Benjamin Torve wins the Washington Regional SPEC MIX Bricklayer competition!

Benjamin Torve lays 577 bricks to claim the “Washington’s Best Bricklayer” title.

September 30th, 2023 – Benjamin Torve wins first place at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Regional Competition! Taking place at Western Washington Masonry Trades in Seattle, Washington, mason Benjamin Torve and his tender Cameron Miles with R & D Masonry swept the competition. This was their first time competing in the SMBL500, they are one-for-one! The Torve-Miles team laid 577 bricks in 60 minutes to secure the first-place position, awarding them the “Washington’s Best Bricklayer” award. Their skills and speed won them $500, a 2-foot Stabila Level, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and two plane tickets to battle at the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Championship taking place in Las Vegas, NV 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 at the Washington Regional event was mason Dave Wernette and tender Joshua Carey with Fairweather Masonry. This team laid 478 bricks in 60 minutes to claim the “Top Craftsman” title and award. This team had zero deductions, meaning the judges deemed them to have the ‘perfect wall’. For their efforts, they were awarded $650 in cash, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Tool Bag. In third place was Garret Shafer and tender Krys Rose with Northbound Masonry. They were close behind with 412 bricks in 60 minutes. They won $250, a Stabila Level, and Marshalltown Tools.

Accompanied by the Washington 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 Mason Colby Brandt with RT General Construction, laying 163 bricks in 20 minutes. For his efforts, he won $150, a Stabila Level, and Marshalltown Tools. Close behind was Zac Wehmeyer with Northbound Masonry. He laid 136 bricks in 20 minutes, winning him $50, a Stabila Level, and a Marshalltown Trowel. Lastly, in third place was Paul Sloan with RT General Construction. He laid 122 bricks, winning him $50, 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 WASHINGTON REGIONAL RESULTS

2023 JUNIOR SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 WASHINGTON REGIONAL RESULTS – APPRENTICE CLASS