Johnny Langeraap Wins the 2021 Northeast Regional Series

Earns title, “Best Bricklayer in the Northeast!.”

Succasunna, NJ – He laid 547 brick in only one hour! Mason Johnny Langeraap and mason tender Gene Jerome with Langeraap Masonry in Sparta, NJ teamed up to earn the title, “Best Bricklayer in the Northeast.” Langeraap and Jerome beat out 12 other local teams, officially winning their shot to compete on the biggest stage in masonry, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, in Las Vegas at the World of Concrete Expo in January 2022.

To qualify for the World Championship, hundreds of teams from across North America will battle to win one of 20 individual regional series events, proving they belong on the national stage. Each team, consisting of one mason and one mason tender, will be given an hour to build the tallest and best 26-foot-long brick wall they can, with as few errors as possible. One winning team from each region will advance to compete for over $125,000 in cash and prizes (including a new Ford F-250 4×4 Truck, Kubota RTV-X1140) and the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer.”

This is the second straight year Langeraap has qualified for the World Championship, a streak he’s particularly happy about, considering he tried for 5 straight years previously, falling just short of qualifying. Using his unique, “pick and dip” bricklaying style, Langeraap laid 665 brick in the World Championship, but had three quality deductions, dropping his brick total to 590, only 25 brick from the winners podium. He knows he has his work cut out for him after laying 547 to requalify.

“I’m super stoked for this,” Langeraap said, “but now that I have a taste of Vegas, I want to bring that Ford truck home!” He went on to say, “I had a goal in mind this year, and I practiced with dry stacks at home, I wanted to build up the stamina in my back and work on muscle memory.”

Langeraap and Jerome also won the coveted SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN prize, which goes to the mason with most “sellable-wall.” All-in-all they left Succasunna with $2400 along with a free trip to Las Vegas, a 4′ Stabila Level, $200 Blaklader gift certificate, $200 gift certificate from Ford and a Marshalltown ceremonial trowel and tool bag.

Second place went to mason Ray Byers and mason tender Adam Byers, with Arch Masonry in Herminie, PA with 458 total brick. For their efforts, the team took home $700, a 4′ Stabila level and a Marshalltown tool bag.

Third place went to mason Lonnie Locaillade and mason tender Ryan Raymond of Lacaillade Masonry in Huntington, VT with a brick count of 428, for their efforts, the team took home $600, a 4′ Stabila level and a Marshalltown tool bag.

Immediately following the journeyman competition, area masonry apprentices had a chance to showcase their skills in the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500. Designed to be an abbreviated version of the main event, the junior bricklayer showcases the future of masonry. Each apprentice leaves with a prize in hand, but only one is named the region’s best apprentice, a title which could go a long way when being considered by contractors for future employment.

Mason John Baumstark with the BAC Local 4&5 in New Jersey won the apprentice event with a brick count of 55, taking home $150 cash and a $150 gift certificate from Blaklader.

As workforce development becomes the primary battle cry for the skilled trades, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 is a tool designed to create interest from a new generation of masons in the rewards and opportunities possible in masonry and construction.

The 20th annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will be held January 19th, 2022 at the World of Concrete expo in Las Vegas. Prizes total more than $125,000 and include a new Ford F-250 4×4 Super Duty truck, Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Mortar Mixer, and other prizes from IQ Power Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Blaklader, Iron Age Footwear and Belden Brick.

2021 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTHEAST REGIONAL RESULTS

2021 JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 NORTHEAST REGIONAL RESULTS

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