North Central Regional Contest

The mood was upbeat at the North Central Regional Stone Apprentice Contest as hopeful participants competed for the chance to advance to the International Apprentice Contest in Washington, D.C. The two-day event took place at the Local 1 Minnesota/North Dakota Training Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The first day, July 20th, was set aside for the Contest’s written exam, with the second day dedicated to construction of the stone mock-ups. Apprentices were instructed to replicate the 2003 International Apprentice Contest project, which required them to lay approximately 12.5 feet of Mankato Kasota limestone, set three pieces of limestone sill, fasten three pieces of granite with stainless steel straps, set four granite pavers in a traditional mud bed, insert wire anchors and cut a quirk miter on one end.

Taking first place was Randal Leigh of 8 WI, followed by Scott Neuwirth also of 8 WI, Eric Brichacek of 1 MN/ND and Matthew Fronk of 1 WI. All four contestants will advance to the International Apprentice Contest in September.

The highly successful event was the result of a lot of hard work and regional coordination. Overseeing the Contest were IU North Central Regional Director Henry Kramer, Local 1 MN/ND President James Lundquist, Apprenticeship Coordinator Mark Wickstrom, Executive Vice President Michael Cook and Vice Presidents Michael Hawthorne and Michael Ganz, IMI Regional Training Director Michael Papp, NOADC Apprentice Coordinator Anthony McCullough, IMI Instructor for the WI ADC Mark Graf, and Local 19 WI member Richard Lawson. Judging the competition were Lawson and members Bob Steinbring, Harold Stener, Merwin Perkins, and Gerald Jenniges.

All contestants received London Trowels, and first, second and third place winners were awarded trophies.

First place winner Randal Leigh of Local 8 WI.
Second place winner Scott Neuwirth of Local 8 WI.	Third place winner Eric Brichacek of Local 1 MN/ND.
Fourth place winner Matthew Fronk of Local 1 WI.

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