Mikala Sposito: The Welder Who Never Goes Home

Picture this: you’re traveling cross-country for a career-defining competition. Your flight is delayed three hours, causing you to miss your connection. With no more flights that night, you reroute to a nearby city, rent a car, and drive the rest of the way.

 

When you arrive, most of the tools you shipped ahead haven’t made it. It’s a holiday weekend—nothing will arrive in time. You spend your only prep day scrambling to replace equipment. Then your coach comes down with the flu—and by day three, so do you.

 

For many, that would be the end of the story. But not for DHS alumna Mikala Sposito (2023). Despite every setback, Mikala persevered—and dominated. She earned the gold medal and made history as the first female welder selected for Team USA at the WorldSkills competition.

 

Two and a half years ago, Mikala set her sights on the 2026 WorldSkills competition in Shanghai, China. At the time, she was a freshman at Washtenaw Community College (WCC), training 50 hours a week in the WCC welding lab. That quickly grew to 60, 70, and even 80 hours per week.

 

Her commitment extends beyond the classroom. Mikala also trains at her home lab, choosing to practice even during holidays and celebrations.

 

“I welded at home on Christmas Day,” she said. “I did two projects on Christmas Day, because I knew the other competitors wouldn’t be [practicing]. I was in the lab on my birthday. I was in the lab on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.”

 

That level of continuous dedication has paid off. As a Dexter High School senior, Mikala won first place in the SkillsUSA Michigan high school competition and later placed 14th at nationals. As a freshman at WCC, she again won the SkillsUSA state competition, this time in the college division, and improved to 8th in the nation. That performance earned her a spot in the highly selective WorldSkills Team USA welding pre-trials.

 

“In the year and a half since nationals, I have done nothing but train for the WorldSkills pre-trials,” Mikala said.

 

The Shanghai WorldSkills pre-trials narrowed the nation’s top competitors from sixteen to just one through a series of rigorous, multi-day competitions. By March 2026, Mikala was one of the final three.

 

Waiting for the results was unforgettable. “I was so nervous,” she said. “I felt like I could see my heartbeat as they were announcing 3rd place. The announcer looked at me, then looked at the other competitor, and called his name. I realized at that moment that I won and really don’t know how to describe how surreal it felt.”

 

Now representing Team USA, Mikala is preparing for the WorldSkills competition, including international training events and competitions, along with public appearances and leadership opportunities.

 

“It’s the road to gold,” she said. “Before the pre-trials, all I was thinking about and all I was doing was welding.”

 

Now, she’s still welding, but also has to do interviews, photo shoots, and travel logistics. Even with new demands on her time, Mikala remains focused on improving her craft and representing her team, school, and community.

 

She credits much of her success to her coaches and mentors at WCC, including instructor, coach, and mentor, Alex Pazkowski, the 2013 WorldSkills silver medalist in welding.

 

“I told Mikala in the beginning of her training that hard work beats talent,” Pazkowski said. “The most successful students are the ones who are willing to train the hardest. Mikala…is proof of that methodology.”

 

While Mikala’s accomplishment as the first female welder on Team USA is groundbreaking, both she and her coach emphasize that her story is about dedication and perseverance above all else.

 

“Being the first woman to represent the United States is a byproduct of her hard work and dedication,” Pazkowski said. “When the students ask me about Mikala, they never say anything about her being a girl. They ask about the welder who never goes home.”

 

Mikala shares that perspective. “It feels great,” she said, “but I’m not totally focused on being the first woman… I mainly want to do it to prove it to myself and be a part of the WCC legacy.”

 

The WorldSkills competition will take place September 22–27, 2026, in Shanghai, China. Mikala will join the world’s top competitors, representing both her country and her community on the global stage.

 

Dexter Community Schools proudly celebrates Mikala’s achievements and wishes her the very best as she continues her journey.