Masonry Magazine June 1992 Page. 31

Words: Shann Womble, James Kepley, Shane Short, Scott Poling, Eff Voss
Masonry Magazine June 1992 Page. 31

Masonry Magazine June 1992 Page. 31
Delaware Student Mason Wins
Bricklaying Trials

Four top students compete for right to represent the U.S. in bricklaying at Youth Skill Olympics in Taiwan in 1993.

FOUR of the nation's top masonry students competed for the right to represent the U.S. in bricklaying at the 1993 International; Youth Skill Olympics (IYSO) in Taipei, Taiwan. The trials were conducted during Masonry Expo '92 in Orlando, Florida.

The four competitiors were selected from medal winners at the 1990 and 1991 Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA) U.S. Skill Olympics held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Competing in Orlando were James Kepley of Smyrna, Delaware; Shann Womble of Gold Hill, North Carolina; Shane Short of Bridgeville, Delaware; and Scott Poling of Hollingsburg. Ohio. Kepley and Womble were chosen last year at the Masonry Expo trials in Houston.

Working from blueprints, the student masons constructed a brick project containing some 500 to 600 bricks and spent eighteen hours during the Expo completing it. Judges for the event were provided by MCAA.

Shane Short of Bridgeville, Delaware won the Orlando trials. Short, eighteen, was silver medalist of the 1991 VICA U.S. competition and gold medalist in the Delaware VICA Skill Olympics the same year. He will now start a training program to prepare for the international competition in Taiwan next year.

The contest was sponsored by the Brick Institute of America and the Portland Cement Association. Together they provided full travel scholarships for the contestants and will provide funds for Short's participation in Taiwan.

Cherokee Brick and Tile Company provided the brick for the contest and Florida Mega Mix provided the mortar. Other contributors to the competition included Bon Tool Company, Crick Tool, Marshalltown Trowel, PR Diamond Products, Rinker Materials and Stablia California. The Ridge VoTech Center Bricklaying Program of Winter Haven, Florida provided students to assist the contestants.

WORKING FROM BLUEPRINTS, four student masons spent eighteen hours constructing a brick project containing some 500 to 600 bricks.

Fastest Trowel Winner
Crowned

Voss wins title second year in a row during competition in Orlando, Florida, February 11

EFF VOSS of Vallance Masonry in Fontana California, has been named the nation's "Fastest Trowel on the Block" for the second year in a row. Voss, whose trips to the national finals were sponsored by Orco Block Company emerged victorious at this year's competition in Orlando, Florida. The event was held in conjunction with Masonry Expo '92.

Voss battled journeymen masons from five U.S. regions for the coveted national title at this annual contest which is sponsored by NCMA. From the local qualifying rounds to the national finals, contestants lay standard concrete block for twenty minutes along a twenty-four foot wall section.

MASONRY-MAY/JUNE, 1992 31


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