Promising Talent in Kane County: Two Students Head to 2025 Machining League Finals
Back in October 2024, Jayden Crete from West Aurora High School and Soren Erikson from South Elgin High School entered the inaugural year of the ProjectMFG National Machining League. Competitors were provided with raw materials and detailed prints outlining the design and fabrication requirements. After completing their assigned projects and submitting them for review, Jayden and Soren were named among the top 16 machining students in the nation.
The top competitors advance to the National Machining League Championship this spring. From April 10-13, 2025, Jayden and Soren will travel to Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) to compete against the nation’s best young machinists for top honors in this event.
Jayden Crete – West Aurora High School
Jayden, a third-year Weisner student and SkillsUSA member, has built a strong foundation in machining and manufacturing. His coursework includes Precision Machining & Manufacturing 1 as a sophomore; Precision Machining & Manufacturing 2 and Welding 1 as a junior; and Welding & Fabrication 2, Building Trades 1, and an internship at Axis Designs in Aurora, IL as a senior. In 2024, he placed second in the state for individual CNC and advanced to Nationals in Atlanta, GA, where he and his three-man team placed 7th in Automated Manufacturing Technology at the National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC).
Soren Erikson – South Elgin High School
Soren is a senior at South Elgin High School and will soon complete the U-46 Precision Manufacturing Pathway program. His coursework includes Introduction to Precision Manufacturing (2021-22), Precision Manufacturing (2023-24), and Advanced Precision Manufacturing (2024-25). Both Precision and Advanced Precision Manufacturing are dual-credit courses, allowing him to earn both high school and college credit. Additionally, he has taken Honors Introduction to Engineering Design and Honors Principles of Engineering.
Soren has also earned National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentials in CNC Milling and Measurement, Materials, and Safety. In the middle of his junior year, he secured a job at Haumiller Engineering, a local manufacturer, where he has now been employed for nearly a year—gaining real-world experience in precision machining.
His achievements extend to competition success as well. In 2024, he won first place in the Technology and Manufacturing Association’s annual Precision Manufacturing competition, earning recognition for creating a complex grinding fixture plate with a level of precision unmatched by any other high schooler in the state. He also competed in the 2024 and 2025 ProjectMFG Advanced Manufacturing Competition, contributing as both a welder and CNC machinist.
Soren is also breaking new ground at South Elgin High School, where he is utilizing the school's new 5-axis CNC machine. He is likely the first high school student in Illinois to successfully perform simultaneous 5-axis machining, part tab off, and other advanced manufacturing techniques—skills typically reserved for college students.
Kane County’s Rising Talent
The achievements of both Jayden and Soren highlight the growing strength of precision machining and manufacturing education in Kane County. As they prepare to compete on the national stage, their dedication and skill serve as a testament to the training programs and industry partnerships that are shaping the next generation of highly skilled machinists.
