Meet The Team

Jennifer Bartaszewicz


  • Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • Year: Senior
  • Position: Team Leader
  • Home Town: Sayner, WI
  • Time on the Team: 4 years
  • How did you hear about the team? Engineering Bash and being on Baja
  • Why do you like being on the team? It gives me great hands on experience that I wouldn't have learned in classes
  • An interesting fact about you: One of my eyes is two different colors.

Kyle Karnick


  • Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • Year: Junior
  • Position: Co-Mechanical Leader
  • Home Town: Amery, WI
  • Time on the Team: 3 years
  • How did you hear about the team? Engineering Student Org Fair
  • Why do you like being on the team? I enjoy powersports and the hands on process of manufacturing and tuning engines.
  • An interesting fact about you: I rode my first snowmobile at age 8.

Thomas Steffel


  • Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • Year: Junior
  • Position: Co-Mechanical Leader
  • Home Town: Cottage Grove WI
  • Time on the Team: 3 years
  • How did you hear about the team? I heard about the team during my campus tour.
  • Why do you like being on the team? I like being on the team because I have always enjoyed snowmobiling and also working hands on with vehicles.
  • An interesting fact about you: I've been working on engines since I was 10.

Cole Knitt


  • Major: Mechanical Engineer (with a certificate in Entrepreneurship)
  • Year: Senior
  • Position: Mechanicals
  • Home Town: Kiel, WI
  • Time on the Team: 2 years
  • How did you hear about the team? Heard about the team through a friend.
  • Why do you like being on the team? Enjoying being on the team because its gives you a hands-on experience in problem solving as a team, something thats is hard to find in regular classes.
  • An interesting fact about you: I love all phases of water.. waterskiing and fishing in the summer then snowmobiling and downhill skiing in the winter.

Kevin McLachlan


  • Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • Position: Belt Drive Master
  • Home Town: Wauwatosa, WI
  • Time on the Team: 2 years
  • How did you hear about the team? Online, Engineering Auto Design Teams
  • Why do you like being on the team? The program provides a lot of opportunities to learn about automotive design and implementation and the teams challenge you to be creative. The people are also a lot of fun and very nice: I have had a great time working with and hanging out with the people on my team and those of other teams. I look forward to the next year on Snowmobile!
  • An interesting fact about you: I'm a great shot with a tomahawk.

Dean Wingert



  • Major: Chemical Engineering
  • Position: Mechanicals
  • Home Town: Sheboygan Falls, WI
  • Time on the Team: 2 years
  • How did you hear about the team? Engineering Bash
  • Why do you like being on the team? I love snowmobiling and being a part of the team allows me to take a break from my classwork and be able to work on something I love.
  • An interesting fact about you: As a Chemical Engineering major I love Chemistry but I also enjoy lots of hands-on activities like working on a variety of engines and snowmobiles in my free time.

Saager Paliwal

  • Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • Position: Mechanical/Emissions
  • Home Town: Milwaukee, WI
  • Time on the Team: 2 years
  • How did you hear about the team? A former team member suggested I join.
  • Why do you like being on the team? I enjoy seeing the theories learned in class all come together on the sled and seeing it actually run come time for competition.
  • An interesting fact about you: I once rapped in duet of I Need A Doctor by Dr. Dre for a charity concert.

Andrew Wild

  • Major: Engineering Undecided
  • Position: Member
  • Home Town: Weyauwega, WI
  • Time on the Team: 1 year
  • How did you hear about the team? I attended the Engineering Student Org Fair and talked to team members there.
  • Why do you like being on the team? I enjoy working on the snowmobile and learning more about it.
  • An interesting fact about you: I was born on Christmas Day

James Gerdes

  • Major: Electrical Engineering
  • Position: Member
  • Home Town: Kenosha, WI
  • Time on the Team: 1 year
  • How did you hear about the team? From looking up engineering clubs.
  • Why do you like being on the team? I liked snowmobiling so I find it interesting to work on one and learning more about the different parts.
  • An interesting fact about you: I've never broken a bone.

Elle Case

  • Major: Mechanical Engineering
  • Position: Mechanical
  • Home Town: Jordan, MN
  • Time on the Team: 1 year
  • How did you hear about the team? Heard about the team through a friend.
  • Why do you like being on the team? I enjoy snowmobiling and the hands-on learning that you can't get from the classroom.
  • An interesting fact about you: I placed 5th in the 800m run as a 7th grader in the Minnesota state high-school track meet.