Phil Bachetti Wins the 2021 Pennsylvania Regional Series
Earns title, “Pennsylvania’s Best Bricklayer.”
Philadelphia, PA – He laid 560 brick in only one hour! Mason Phil Bachetti and mason tender Nick Bachetti with the Williamson College of the Trades in Philadelphia, PA teamed up to earn the title, “Pennsylvania’s Best Bricklayer.” The Bachetti brothers beat out 9 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 22 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 largest 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 marks the first time Phil Bachetti has qualified for the World Championship. He last competed five years ago, admitting he didn’t do so well. This year he put in plenty of practice and lost a lot of sleep before setting his sights on winning the Pennsylvania Regional Series. “It’s like a dream,” he said, “like it’s not really happening. These [masons] are all awesome. I’m an instructor, I don’t get to lay brick everyday like these guys do, and I was really nervous coming in. I’m just so glad I could do this for my students.”
In addition to winning a free trip to the big show, the Bachetti brothers also won $1000 for claiming first place, along with other great prizes such as a 4′ Stabila Level, $200 Blaklader gift certificate, $200 gift certificate from Ford and a Marshalltown ceremonial trowel and tool bag.
Second place and the coveted SPEC MIX TOP CRAFTSMAN award went to Christopher Weast and mason tender Ed Wallace, which goes to the team with the “most-sellable” wall. The duo from Dandrea Masonry in Berlin, NJ laid 505 total brick. For their efforts, the team took home $1700 total, along with a 4′ Stabila level and Marshalltown ceremonial trowel and tool bag.
Third place went to mason Jesse Sandy and mason tender Ryan Alexander of Dan Lepore and Sons in Conshohocken, PA with a brick count of 447, for their efforts, the team took home $600, a 4′ Stabila level and a Marshalltown ceremonial trowel and tool bag.
Following the conclusion of the journeymen 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 competition 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 Ryan Fallon and mason tender Lamont Sudler with the Williamson College of the Trades in Philadelphia, PA won the junior event with a brick count of 142, taking home $300 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 PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL RESULTS
PLACE | MASON | TENDER | COMPANY | CITY | RESULT | PRIZE AMOUNT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1ST PLACE | PHIL BACHETTI | NICK BACHETTI | WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | 560 BRICK | $1000 |
TOP CRAFTSMAN | CHRISTOPHER WEAST | ED WALLACE | DANDREA MASONRY | BERLIN, NJ | 505 BRICK | $1000 |
2ND PLACE | CHRISTOPHER WEAST | ED WALLACE | DANDREA MASONRY | BERLIN, NJ | 505 BRICK | $800 |
3RD PLACE | JESSE SANDY | RYAN ALEXANDER | DAN LEPORE AND SONS | CONSHOHOCKEN, PA | 447 BRICK | $600 |
2021 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL RESULTS
PLACE | MASON | TENDER | COMPANY | CITY | RESULT | PRIZE AMOUNT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1ST PLACE | RYAN FALLON | LAMONT SUDLER | WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | 142 BRICK | $300 |
2ND PLACE | JOSE JAQUEZ | NOAH JAQUEZ | BAC LOCAL 1 | PHILADELPHIA, PA | 130 BRICK | $250 |
3RD PLACE | RAYMERE STEWART | MATT HAINES | WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | 112 BRICK | $200 |
ONE MORE CHANCE TO QUALIFY
The new Wild Card Challenge will send additional Regional Series competitors to Las Vegas for the World Championship! At the end of the regional season, the bricklayers that post the top adjusted brick counts could win a FREE ride to Vegas and chance at becoming the 2022 World’s Best Bricklayer!