Chris Weast wins the Eastern Pennsylvania SPEC MIX Bricklayer competition!

Chris Weast claims the “Eastern Pennsylvania’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” titles.

September 28th, 2023 – Chris Weast wins first place at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Competition! Taking place at BAC LOCAL 1 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Eastern Penn SMBL500 competition was a hit! There was a mix of participants, with some newcomers, and those who have been participating in the bricklaying events for years. Chris Weast and his tender Ed Wallace with Dandrea Masonry laid 453 bricks in 60 minutes to secure their first-place position. In addition, they had zero deductions, awarding them the “Eastern Pennsylvania Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” titles and prizes. The Weast-Wallace team walked away with $2,000 in cold hard cash, a 2-foot Stabila Level, Marshalltown Tool Bag, and most importantly, two plane tickets to battle at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Championship taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada at the World of Concrete Tradeshow on January 24th, 2024. 

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 winner was Vincent Polverini and tender Daniel Thompson with Mid Atlantic Restoration & Masonry. This team was close behind first place laying 423 bricks in 60-minutes. Vincent has won the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional four times in the past but just fell shy of victory this year. For his efforts, he won $800, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. Taking third place was Bill McConaghy and tender Brian Pinder with Phoenix Contractors. He put up a good fight, for it being the first time he competed in the SMBL500 competition. This team laid 166 bricks in 60 minutes, winning them $600, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and a 2-foot Stabila Level. We hope to see them out next year!

Accompanied by the East Pennsylvania Regional event was the JR. BL500 competition. This contest is a shortened rendition of the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500, where students and masonry apprentices display their skills for the chance to win cash and prizes! These competitors battle for the “JR BRICKLAYER 500 CHAMPION” title. In first place was Sam Berryman and tender Derek Renninger with Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. This team laid an impressive 150 bricks in 20 minutes, winning them $200, Marshalltown Tools, and a Stabila Level. In second place was Ryan Keller and tender Stephen Gultieri with Williamson College of the Trade. They were close behind laying 132 bricks, winning them $100, Marshalltown Tools, and a Stabila Level. Lastly, in third place was Lino Sanchez and tender Joe Simone with BAC Local 1 Union PA/DE. This team was just 10 bricks shy of the second-place team laying 122 bricks in 20 minutes. For their efforts, they won $100, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown trowel. This team has competed in the Journeymen competition once before and switched up the positions. Joe Simone was the mason, and Lino Sanchez was the tender. We hope to see them back in the JR. BL500 or Journeymen competition next year!

Disclosures:

In 2019, the SPEC MIX organization partnered with other masonry associations to create the JR. SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Competition. In 2024, of the 22 Regional Series competitions, 20 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/.

2025 World Championship: If you are interested in becoming a fan, the 23rd annual SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 World Championship will take place in January 2025, at the World of Concrete tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Las Vegas Convention Center Bronze Lot. At this competition, world-class masons lay it all on the line to claim their portion of the total purse valued at more than $125,000.

2023 JOURNEYMEN SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL RESULTS

2023 JUNIOR SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL RESULTS – APPRENTICE CLASS