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Flying Mavs Head to Nationals for Sixth Straight Year

Flying Mavs

The Flying Mavs, UNO's student aviation team, placed third at this year's Region VI NIFA competition and will compete nationally in May 2015

OMAHA – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) student aviation team, the Flying Mavs, have earned their sixth consecutive trip to the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) tournament after placing third at the NIFA regional competition.

Eleven members of the Flying Mavs, sponsored by Jet Linx Aviation, traveled to the University of Central Missouri this past week to compete against six other teams from the region. UNO’s overall third-place ranking was just behind Kansas State University and Oklahoma State.

By earning at least third place, UNO will now compete against the top teams from across the county next May 11 through May 16 at the 2015 NIFA SAFECON tournament being hosted by Ohio State University.

At this year’s regional NIFA SAFECON competition, UNO competed in a total of nine different events dealing with ground and flight operations, placing second overall in flight events.

Individually, Emi Wolfe placed third as the top-scoring female and Blake Zessin placed second overall as the top-scoring male and Top Pilot. Kyle Broich placed seventh overall in the same category.

In total, there are 10 regions across the country with the top three teams from each region competing in the national competition. UNO has made the championships each year since the 2009-2010, including a string of first-place regional finishes from the ’09-’10 season to the ‘11-’12 season.

At the 2012 NIFA championships, UNO’s Aviation Institute was named the top program in the nation and was awarded the Loening Trophy. The Loening Trophy was first awarded to the top aviation program in 1929 with Charles Lindberg and Amelia Earhart serving as judges.

Individual Top 20 results from this year’s competition included:

Pre-Flight Event
Kyle Broich (14)
Blake Zessin (15)
Brandon Perkins (16)

Simulated, Comprehensive Air Navigation (SCAN)
 Kyle Broich (4)
Jon Collins (11)
Blake Zessin (13)

Ground Trainer
 Nick Lynam (4)
Keaton Stengel (10)

Aircraft Recognition
 Blake Zessin (16)
Nick Lynam (18)

Navigation
Blake Zessin and Jon Collins (2)
Kyle Broich and Brandon Perkins (5)
Nick Lynam and Adam Kropp (17)

Short Field Approach and Landing
Blake Zessin (3)
Nick Lynam (10)
Brandon Perkins (11)
Adam Kropp (12)

Power-Off Landing
Blake Zessin (1)
Adam Kropp (12)
Kyle Broich (14)

Message Drop
Keaton Stengel and Nick Lynam (1)
Raudel Perez and Kyle Broich (13)
Emi Wolfe and Madeline Sullivan (15)
Jon Collins and Brandon Perkins (19)

E-6B Test
Kyle Broich (1)
Emi Wolfe (4)
Blake Zessin (7)

Overall Team Rankings
Oklahoma State - (451 Points)
Kansas State – Salina – (425 Points)
UNO – (421 Points)
Southeastern Oklahoma State University - (397 Points)
University of Central Missouri – (345 Points)
Parks College of St. Louis University – (256 Points)
University of Oklahoma – (195 Points)

For a full list of all individual performances and rankings, visit http://www.nifa.us/2014_REGION_6_RESULTS.htm

For additional questions, please contact Charley Reed, UNO media relations coordinator, at unonews@unomaha.edu or 402.554.2129.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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