Jake Brock wins the Wisconsin SPEC MIX Bricklayer 500 Regional Competition!

Jake Brock claims, “Wisconsin’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” titles.

On September 13th, 2023, at Fond du Lac Natural Stone, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, mason Jake Brock and tender Nick Miller with Brock Construction took first place at the SMBL500 Wisconsin Regional competition! This team secured their tickets to compete in the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500® Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2024 at the World of Concrete Tradeshow. Laying 498 bricks in 60-minutes, this duo’s speed and skill won them the “Wisconsin’s Best Bricklayer” and “Top Craftsman” awards. The Top Craftsman award goes to the team who is deemed by the judges to have the ‘most-sellable’ wall. With zero deductions, and the highest brick count, the Brock-Miller team walked away with $1,300 in cash, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, a 2-foot Stabila Level, and their chance to battle at the SMBL500 Championship! 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, mason Roman Graebel and tender Jose Garcia with KMI, was close behind with a 430-brick count. For their efforts, they won $450, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and a 2-foot Stabila Level. In third place was mason Mitch Seliger and tender Paul Seliger with Kowalski Masonry. Not too far behind second, this team laid 354 bricks in 60-minutes, winning them $350, a Marshalltown Tool Bag, and a 2-foot Stabila Level. The competition was a close one in Fond du Lac Wisconsin. Accompanied by the Wisconsin Regional event was the JR. BL500. 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. The JR. BL500 had two divisions, one for apprentice level, and the second for High School level.

First place in the apprentice division was Bruce Schuett with Boldt Construction, laying 105 bricks in 20-minutes. For his amazing performance, he won $100, Marshalltown Tools, and a Stabila Level. Both with CD Smith Construction, second place was Kyle Sleater laying 75 bricks, and in third place was Chris Robertson laying 68 bricks. In the High School division, first place went to Logan Cherek with DC Everest High School with a brick count of 106, winning him $50, Marshalltown tools, and a Stabila Level. In second place was Carter Holte with Marathon High School laying 75 bricks, and lastly in third was Timothy Gospoderek with Wausau West High School, laying 68 bricks. Both second and third won $50 for their efforts

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.