Members of this MID team took first place in the overall journeyman competition. From left: Matt McCurdy, Sean Coulson, Brian Szuggar and James Boere.
IBEW 1245 showed its deep bench at the Power Lineworkers Rodeo when multiple teams and apprentices from Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Modesto Irrigation District, and the City of Roseville took top awards. IBEW 1245 was also represented by teams from Turlock Irrigation District, City of Lodi and City of Healdsburg.
The rodeo, held on May 16, was sponsored by the American Public Power Association and hosted by SMUD in Sacramento. Fifty-eight teams and 86 apprentices from not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities across the nation participated.
Taking first place overall in the Journeyman competition was the Modesto Irrigation District team of Jimmy Boere, Sean Coulson, Brian Szuggar and Matt McCurdy. All but Szuggar were on the MID team that placed fourth in last year’s rodeo, showing that persistence pays off. This year’s team, in addition to first overall, showed consistent excellence by taking third place in 4kV crossarm changeout, 12kV deadend insulator replacement, and deadend transfer.
First place overall in the Apprentice competition went to William Baker, a 3-year IBEW 1245 member at Roseville Electric (City of Roseville). Along the way to this impressive victory, Baker also took second place in the written test.
The rodeo consists of competitive events demonstrating lineworker skills and safe work practices. There are two categories of competition: journeyman and apprentice. The events are judged on safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and timely event completion. All safety rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the APPA Safety Manual were observed during events.
Close behind the MID journeymen’s overall first place finish, the SMUD team of Cayleb Bowman, Matthew Wilson and Todd Prangley took third place overall. Along the way, they racked up first place finishes in four events: hurtman rescue, 4kV crossarm changeout, obstacle course, and deadend transfer. In fact, the only event in which they didn’t place first was the 12kv deadend insulator replacement.
The SMUD journeyman team of Alman Kerste, Richard Hall and Breck Smith also got on the awards wagon with a fifth-place finish in the overall competition, while nabbing a second-place finish in the obstacle course event.
First-place apprentice Baker got a run for his money from several other IBEW 1245 apprentices. Gregory Frizzell, SMUD, placed fourth overall while capturing second in the double deadend bell. Bryan Herdal, SMUD, took first in the hurtman rescue and second in the single-phase conductor tie-in. Michael McGee, also of SMUD, took third in the double deadend bell.
Tyler Dewitt, SMUD, took first in the single-phase conductor tie-in and third in the crossarm relocation. As a matter of fact, IBEW 1245 apprentices took all three of the top awards in the crossarm relocation: Garrett Mcghehey of SMUD took first while Kyle Giesser of Roseville Electric took second.
The rodeo was sponsored by APPA, and was co-hosted by SMUD and IBEW 1245.
Families enjoyed watching their loved ones demonstrate their extraordinary abilities. Dennis Seyfer, Senior Assistant Business Manager who oversees IBEW 1245’s public sector work, led a team of 16 Organizing Stewards/volunteers who donated their Saturday to facilitate the IBEW 1245 sponsored-lunch for the 1,000 participants, judges and volunteers.
Congratulations to the winners, and to all IBEW 1245 journeymen and apprentices who represented their union in this year’s APPA rodeo. You done us proud!
Enjoy the photos in our slideshow. We will add more information to the captions as we get it.
Team Healdsburg
1245 Organizing Stewards helped support the event.
1245 Organizing Stewards helped to host the event.
Winners James Bore, Sean Coulson, Brian Szugar, Matt McCurdy.
Healdsburg Cheering Squad
IBEW 1245 participants from the City of Healdsburg had a devoted cheering squad.
Opening ceremony.
A SMUD team on its way to the next event.
Members of this team from the City of Roseville are, from left: Jacob Kremenliff, Shawn Murphy and Phil Harriet.
Members of this TID team are, from left: Josh Klikna, Dustin Krieger and Raphael Battig.
Members of this City of Redding team are, from left: Donald Myers, Ben Goehring and Rob Baber.
Healdsburg Team 149 competes.
Members of this City of Lodi team are, from left: Elton Lamborn, Brent Sirkel, Rich Willett and Alvaro Ramirez.
Lodi Team 104 competes.
SMUD Apprentice 274 competes.
Members of this MID team are, from left: Roby Higgins, Victor Madrigal, Randy Lofing and Doug Cameron.
SMUD Team 153 competes.
MID Team 150 competes.
Members of this SMUD team are, from left: Branden Carter, Greg Baird and Chris Fukui.
Members of this SMUD team are, from left: Breck Smith, Alman Kerste and Rich Hall.
SMUD Team 154 competes.
Members of this SMUD team are, from left: Greg Farnsworth, Paul Duncan and Brent Black.
SMUD Team 154 competes.
Redding Team 112 competes.
Healdsburg Team 149 competes.
SMUD Apprentice 274 competes.
SMUD Apprentice 260 competes.
SMUD Apprentice 262 competes.
MID Team 150 competes.
Healdsburg Team 149 competes.
SMUD Apprentice 278 competes.
Redding Team 112 competes.
MID Team 146 competes.
SMUD Team 157 competes.
Members of this MID team took first place in the overall journeyman competition. From left: Matt McCurdy, Sean Coulson, Brian Szuggar and James Boere.