Fred Campbell Wins the East Tennessee SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Regional Competition!

Fred Campbell claims the “Regional Champion & Top Craftsman” titles.

It was October 12th, 2023, when Fred Campbell and his tender Javier Melina swept the competition with just under a 100-brick margin amongst the second-place team. This year, the Campbell-Melina team had the skill and stamina to claim the first-place title, as well as the Top Craftsman title. The team with the perfect, most-sellable wall is nominated as the Top Craftsman; with zero deductions. Campbell and his tender are no strangers to the trade, as they have battled in many regional competitions over the years. Fred Campbell rained Champion at the 2013, 2015, and 2020 SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® National events.

At the 2023 East Tennessee regional competition, the Campbell-Melina duo laid 701 bricks in 60 minutes to claim the Regional Champion and Top Craftsman awards. For their efforts, they will move forward to compete at the SMBL500 National competition taking place on January 24th, 2024, at the World of Concrete Tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada. Along with their two plane tickets to Vegas, they were rewarded with a combined total of $650, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and a 2-foot Stabila Level.

The 2023 Regional Series includes 23 events throughout the United States and Canada. To qualify for the SMBL500 event in Las Vegas, teams will compete at one of the 23 individual regionals and battle for first place to secure their spot in the national competition. The teams consist of one mason and one tender; working on a 26-foot-wide wall, they have 60 minutes to lay as much brick as possible with the fewest craftsmanship errors. These teams are only allowed to compete once at one regional event throughout the year, and each duo that wins first place will advance to what is known as the “Superbowl of Masonry.” At the World Championship, they will compete to win part of $125,000 in cash in prizes, including a Kubota RTV-X1140, Essick Pro12 mixer, and of course, the title, “World’s Best Bricklayer.”

The second-place winners at the East Tennessee Regional competition were Manuel Hernandez and his tender David Hernandez with A&D Masonry. This team laid 612 bricks in 60 minutes, winning them $350, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and a 2-foot Stabila Level. Lastly, in third place was Piotr Ceremuga and tender Yunior Morels with Gentry & Painter Masonry. This team laid 432 bricks in 60 minutes, winning them $300 in cash, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag.

In accompany with the East Tennessee Journeymen competition was the JR. SMBL500. The Junior Bricklayer event is a shortened 20-minute rendition of the SMBL500 and provides high school students and apprentices to showcase their skills for a chance to win cash and prizes! This year the first place JR. BL500 winner was Alfredo Sanchez with Greene County School, he laid an impressive 102 bricks in 20 minutes, winning him $200 in cold hard cash! Along with the money prize, he received a Stabila Level and Marshalltown Trowel. In second place was Alexis Dias also with Greene County school, he was close behind laying 95 bricks, winning him $150, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Trowel. Lastly, in third was Diego Silva from Greene County School. He laid 87 bricks, winning him $100, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Trowel.

Disclosures:

In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. In 2023, of the 23 Regional Series competitions, 15 will also hold a JR. BRICKLAYER 500 contest to allow high schoolers and masonry apprentices to compete for top honors and prizes. 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/.

2024 World Championship: If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 22nd annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place on January 24th, 2024, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, 25 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 Kubota RTV-X1140, Multiquip Pro 12 Mortar Mixer. Additionally, there will be other prizes from Hilti, Hydromobile, IQ Power Tools, QUIKRETE Companies, Razor-Back Tools, Stabila, Marshalltown, STIHL, Hohmann & Barnard, and Belden Brick. 

2023 JOURNEYMEN SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 EAST TENNESSEE REGIONAL RESULTS

2023 JOURNEYMEN SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 EAST TENNESSEE REGIONAL RESULTS