Mario Hernandez Wins First Place at the South Texas Regional Series Competition!

The South Texas “Best Bricklayer” Title is claimed by Mario Hernandez.

Houston, TX – Mason Mario Hernandez and mason tender Gerson Lux with Ranch Masonry won the South Texas Regional Competition with a 727-brick count. After a severely close battle, this team came out on top due to a 50-brick count deduction placed on the second-place team. The Hernandez-Lux team won first place and the “Best Bricklayer” title. This is not the first time Mario will be competing in Vegas. During the SMBL500 2022 nationals Mario took third place with a 687-brick count. Mario Hernandez has secured his team a spot to compete at the championships in Las Vegas. This national competition is the best event the construction industry has to offer, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500®, taking place on January 18th, 2023, at the World of Concrete Tradeshow in Las Vegas. Hundreds of teams from across North America compete at the Regional Series events and must take first place to win their tickets to the championship competition. With the 22 regional competitions scheduled, all contenders only have one shot to show the judges they have what it takes to compete in what is known as the “Superbowl of Masonry.”

In teams of two, one mason and one mason tender have a single hour to build the tallest brick wall at 26 feet in length. Bricklaying is no small assessment, as these teams must work quickly and with the fewest craftsmanship errors possible to win the opportunity to advance to compete in Las Vegas at the World Championship! Not only will the winning team qualify to compete in Vegas with all expenses paid, but they also have the chance to win a portion of over $125,000 in cash and prizes. Including a new Ford F-250 4×4 truck, Kubota RTV-X1140, Essick Pro12 Mortar Mixer, and the ultimate title of the World’s Best Bricklayer!

The second-place team at the South Texas Regional was mason Jacob Ramirez and mason tender Daniel Cummes. This team had a final brick count of 702 after a 50-brick count deduction pushing them from first to second place. This team won $400, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown bag filled with gear. Third place went to mason Jose Hernandez and mason tender Noe Hernandez. This team claimed the “Top Craftsman” title for having a perfect no-deduction wall. This team was close behind laying 687 bricks, winning them a combined total of $700, a 2-foot Stabila Level, an etched trowel, and a Marshalltown bag filled with gear. 

During the South Texas Regional competition, the JR. BL500 took place. This event is a shortened rendition of the SMBL500 where students and apprentices have 20 minutes to display their skills. At the JR. BL500, there were two separate competitions. The first-place winner of the JR. BL500 was mason Gandara Jose with Bryan ISD. This student won $200 for laying 91 bricks in 20-minutes. In addition, he won a 4-foot Stabila Level and a Marshalltown bag filled with gear. Second place went to Victoria Garcia with Harlingen ISD, with a brick count of 82. Lastly, in third place was mason Emiliano Aguilar with Medina high school, laying 77 bricks, winning $100 and additional items. 

The JR. BL500 competition for those in an Apprenticeship Program also occurred at the South Texas Regional. The first-place winner was mason Sebastian Fernandez with Groesbeck Masonry. He laid 86 bricks in 20-minutes, winning him $200, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown bag filled with gear. Second place went to Christopher Martinez who is also with Groesbeck Masonry. He laid 72 bricks during the contest and won $150 in cash and additional prizes. Lastly, in third place, was mason Cristian Revas with Groesbeck Masonry. He won $100 with a brick count of 60.Disclosures:
In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the Junior SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. This year of the 22 Regional Series competitions, 12 will also hold Junior BRICKLAYER 500 contests that give high school and masonry apprentices the chance to compete for their state title. The program has proven remarkably successful and highly supported by the Mason Contractors Association of America, school administrators and numerous masonry supply manufacturers and dealers. To learn more, visit https://www.specmix.com/jr-spec-mix-bricklayer-500/.

If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 21st annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place on January 18th, 2023, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas; the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, you will see 26 world-class masons lay it all on the line to claim their portion of the total purse valued at more than $125,000. Prizes include: a new Ford F-250 4×4 Super Duty truck, Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Pro 12 Mortar Mixer, and other prizes from Hilti, IQ Power Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Blaklader Workwear, and Belden Brick.

If you have any questions, or would like to set up an interview with any of the competitors, please contact Brian Carney at 612-859-4505 or by email at Brian.Carney@specmix.com

SPEC MIX is your North American source for high quality, factory produced cement-based building materials that are preblended for the construction industry. SPEC MIX products are precisely engineered to meet ASTM and building code requirements. Projects designed for the installation of brick, CMU, stone, stucco or building repair and restoration, SPEC MIX offers a full line of products packaged in 80 & 3,000-pound bags produced with state-of-the-art batching equipment to ensure quality and consistency from start to finish. For optimal jobsite efficiency, safety, and productivity, we provide contractors with numerous silo material mixing systems that maximize a contractor’s cost savings, safety and profitability. For more information, visit www.specmix.com.

2022 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL RESULTS

2022 JUNIOR SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 SOUTH TEXAS REGIONAL RESULTS

2022 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 SOUTH TEXAS APPRENTICE PROGRAM REGIONAL RESULTS