It took me a long time to write this post because, honestly, I didn't know what to say.
Saying I'm happy would be an understatement. And saying thank you to everyone who helped me along the way will never be enough. After years of hard work, setbacks, and coming up short, I had trained my mind to almost expect another long, mind-numbing drive home from Muncie. Every year, you hope it will be different, and every year you learn a little more about how badly you want it. This year was different.
God made a way for me this year. I had every reason not to be prepared. It seemed like everything that could go wrong found a way to happen. But somehow, through all of it, I kept going.
Day 1 of the Nats was rough. I've flown some bad flights in my time, but I can objectively say those were the two worst flights I've flown this year and I've had some bad ones. Somehow, I was able to adjust and bring myself back into the fight on Day 2. By Day 3, flying the F flights, I finally started to settle in. I was having fun. I was doing what I came there to do, and for the first time all week, I was truly enjoying myself.
Then came Finals Day.
Every bit of nervousness seemed to hit me that morning. I knew what was on the line, and I knew how many years I had spent chasing this moment. But I remembered something I always tell Andrew before his flights:
“Just another afternoon at NARCA. We're just out here having fun.”
So that's what I tried to do. And somehow, after all the years of chasing this goal, I finally did it.
I made the 2027 US F3A Team.
There are so many people who deserve a thank you that I could probably write another post just listing names, but there are a few I have to recognize.
First, Jasmine Glenn. This summer she saw me go through every emotion, good and bad. She was there for the days when I felt completely defeated, and she always found a way to lift me back up. There aren't words that can properly express how thankful I am for your support. I couldn't have done this without you.
Albert Glenn while we don't get to fly together as much anymore because of work and personal obligations, you are the reason I do this. From a young age, you taught me that if I worked hard enough, the results would eventually come. You just have to keep working at it and never stop. That lesson has stuck with me my entire life.
Gwendolyn Wright thank you for everything. You endured some pretty gut-wrenching phone calls from me this summer, and somehow always found a way to motivate me, encourage me, and help me navigate through them. I can't thank you enough.
UncleJas Shulman and Andrew Jesky, you both took me under your wing and have always made sure that, no matter what, I succeed. Whether it was giving your time, helping me work through something, or simply giving me a fist bump before a flight to let me know I could do it you've both been there. You two are my brothers, always and forever, and getting to be on the 2027 US F3A Team with you is an absolute dream come true.
Pete Collinson you are an incredible pilot with an incredible team behind you. Thank you for the hard-fought battles and for always being a brother as well. You flew absolutely awesome all week long, and I have so much respect and love for you.
Chuck Hochhalter and Leslie Hanner , thank you both for making the drive up. It had been years, and having you guys there made it feel like old times again supporting, laughing, and just having fun. It meant more than you probably realize.
Gary Courtney you always pick up the phone no matter what it is you jump in and do whatever you can to help while providing every bit of comedic relief for the moment. Thank you for everything you have done for me since moving to Huntsville.
And to my sponsors: Thank you for believing in me during the years when I didn't make the team. Thank you for continuing to support me and believe that I would eventually get there.
Futaba (Skylar McDaniel Kevin Garland)
CA Models (Marcelo Colombo)
Thunder Power RC ( Kim Quenette)
AJ-Aircraft (Paige Jesky Andrew Jesky Linda Jesky)
Scorpion Power Systems (Kyle Dahl)
Anno Domini Designs ( AD Dailey)
Without you guys, I would never have been able to achieve this goal.
Finally, to everyone who has ever helped me, encouraged me, worked on an airplane with me, given me advice, watched a flight, sent a message, or simply told me to keep going thank you.This accomplishment belongs to a lot more people than just the name on the score sheet.
I've spent years chasing this dream. There were plenty of moments when it would have been easy to walk away. There were plenty of times when I wondered if it was ever going to happen.
But it did.
So if there's one thing I hope someone takes away from this, it's this:
If you're chasing a dream or a goal, don't quit.
The world is going to throw things at you. You're going to have bad days. You're going to fail. You're going to wonder if all the work is worth it.
Just keep going.
Keep working. Keep believing. Keep showing up.
And whatever you do...
Don't quit.
It took me a long time to write this post because, honestly, I didn't know what to say.
Saying I'm happy would be an understatement. And saying thank you to everyone who helped me along the way will never be enough. After years of hard work, setbacks, and coming up short, I had trained my mind to almost expect another long, mind-numbing drive home from Muncie. Every year, you hope it will be different, and every year you learn a little more about how badly you want it. This year was different.
God made a way for me this year. I had every reason not to be prepared. It seemed like everything that could go wrong found a way to happen. But somehow, through all of it, I kept going.
Day 1 of the Nats was rough. I've flown some bad flights in my time, but I can objectively say those were the two worst flights I've flown this year and I've had some bad ones. Somehow, I was able to adjust and bring myself back into the fight on Day 2. By Day 3, flying the F flights, I finally started to settle in. I was having fun. I was doing what I came there to do, and for the first time all week, I was truly enjoying myself.
Then came Finals Day.
Every bit of nervousness seemed to hit me that morning. I knew what was on the line, and I knew how many years I had spent chasing this moment. But I remembered something I always tell Andrew before his flights:
“Just another afternoon at NARCA. We're just out here having fun.”
So that's what I tried to do. And somehow, after all the years of chasing this goal, I finally did it.
I made the 2027 US F3A Team.
There are so many people who deserve a thank you that I could probably write another post just listing names, but there are a few I have to recognize.
First, Jasmine Glenn. This summer she saw me go through every emotion, good and bad. She was there for the days when I felt completely defeated, and she always found a way to lift me back up. There aren't words that can properly express how thankful I am for your support. I couldn't have done this without you.
Albert Glenn while we don't get to fly together as much anymore because of work and personal obligations, you are the reason I do this. From a young age, you taught me that if I worked hard enough, the results would eventually come. You just have to keep working at it and never stop. That lesson has stuck with me my entire life.
Gwendolyn Wright thank you for everything. You endured some pretty gut-wrenching phone calls from me this summer, and somehow always found a way to motivate me, encourage me, and help me navigate through them. I can't thank you enough.
UncleJas Shulman and Andrew Jesky, you both took me under your wing and have always made sure that, no matter what, I succeed. Whether it was giving your time, helping me work through something, or simply giving me a fist bump before a flight to let me know I could do it you've both been there. You two are my brothers, always and forever, and getting to be on the 2027 US F3A Team with you is an absolute dream come true.
Pete Collinson you are an incredible pilot with an incredible team behind you. Thank you for the hard-fought battles and for always being a brother as well. You flew absolutely awesome all week long, and I have so much respect and love for you.
Chuck Hochhalter and Leslie Hanner , thank you both for making the drive up. It had been years, and having you guys there made it feel like old times again supporting, laughing, and just having fun. It meant more than you probably realize.
Gary Courtney you always pick up the phone no matter what it is you jump in and do whatever you can to help while providing every bit of comedic relief for the moment. Thank you for everything you have done for me since moving to Huntsville.
And to my sponsors: Thank you for believing in me during the years when I didn't make the team. Thank you for continuing to support me and believe that I would eventually get there.
Futaba (Skylar McDaniel Kevin Garland)
CA Models (Marcelo Colombo)
Thunder Power RC ( Kim Quenette)
AJ-Aircraft (Paige Jesky Andrew Jesky Linda Jesky)
Scorpion Power Systems (Kyle Dahl)
Anno Domini Designs ( AD Dailey)
Without you guys, I would never have been able to achieve this goal.
Finally, to everyone who has ever helped me, encouraged me, worked on an airplane with me, given me advice, watched a flight, sent a message, or simply told me to keep going thank you.This accomplishment belongs to a lot more people than just the name on the score sheet.
I've spent years chasing this dream. There were plenty of moments when it would have been easy to walk away. There were plenty of times when I wondered if it was ever going to happen.
But it did.
So if there's one thing I hope someone takes away from this, it's this:
If you're chasing a dream or a goal, don't quit.
The world is going to throw things at you. You're going to have bad days. You're going to fail. You're going to wonder if all the work is worth it.
Just keep going.
Keep working. Keep believing. Keep showing up.
And whatever you do...
Don't quit.