The Local 1245 competitors from PG&E
Jacob Hunt, Dustin Curry, and Jordan Chene celebrate their first place overall win
JP Richard, Anthony Beene and Anthony Albright won 4th place overall and 2nd place in the IOU division
Sean Coulson, David Word, Jr. and Matt McCurdy of MID win 2nd place in the Municipal Division
Apprentice Brandon Branch came in 1st place in the Investor Owned Utility division
Steve Johnson, Josh Klikna and Dustin Krieger from TID won 3rd place Journeyman Mystery Event #1
IBEW 1245 Business Rep Casey Kelley served as a judge
The team from MID
Team 59 from Liberty Utilities
For the second time in five years, an IBEW 1245 team won first place overall at the International Lineman’s Rodeo, which takes place every year just outside of Kansas City.
The winning team, comprised of PG&E Linemen Dustin Curry, Jacob “Floppy” Hunt and Jordan Chene, beat out 219 other journeyman lineman teams from around the world to take home the big trophy. They also came in first place in the Investor Owned Utility (IOU) category, placed fourth in the Pole Climb, fourth in Mystery Event #1, and fifth in Mystery Event #2.
“Honestly, we had no idea that we would even place overall. We were hoping for maybe 4th or 5th in the IOU division. All three of us were super surprised,” said Dustin Curry. “I don’t think it’s really set in yet for any of us.”
“It did an still does feel like a dream,” echoed Hunt, who noted that he was exceptionally grateful to have his family in attendance to witness the monumental victory.
“It was an amazing, emotional experience that I’m so glad I was able to share with our team and company,” added Curry.
Curry, Hunt and Chene weren’t the only Local 1245 journeyman linemen to perform exceptionally well at the Rodeo. The IBEW 1245 team that won the Rodeo back in 2014 — Anthony Albright, Adam Beene and JP Richard — came in second in the IOU division and fourth overall, just 45 seconds behind their winning colleagues. They also placed 3rd in the Hurtman Rescue.
Additionally, Kevin Tirapelle, Calen Davis and Blake McCoy came in 10th in the IOU division and 12th overall, while David Word, Matt McCurdy and Sean Coulson of MID came in second in the Municipal division, fifth in the Pole Climb, and 18th overall. Steve Johnson, Josh Klikna and Dustin Krieger from TID won 3rd place in Mystery Event #1.
Our Local 1245 apprentices also made a strong showing. PG&E Apprentice Lineman Brandon Branch came in first place in the apprentice IOU division, fourth place overall, fourth in the written test, and fifth in the pole climb. Other notable 1245 apprentices include
- Colton Baker who placed fourth in IOU and sixth overall,
- Gary Hoch who was sixth in the IOU and ninth overall, as well as first in the Hurt Man Rescue and fourth in Mystery Event #1
- Trent Kaher who placed eighth in IOU and 12th overall
- Bryan Ketch who was 9th in IOU and came in 15th overall
- Gino Brancato who won Mystery Event #1
With 291 apprentices competing, it is no small feat that 10 of the top 20 apprentices in the IOU division hailed from 1245.
Local 1245’s exceptionally talented members continue to demonstrate that our union is the cream of the crop. Congrats to all the competitors!