2004 Fastest Trowel Competition

Words: Dan KamysThe crowds were roaring, the mortar was flying and the towering walls grew before our eyes March 24, 2004 at MCAA?s Annual Fastest Trowel Competition. It was an exciting day for the 18 competitors who had been waiting in suspense for the day to come. 20 minutes, 150 blocks and their masonry craftsmanship was all they had to race and become the 2004 Fastest Trowel champions.

Eighteen contestants and their tenders, consisting of past competitors and a handful of new faces, hit the floor for this year?s contest. The competition, sponsored by SpecMix, pit some of the industry?s best masons to compete and build a wall judged not only on speed and the amount of block laid, but also judged based on level, true and workmanship, voids, production, story and plumb.

After the dust had settled the judges went to work to determine who had the speed and skill to become the 2004 Fastest Trowel Champion. MCAA congratulates:


/Public/News/5212004938.gif" width="133" height="145" border="0" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="1"> First Place: Moroni Meja II
Sponsored by Rhino Masonry Inc, Mesa AZ

Second Place: Pascal Robertson
Sponsored by Pascal Robertson Masonry, Apopka FL

Third Place: Ramon Gonzalez
Sponsored by Canyon Rock Masonry, Inc, Flagstaff AZ


Thanks to the volunteers and co-sponsors who helped make this competition a great success! Thanks to:

Sponsor
SpecMix

Co-Sponsors
Lafarge North America, Marshalltown Trowel, Non-Stop Scaffolding, E-Z Grout Corporation, ACME Brick Company, Quikcrete

Contest Judges
JLG Gradall, Multiquip, E-Z Grout, Rinker Materials c/o Acme Brick, Crick Tools and National Lime Association.

Materials and Manpower
Steven Fechino, Brian Carney, Rob Greer, Mackie Bounds, Ron Clough, Alan Griffin, Roy Swindal and the rest of the volunteers who helped make this competition a continued success.

About: Convention
Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma

Chairman’s Message: When Things Don’t Go as Planned
June 2026

Not every day in this business goes the way we planned. Some days, everything lines up. The crew is moving well. Materials are on time. The job is flowing the way you hoped it would. And then there are the other days. The ones where something breaks. T

Marvelous Masonry: Borobudur
June 2026

For masonry contractors and suppliers, few structures offer as much practical insight as Borobudur. Built in the 9th century in Central Java, this massive stone monument remains as one of the most advanced examples of large-scale masonry construction ever

Wrapping Up Our Year And A Look Ahead
June 2026

It is amazing another year has gone by and what a year it has been. We have seen a lot of progress on so many fronts. All of this happens specifically due to the support of our members. Your support this past year is positioning our industry to make huge