Apprentice Contests are in Full Swing
Local and Regional apprentice contests are underway in preparation for the International Apprentice Contest to be held this fall at the National Training Center. The following are the results of two recent contests. To learn more about Local and Regional contests, as well as to stay informed about the International Contest, visit www.bacweb.org.
Seventeen apprentices from Locals 7, 13, 21 and 34 Wisconsin participated in a bricklaying apprentice contest on May 10, 2007 at the Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin. Officers from throughout the state were on hand to offer assistance and judge the competition.
Two categories of apprentices competed in the events – those with over 2000 hours and those with under 2000 hours. In the “over 2000” category, Aaron Lehman of Local 13 came in first place followed by Brock Kuehl of Local 21 in second, and Clint Kelley of Local 13 in third. In the “under 2000” category, Local 13 apprentices came out on top with Joel Maley claiming first place, Jim Robertson coming in second, and Shawn Foley taking third.
Winners from this contest, as well as apprentices from Locals 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11 went on to compete at the Wisconsin State Apprentice Contest on June 9th at JP Cullen & Sons Yard in Janesville, Wisconsin. The State Contest included brick, cement and tile competitions. In total, 16 brick, four cement and three tile apprentices competed at the daylong event.
The state competition also consisted of apprentices with over 2000 hours and those under 2000 hours. In the brick category, Local 8 apprentices Brandon Larson won first place in the “over 2000” category and Randy Leigh took first place in the “under 2000” category. Coming in second was Local 13 apprentice Aaron Lehman. In the tile competition, Josh Pryzbyski of Local 5 won first place in the “over 2000” category and Local 3 apprentice Greg Gregtens took first place in the “under 2000” category. In the cement category, Robert Goodrich of Local 3 won in the “over 2000” category and Local 9’s Randy Jansen won in the “under 2000” category.
IMI Instructor Mark Graf and Locals 4 and 7 Field Representative Gary Burns oversaw the event and served as lead judges. Local 7 members Earl Ruhlund, Tony Hanus and retiree Dick Gramberg, Local 4 Vice President Willy McAloon, Local 13 member Rusty Hardy, and Local 8 Field Representative Ray Wersel judged the brick competition. The tile competition judges were IMI Tile Instructor Roger Stutzman and Local 5 member Andy Bushman, and Local 19 President and State Cement Representative Kirby Knapp judged the cement competition.
All winners from the state competition went on to the North Central Regional competitions.
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Wisconsin Administrative District Council officers and Wisconsin apprentices at the Apprentice Contest in May 2007. |
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| Aaron Lehman of Local 13, a first place winner at the Local level, went on to earn second place in the state brick competition. |
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| Brandon Larsen of Local 8 won first place in the “over 2000” brick category. |
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| Randy Jansen of Local 9 took first place honors in the “under 2000” cement competition. |
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| Local 8 apprentice Randy Leigh won first place in the “under 2000” brick category. |
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| Local 3 apprentice Robert Goodrich claimed first place in the “over 2000” cement category. |
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| Josh Pryzbyski of Local 5 placed first in the “over 2000” tile competition. |
Local 3’s Greg Gregtens took first place in the “under 2000” tile category. |
On May 19th, Local 1 Maryland/Virginia/DC held their bi-annual Apprentice Contest at the Local’s Training Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Finalists from the Norfolk, Baltimore and DC chapters competed in this event.
Matt Beck of the DC Chapter took first place and Josh Guptil came in second. Both were awarded cash prizes and tools, and moved on to the South Regional Competition.
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Apprentices Matt Beck, left, and Erik Osorio during the competition. |
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Apprentices Brian Frederick, left, and Allen Johnson. |
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Former Field Representative Kevin Long, left, and first place winner Matt Beck. |
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The event took place at the Local’s Training Center in Baltimore, MD. |
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On March 30th, contestants from the Local’s apprentice training program participated in the Skills Canada Apprenticeship Competition at the College of the Atlantic in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Two Local 1 apprentices took top honors at the event – Gold Medal winner Matthew Rogers and Bronze Medal winner Mark Lannon.
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| Gold Medal Winner Matthew Rogers in action and receiving his award. |
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Bronze Medal Winner Mark Lannon. |
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