LEESBURG, Va. — A Harvard H. Ellis Tech High School student won a gold medal at the SkillsUSA Championships recently.
Alex Davis of Dayville won his gold in masonry.
More than 3,700 students competed at the national showcase of career and technical education. The SkillsUSA Championships is the largest skill competition in the world.
Students were invited to the event to demonstrate their technical skills, workplace skills and personal skills in 107 hands-on occupational and leadership competitions including robotics, automotive technology, drafting, criminal justice, aviation maintenance and public speaking.

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When Putnam Science Academy coach Tom Espinosa was asked about incoming postgrad player Josh Rivera, the first thing he said was “perfect fit for our program culture.”
And by that he means someone who’s got something to prove, someone who understands that nothing is going to be given, that playing time is going to be earned through work.
“That was the first thing they said to me on the Zoom call,” said Rivera, a 6-foot, 7-inch, 215-pound wing who announced in mid-June his commitment to PSA for the fall. “I have to come in here and work for what I want. Honestly, this won’t be anything new for me. I’ve always had that challenge and been that underrated one. I’ve always had to work, so I play with a chip on my shoulder and I know that I have to work for everything. I love getting in the gym and putting in the work.”
Rivera, from New Jersey, is having a strong showing on the summer circuit, starring for the NY Jayhawks. He has terrific athleticism, which he uses to his advantage when he plays fast and gets in transition, turning heads with highlight-reel plays.
“But there is always room to improve on everything you do,” he said, “so I am trying to work on everything…ball-handling, 3-point shooting, all of it.”
Said Espinosa: “Josh is big, strong, and versatile, and we expect him to have a significant role this season. He already has a college body, so we just need to continue to improve his skill work to be ready for the next level.”
PSA was one of a handful of schools looking to add Rivera for next year. He said his decision was made once he visited and met with people face-to-face.
“I had a good relationship with coach Scraba even before the visit,” he said, “but they greeted me and made me feel welcome right from the start. I took a tour and I loved the campus. I went down to the weight room and saw all the pictures of the players who have been here before and I heard about their stories and the different paths they took. I thought that was really cool. Everyone I met with were all very nice. I felt like it was a great atmosphere at Putnam Science Academy. I’m excited to get back up there and get started.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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Barry Evans said he knew he could be a pretty good basketball player by the time he was in just third or fourth grade. And the growth spurt that hit six years later certainly cemented that early belief in himself.
“I played with the Baltimore Stars and I always played up and against high-level guys when I was younger,” he said. “That really made me think that this was something I could do, and do well. And what really, really made me feel like that…my freshman year I was 5-foot, 9-inches, then my sophomore year I was 6-4. That just gave me confidence on a whole other level.”
Evans now stands 6-8 and he is on the precipice of big things on the court. The Baltimore native announced in mid-June that he will do a postgrad year at PSA.
“My main goal is to help the team win and in the process come out of there with high-major offers and get to the next level,” he said. “I feel like I have a good relationship already with the coaches. I’m looking forward to getting up there and doing my part.”
The Mustangs got turned on to Evans, who will turn 19 in September, after he got his first Division II offer from Slippery Rock. Evans said the Rocks recruited him hard, but they knew he wasn’t a D-II player, so the coaching staff reached out to PSA to see if there could be a spot for him to continue getting the exposure he needed.
Those who have watched Barry closely say he can finish through contact with both hands, can put the ball on the floor, and has made terrific strides in both his skill level and athleticism over the past year.
“We are very excited to have Barry join our program,” said Mustangs coach Tom Espinosa. “He’s extremely versatile on both ends of the floor (Evans had one game this past season when he had eight offensive rebounds and five blocked shots while playing point guard). “He plays with a chip on his shoulder, and still has a lot to prove. Those are the kids we love to recruit, and those are the kids we are very successful with.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy

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