National champions: The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Flying Salukis celebrate the 2026 National Intercollegiate Flying Association championship the team earned Saturday — the 10th in program history. Ben Campbell (top), Thomas Nguyen (middle) and Kroosh Patel (bottom) each took home individual national titles. (Photos provided)
May 27, 2026
SIU Flying Salukis capture 10th national championship
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The numbers for Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Flying Salukis are staggering — 17 straight top five National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) finishes, including 14 of 15 years in the top three in the nation.
The nationally recognized aviation team added another mark on Saturday night — 10-time national champion.
Paced by national titles in three individual events and six team members scoring in the top 21, the Flying Salukis captured the 2026 national collegiate aviation championship for a 10th time in program history — its first since back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 — at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois.
The team finished with 484 points and beat the University of North Dakota by 57 points, with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott third. SIU won the flight events title and finished third in ground events. Thirty-two teams competed; complete results are available on the NIFA website.
Media availability
A public reception to honor the 2026 national champion Flying Salukis will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, in the David A. Newmyer Lobby in the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center, 545 N. Airport Road, Murphysboro. Chancellor Austin Lane will give brief remarks and Flying Saluki team members will also be available for interviews.
“Winning a nationals competition is an incredible feeling and something this team absolutely earned,” Coach Nathan J. Lincoln, a senior lecturer in aviation management and flight in the School of Aviation, said. “This win is extremely special, but reaching a 10th title adds another layer because it speaks to the history and tradition of the Flying Salukis. It is also meaningful to bring another championship back to SIU for the first time since those 2014 and 2015 teams. Those were outstanding groups and this team showed the same commitment, discipline and competitiveness throughout the year. I’m just extremely proud of our students and coaches and I am grateful for everyone who supports our program.”
“Earning a 10th national championship is an extraordinary achievement and a powerful reflection of the excellence that defines SIU,” Chancellor Austin A. Lane said. “The Flying Salukis have built a tradition of success through talent, dedication and a commitment to supporting one another, and this team has continued that legacy in remarkable fashion. We are incredibly proud of our student competitors, Coach Lincoln and everyone who helps make our School of Aviation one of the nation’s best. Bringing another national championship home to SIU is a moment our entire Saluki community can celebrate.”
Total team effort
Ben Campbell, an aviation flight and aviation management major from Richmond, Illinois, and among several team members to graduate earlier in May, won the aircraft preflight event; Thomas Van Dorpe, (dropmaster) aviation management from St. Charles, Illinois, and Vassilios Georges (pilot), aviation management from Chesterfield, Missouri, won message drop, and Kroosh Patel, aviation technologies and aviation flight from Lawrenceville, New Jersey, won the ground trainer competition.
Thomas Nguyen, aviation management and flight from Broomfield, Colorado, placed in four events, was third in the top pilot award, and sixth in the nation in with 84 points. In all, 12 team members scored points.
Flying Salukis, with their majors, who scored points were:
- Ben Campbell, 68 points, Richmond, Illinois, 10th place.
- Jeremy Murray, aviation management and aviation flight, Lockport, Illinois; 55 points, tied for 15th place.
- Michael Chebuske, aviation management and flight, Louis, Missouri, 54 points, tied for 17th place.
- Liam Harrison, aviation management and aviation flight, Libertyville, Illinois, 53 points, 19th place.
- Thomas Van Dorpe, 51 points, Charles, Illinois, 21st place.
- James Cone, aviation management and flight, Byron, Illinois, 34 points, 33rd place.
- Vassilios Georges, 24 points, Chesterfield, Missouri, tied for 46th place.
- Kroosh Patel, 20 points, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, tied for 57th place.
- Kyle Lowe, aviation flight and aviation technologies, Lake in the Hills, Illinois, 17 points, tied for 67th place.
- Ryder Schwoerer, aviation management and aviation flight, Monticello, Illinois, 16 points, tied for 73rd place.
- Benjamin Jones, aviation technologies and aviation flight, Gideon, Missouri, 6 points, tied for 119th place.
- Kyra Hilsabeck, aviation flight and aviation management, Edelson, Illinois, 2 points, tied for 144th place.
Additional Flying Salukis are:
- Luke Barry, aviation technologies and aviation flight, Benton, Illinois, competed in the event.
- Raylynn Beasley-McDaniel, aviation management and aviation flight, Tamms, Illinois.
- Gabriel Booth, aviation technologies and aviation flight, Murphysboro, Illinois.
- Anja Ruxlow, aviation management and aviation flight, Morton, Illinois.
- Simon Zimmerman, aviation management and aviation flight, Moline, Illinois.
Consistency was key
Lincoln noted that the team was “very consistent” throughout the season all the way through nationals. He said there is no magic formula in winning a national title — it’s up to each individual team member to put in the hours needed to perfect their skills while also helping and motivating their teammates.
“What stood out most was their work ethic and willingness to help each other out at all times to make our team better,” he said. “We had strong individual performances, but this is truly a team effort. They prepared extremely hard, handled adversity well and stayed focused on improving every week. By the time we reached nationals everyone was confident, prepared and performing at a very high level.”
A culture of aviation program success
SIU won national titles in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2011, 2014 and 2015. For Lincoln, a 1997 and 1998 Flying Saluki team member, this his third as a coach, to go with titles in 2011 and 2014.
Building the proper culture for success is critical, and has been the biggest key, to success Lincoln said.
“Every group builds on the example set by the teams before them. There’s a strong tradition of mentorship, accountability and professionalism within this program,” said Lincoln, who is finishing his 18th season as coach. “Former team members stay connected and continue supporting the current students.
“We also have students who are highly motivated and committed to representing SIU to the best of their abilities. Sustained success doesn’t happen by accident, it comes from years of hard work from students, coaches, instructors and alumni,” he said. “The tradition of being one of the nation’s best aviation competition teams is just a part of the School of Aviation story.
“Another national championship strengthens that reputation. It also helps showcase the quality of SIU’s aviation program overall,” Lincoln said. “We have a great flight team, but our department excels in training professional pilots for the aviation industry. Success like this continues to attract talented students who want to be part of a winning culture.”
Lincoln also credits his assistant coaches: assistant instructors Derrick Crider and Dale Miller and associate instructor Mike LeFevre for their pivotal work and insights.
Looking to next season
Lincoln is looking to build next year’s team — he will be losing seven current team members: Campbell, Chebuske, Georges, Harrison, Hilsabeck, Murray and Van Dorpe. Tryouts and team selections will be early next fall ahead of the Region VIII competition, Oct. 26-29, at Purdue University. Cone and Nguyen will be team captains.