TSTC machining students aim for state ‘three-peat’ in Corpus Christi

(HUTTO, Texas) –  Three students are hoping to help Texas State Technical College’s Williamson County campus three-peat in the Automated Manufacturing Technology competition.

Aaron Barber, of Spicewood; Justin Bruce, of Austin; and Dylan Pyles, of Austin, are set to compete in the event at the 2026 SkillsUSA Texas Postsecondary Leadership and Skills Conference, scheduled for April 8-11 in Corpus Christi. While the Williamson County campus has seen plenty of success in recent years, this specific group will be working together for the first time.

The team was strategically formed by TSTC instructors who recognized a natural synergy between the students’ individual strengths.

“We were seen as, ‘Hey, these three can work together well, so put them together,’” Barber said. “I feel like it’s going to go better [than expected]. It’s going to be a fun time since we can trust each other a fair bit more.”

That mutual trust is shared across the entire team. Despite the high-stakes nature of the competition, where teams must take a raw blueprint and transform it into a finished, high-tolerance part on the fly, the trio remains undaunted.

“Not really much pressure because I have confidence in my team,” Pyles said. “I want to further the legacy and there is pressure there, but I’m confident that I can.”

The MT competition is a grueling test of modern manufacturing. It requires a seamless workflow between computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and the physical operation of a computer numerical controlled-mill. Because the blueprint is a surprise until the clock starts, the students must rely on their training rather than a rehearsed plan.

Barber, currently in his second semester at TSTC, serves as the digital architect for the group. While he is still getting accustomed to manual milling machines, his background in high-tech modeling provides a significant edge for the team’s programming needs.

“I’ll be doing more of the programming side of it and the modeling, specifically the 3D modeling, because that’s what I’m good at,” Barber said.

As the trio prepares to head to the coast, the focus remains on the work at hand. Whether they are fine-tuning their programming or practicing their communication, the goal is to ensure the trophy returns to the Williamson County campus for a third consecutive year.

“I’ve got trust in my teammates,” Barber said. “I know they’re excited too and will put in the effort to try to make the best out of this.”

For more information about SkillsUSA Texas, go to skillsusatx.org.

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.