UND Aerobatic Team Soars to National Title in 2025 IAC Collegiate Series

UND’s Aerobatic Team wins first-place awards in both team and individual flying categories

The University of North Dakota Aerobatic Team has claimed the 2025 International Aerobatic Club (IAC) Collegiate National Championship, officially securing first place in the competition.

The national title caps off a demanding and highly competitive year in which UND pilots faced off against top collegiate aerobatic teams from across the country. Judged on precision, accuracy and control, the UND team demonstrated consistent excellence throughout the season to secure the top overall ranking.

“Our students compete against the best aerobatic pilots around the country, judged on precision and accuracy while flying advanced dynamic maneuvers including rolls, loops and spins in challenging sequences,” said Mike Lents, UND Aerobatic Team coach. “At the end of the season, their scores are tallied and compared to other collegiate competitors to determine the top teams and individuals.”

Lents credited the team’s success to dedication, teamwork and strong institutional support.

“The 2025 team was one of the hardest-working and most cohesive groups of aviators I’ve had the privilege to fly with,” Lents said. “Through practice, critique and encouragement during a very challenging season, their effort paid off with strong, consistent performance. It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of UND Aerospace and our aircraft maintenance, service and dispatch crews.”

For team members, the championship reflects both personal growth and the strength of UND’s aviation programs. Indeed, Forrest Scholin, a member of the 2025 team, took first place in the Individual Collegiate National Champion Award.

“The University of North Dakota is one of the best institutions, if not the best, for professional pilot training in the entire country,” said Scholin. “This win was made possible only because of the opportunities and the wonderful instructors and colleagues that UND has to offer. UND is one of the few colleges where you can learn how to precisely and safely fly aerobatics, combining knowledge and skill that can save your passengers and crew.”

Scholin added that representing UND on the national stage was deeply meaningful.

“Representing UND is truly an honor, and I have learned that with enough passion, you can become the best version of yourself. The community of UND is my inspiration,” he said.

Another standout competitor, Zach Paluch, who took second place in the Individual Collegiate National Champion Award, emphasized the collaborative nature of the team’s success.

“I am incredibly grateful to be one of the top scoring collegiate pilots of the season and to have had the opportunity to work with Coach Lents and our amazing safety pilots,” Zach said. “I would not have been able to do nearly as well without their guidance, knowledge and support. I am also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have flown with my teammates and for the connections I have built through this amazing sport. Here’s to another great season!”

Beyond trophies and rankings, aerobatic competition provides a unique training environment that prepares students for professional aviation careers.

“Aerobatic competition presents an opportunity, like no other, to test pilots under pressure in a safe, competitive and very dynamic environment,” Lents said. “They learn the discipline of all-attitude flight and control while also developing the resilience to perform under pressure. These qualities are highly sought after in the aviation industry and of professionals overall.”

With the 2025 national championship secured, the UND Aerobatic Team continues to reinforce the University’s reputation as a national leader in aviation education and elite flight training.

According to the flying team’s webpage, “The Aerobatic Team competes at the collegiate level in aerobatic competitions around the United States at International Aerobatic Club (IAC) sanctioned events. It was created in 2002, one year after the IAC Collegiate Program was conceived.

Over the years the UND Aerobatic Team has received many top-level awards.

The purpose of the IAC, according to the group’s website, is for “the program and awards to increase the flying safety and interest level of collegiate pilots in aerobatics, aerobatic competition, and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC). Additionally, this program is intended to be a springboard for competitors to continue their pursuit of competition aerobatics upon leaving the collegiate environment.”

Members of the roster of the 2025 UND Aerobatics Team are: Katherine Barney, Jacob Harris, Dillon Johnson, Elisabeth Nelson, Zachary Paluch, Forrest Scholin, Allison Sutherland, Kathleen Thompson.

Aerobatic Team Coaches are Michael Lents, Andrew Coughlin, Devin Graves, Patrick Keating.