2006 International Masonry Skills Challenge

The seventh annual International Masonry Skills Challenge at Masonry Showcase in Las Vegas showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer. Twenty-two contestants from across the country came to compete in first, second, and third year skill levels. This year's designs were both innovative and difficult, as they incorporated stone and new patterns.

The final projects looked great, and the apprentices should be very proud of their three hours of hard work. The judges were very impressed with the quality of the apprentices' construction, and were tasked with the tough decision of choosing the winners. Here are the results:

Daniel Sikorski, 2006 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place

Daniel Sikorski
District Council Training Center
Addison, IL

Second Place

Elizabeth Cleckley
Baltimore Masonry
Eldersburg, MD

Third Place

Terrance Vaughn
Masonry Developers, Inc.
Rochester, MI

Jason Thrift, 2006 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

Jason Thrift, 2006 International Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place

Jason Thrift
Karon Masonry
Beltsville, MD

Second Place

Renato Ramirez
Brazos Masonry, Inc.
Waco, TX

Third Place

Esteban Gonzales
Rhino Masonry
Mesa, AZ

Juan Capitillo, 2006 International Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place

Juan Capitillo
DMG Masonry, Inc.
Arlington, TX

Second Place

Josh Morrison
McGee Brothers Company, Inc.
Monroe, NC

Third Place

Esteban Alarcon
Thomas Masonry
Valley Center, CA

MCAA would like to thank the judges from across the country for the donation of their expertise, and we would thank the sponsors and materials donors for their contributions.

Contest sponsors: Building Stone Institute, CEMEX, Cosella Doerken, EZ Grout, EZ Scaffold, Fraco, Gehl, JLG, Lafarge North America, MK Diamond Products, Mortar Net, Non-Stop Scaffolding, and Spec Mix.

Materials contributed by: Bon Tool, Buechel Stone, EZ Grout, Gatorback, Quikrete, Rinker, and Summit Brick.