Tyrone High School junior Alex Thompson got interested in engine repair at age 13 in his grandparents’ garage, tinkering with an old Wheel Horse tractor he got for free.

Since then he’s been developing his mechanical skills at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center and using those skills to fix something far more important than a tractor…his future.

Thompson might be the youngest small business owner in Tyrone. He opened his small engine repair shop, A & A Equipment Service, out of his grandparent’s garage when he was just 15.

“Coming from a family where I never met my Mom and my Dad is in jail, I want my kids down the road to succeed and have a good life, my business is my future and I’m willing to bust my ass to make it happen,” Thompson said.

Thompson is currently enrolled in the Powersports and Equipment Technology Program at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center.

This year he won first place at the SkillsUSA regional competition and second in Pennsylvania at the SkillsUSA State Competition in Hershey.

James Doyle is the director of the Powersports and Equipment Program and Thompson’s teacher at the GACTC. He was not surprised that Thompson did well in the SkillsUSA competition.

“Alex is a natural mechanic. He is not afraid to tear into a project and get his hands dirty. Academically Alex is a good student, we do a lot of projects in our classroom and Alex puts a unique spin on everything that he does,” Doyle said.

But when Thompson first saw some of the student mechanics he was competing against, he thought he might not have a chance.

“I try my best to never underestimate anyone, but sometimes I underestimate myself when I shouldn’t,” Thompson said. “These kids came with Milwaukee pack-out boxes on wheels and stacked eight feet high almost like pros, and I came in with just a Kobalt handheld toolbox. I didn’t have any special tools and I didn’t have a full layout, but I beat them.”

The state competition consisted of seven stations, including two written tests, one measuring task, and several troubleshooting and repair stations on various engine components, including electrical, carburetors, and wheels.

For the hands-on test, Thompson had to tear down and repair a Briggs and Stratton snow pro engine and diagnose why an Echo Backpack leaf blower wasn’t running.

“It ended up being intake gaskets,” Thompson said.

Thompson and his closest competitor were virtually tied. The difference between first and second place was so slight that it came down to something very minor.

“I dropped a wrench,” Thompson said. “But I’m okay with the outcome. The competition was good and challenging. I plan to go back next year and win it.”

Considering his progress over the last year, Doyle does not doubt that Thompson can win.

“Alex came to me as a good backyard mechanic who could fix things with bailer twine and duct tape. In the just over a year he has been with me, he has really picked up on the correct side of making repairs,” Doyle said. “I am very proud that Alex walked away with a second-place medal and I hope he goes back again next year for the gold.”

Thompson also hopes that the recognition he got from the SkillsUSA competition award will help earn him some new customers.

Thompson said he can work on almost anything with a small engine, like lawnmowers, lawn tractors, chainsaws, log splitters, leaf blowers, and snowblowers.

“My services are humble and everyone is treated like family. My prices are fair, $15 an hour for labor and I only charge what I need,” Thompson said.

So far most of his business has come from word of mouth, but he has also started advertising on Google Maps.

“Running my own business means a lot to me because it was my biggest dream. A lot of people told me I could never do it, that I’d need to work a 9-5, that I’d need this or that. It took two years for the ball to roll but here I am, always making sure that a customer leaves happy,” Thompson said.

Tyrone High School Principal Chad Packer is one of Thompson’s satisfied customers. He took his leafblower to Thompson for repair back in the fall.

“He did a professional job fixing it. I would recommend Alex. He had good communication, he fixed it in a timely manner, and his price is very reasonable,” Packer said.

Tyrone School District Police Officer Forrest Crilly had Alex work on his chainsaw.

“I was very satisfied with his work and it was fairly priced. I will take any small engines that need to be repaired to him again,” Officer Crilly said.

Thompson is accepting new customers. A and A Equipment Repair is located at 145 Rodeo Drive, Tyrone, PA. Thompson can be reached at (814) 937-0645 after 4 pm on school days.