger said. “It taught me that speed isn’t always your best friend — sometimes you have to slow down and do it right the first time.” 

After high school, Madinger planned to attend State Tech and pursue diesel technology. 

“I’m just dedicated,” Madinger said. “If I start something, I’ll work through it.”

The future of the Automotive program at NKC Schools was also changed by Madinger and Aljallad’s win. An all-female team is expected to compete next year.

 “One of my students, Amelia Hensley from Staley, said, ‘We want to do this next year,’” Stow said. “So next year, we’ll be bringing two teams. One of them will be all female — and I expect to bring home first and second.”

Stow believed the win would reach past the North Kansas City Schools Automotive Program. 

“There is a national shortage of technicians right now,” Stow said. “We need people who can fix things. And these kids, they proved that the future of the trades is in good hands.”

The students were awarded with a gift card and Milwaukee tool kits for them personally and two for the program.