A Day Of Competition: MASONRY MADNESS®

Words: Don't miss MASONRY MADNESS® at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas! It's a collection of the most exciting masonry competitions in the world and it all takes place on one day, at one location. There's nothing like it on the planet! Four intense battles, one event after the other, you'll see the best bricklayers, blocklayers, mason apprentices and tenders battle in four unique masonry contests to prove who is the world's best. You don't want to miss seeing these highly skilled craftsmen compete for the largest value of cash and prizes awarded for any construction industry event held in the world—it's pure MASONRY MADNESS!

MCAA'S MASONRY SKILLS CHALLENGE

Contestants Watch as the top apprentices from across the country compete against each other to win the honor of best masonry apprentice. First Year
  1. Michael Patterson Larson + Danialson La Porte, Ind.
 
  1. Jamison Huntley Huntley Brothers Company, Inc. Mint Hill, N.C.
 
  1. Mitch Kittinger Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Amherst, Ohio
 
  1. Deyver Tena G & G Enterprises Glendale, Ariz.
 
  1. Coltin Oehme Fort Scott Community College Pittsburg, Kan.
 
  1. Anthony Gomez Majestic Masonry, Inc. Upland, Calif.
 
  1. Justin Gunderson A Horn, Inc. Barrington, Ill.
Second Year
  1. Tyler Hack Weigand Construction Fort Wayne, Ind.
 
  1. Jake Quinlan Kusler Masonry Carnegie, Pa.
 
  1. Jonathan Weininger Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council Amherst, Ohio
 
  1. Joseph Blanton WASCO, Inc. Knoxville, Tenn.
 
  1. Ramon Vargas G & G Enterprises Glendale, Ariz.
 
  1. Zachary Tallie Fort Scott Community College Pittsburg, Kan.
 
  1. Josh Morris AAA Masonry Jefferson City, Mo.
 
  1. Cristian Lopez New Dimension Masonry San Diego, CA
 
  1. David Hansen J&E Duff, Inc. Addison, Ill.
 
  1. Max Berry D S Masonry, Inc. Pueblo, Colo.
  Third Year
  1. Matthew Wilkinson
  2. Empire Contractors, Inc. Evansville, Ind.
 
  1. Eric Ligus Harris Masonry Pittsburgh
 
  1. Jaris McClurg WASCO, Inc. Knoxville, Tenn.
 
  1. Charlie Coburn Schiffer Mason Contractors Holt, Mich.
 
  1. Jose Garcia G & G Enterprises Glendale, Ariz.
 
  1. Cody Grilz Lusker Masonry, LLC Frontenac, Kan.
 
  1. Adrian Diaz Winegardner Masonry, Inc. Yucaipa, Calif.
 
  1. Maxx Frenk Heelein & Sons, Inc. Genoa City, Wisc.
 
  1. Terrance Green Ammex Masonry, Inc. Commerce City, Colo.
Las Vegas Convention Center, Bronze Lot The MCAA's Masonry Skills Challenge is a competition of masonry apprentices in first, second and third year skill levels. The contest is a showcase for skills training in the masonry industry, challenging winning apprentices from regional competitions held throughout the country to determine the top masonry apprentice at each level. The exciting competition spotlights our industry's finest young masons and focuses attention on careers in the masonry industry. Contestants are divided by experience level, "First Years" who are just entering the trade through "Third Years" who are just about to enter the workforce as journeymen. Each level is given a project to build appropriate to their know-how. The catch? The projects are a complete surprise! Contestants must build their project without ever having seen the drawings. They haven't been able to practice, and they can't consult their instructor, employer or anyone else during the competition. They have three hours to complete their projects with the given materials. Awards are presented to the top three apprentices in each skill level. Come and see who wins top honors this year! Learn more at www.masonryskillschallenge.com. SPEC MIX TOUGHEST TENDER® Wednesday, January 24, 2018 10:45 - 11:15 AM Las Vegas Convention Center, Bronze Lot Prior to the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® competition, each team's mason tender will prove to the crowd who is the fastest in the "Toughest Tender" contest. The world's top mason tenders compete for the fastest time and accuracy setting up their SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® workstation. Watch as they haul tons of brick, block, and equipment to show they have the most strength and stamina to take home $2,500 cash and prizes. The record winning time in this event was set back in 2005 by Felipe Reyes of Connecticut with a time of 11 minutes, 7 seconds.

MCAA'S FASTEST TROWEL ON THE BLOCK

MCAA’s Fastest Trowel on the Block Prize List

1st Place Mason
  • $8,000
  • Marshalltown ceremonial trowel trophy
  • Marshalltown large tool bag containing a brick trowel, margin trowel, tape measure, beavertail brush, jointer, and tuck pointer (est value $175)
  • 10-Pack of Gatorback Mortar Boards
  • Boots from Iron Age Footwear
1st Place Tender
  • Marshalltown large tool bag containing a brick trowel, margin trowel, tape measure, beavertail brush, jointer, and tuck pointer (est value $175)
2nd Place
  • $2,500
  • Marshalltown large tool bag containing a brick trowel, margin trowel, tape measure, beavertail brush, jointer, and tuck pointer (est value $175)
3rd Place
  • $1,000
  • Marshalltown large tool bag containing a brick trowel, margin trowel, tape measure, beavertail brush, jointer, and tuck pointer (est value $175)
All Contestants
  • Stabila level
  • Marshalltown medium tool bag and brick trowel (est value $90)
  • Grout Grunt scoop
  • Discount from Iron Age Footwear
  • JagClamps
  1. Paul Cantarella Cantarella & Son, Inc. Pittsfield, Mass. Tender: Luke Williams
  1. Jason Scheeler Able Masonry + Concrete, Inc. Sauk Rapids, Minn. Tender: John Harren
  1. Roberto Cimental Sargon Masonry Construction Phoenix Tender: Gerardo Vazquez
  1. Kelton McGee McGee Brothers Company Monroe, N.C. Tender: Reed Ollis
  1. Christopher Dubief R&R Masonry, Inc. North Hollywood, Calif. Tender: Freddy Tamayo
  1. Jose Soto Sargon Masonry Construction Phoenix Tender: Tomas Quinonez
  1. Gustavo Soriano Rentfrow Masonry Fairland, Okla. Tender: Daniel Joye
  1. Zach Easley Zarco Construction, Inc. Tuttle, Okla. Tender: Jack Easley
  1. Justin Pierce RP Masonry Mansfield, Texas Tender: Jeremy Pierce
  1. Howard Cole NuWay, Inc. Riverside, Calif. Tender: Martin Avendano
  1. Adrian Tena G&G Enterprises Glendale, Ariz. Tender: Juan Ramon Robledo
  1. Gerardo Patlan Fyffe Masonry & Plastering, Inc. Glendale, Ariz. Tender: Roberto Patlan
  1. Ben Houghton TNT Tuckpointing & Building Restoration Stockton, Iowa Tender: Joshua Smyser
  1. Michael Wesner Arch Masonry and Restoration Pittsburgh
Tender: Brian Hill
  1. Noe Martinez Stone Cold Masonry Phoenix Tender: Heriberto Estrada
  1. Richard King NuWay, Inc. Riverside, Calif. Tender: Miguel Gonzales
  1. Luis Felipe Centeno Phoenix Tender: Eduardo Lopez
  1. Mike Canez IV Danson Construction Phoenix Tender: Mike Canez III
  1. Shane Riff Fairweather Masonry Bellevue, Wash.
Tender: Paul Davidson
  1. Joseph Eufrancio Fairweather Masonry Bellevue, Wash. Tender: John Urban
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 11:30 - 11:50 PM Las Vegas Convention Center, Bronze Lot The Fastest Trowel on the Block Competition, hosted by the Mason Contractors Association of America, is a showcase of industry craftsmanship and a testament of both the speed and skill of our industry's workforce. Only those journeymen masons who have the skill, confidence and endurance to face-off with the industry's best are invited to compete. This 20-minute fast and furious contest proves how important teamwork is in accomplishing a final product. The competition will pit journeyman masons, accompanied by their favorite tender, against one another in a show of both speed and craftsmanship. Each contestant's goal is to complete as much of a 30 foot long wall as possible, using 8"x8"x16" CMU and the provided mortar in a twenty-minute heat. Contestants must have a high degree of workmanship using normal masonry practices and hand tools. The contest promotes quality training and pride in workmanship among journeymen and contractors, as well as promoting the craftsmanship, speed and versatility of masonry systems and the masonry workforce. This contest also rewards and highlights the country's best mason journeymen for their hard work and dedication to the trade. Learn more at www.fastesttrowel.com.

FASTEST TROWEL ON THE BLOCK FUN FACTS

  • Kelton McGee - Two times MCAA's Masonry Skills Challenge winner
  • Christopher Dubief - 2017 Third Year, Second Place MCAA's Masonry Skills Challenge
  • Jose Soto - Finished second in 2016 and 2017
  • Gerardo Patlan - 2017 MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block winner
  • Ben Houghton - 2005 MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block winner
  • Noe Martinez - 2016 MCAA Fastest Trowel on the Block winner
  • Mike Canez IV - Son of Mike Canez III, a two-time winner and his tender

SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500®

Wednesday, January 24, 2018 12:00 - 3:00 PM Las Vegas Convention Center, Bronze Lot Who is the world’s best bricklayer? The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® competition at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry in Las Vegas will answer the question. The kickoff takes place on Wednesday, January 24th at 12:15pm in the Bronze Lot—the competition moved from the Convention Center’s Gold Lot—where WOC attendees are invited to the Masonry Madness Arena to witness an amazing display of skill, speed and stamina. The 60-minute competition consists of 1 mason and 1 mason tender working together to build a 26 ft. 8 in., double-wythe brick wall as high as possible under strict quality rules. The brick counts of the teams can be adjusted down by the judges for violations of those rules.

Fun Facts

  • 37.8 average age
  • First time in the event’s history that over 70% of the roster is under the age of 35
  • This year’s youngest competitor is 23
  • The youngest bricklayer to ever win first place was 23-year old Garrett Hood of Monroe, NC.
  • The oldest bricklayer to ever win first place (and the TOP CRAFTSMAN honor) was 56-year old Jerry Goodman of Blythewood, South Carolina
 
Words: Masonry Magazine Photos: SPEC MIX®, Masonry Magazine
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