Apprentices Show Off Their Skills in Vegas

Words: Mason Contractors
/Public/News/20100210063000-1.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Michael Sapp, Third Year Apprentice winner.">
Michael Sapp, Third Year Apprentice winner.

The eleventh annual International Masonry Skills Challenge at the 2010 MCAA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. at the World of Concrete/World of Masonry on February 2, 2010 showed off the best apprentices our industry has to offer. Contestants in first, second and third year skill levels throughout the country came to compete.

Each contestant was presented with a project drawing appropriate to their skill level just moments before the competition began. Contestants only had three hours to construct the project based on the materials provided. The final projects looked great; the apprentices should be very proud of their three hours of hard work. The judges were impressed with the quality of the apprentices' construction, and had the tough decision of choosing the winners.

The top-placing contestants for each skill level were:

/Public/News/20100210063000-2.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Darren Tolbolt, 2010 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.">
Darren Tolbolt, 2010 International Masonry Skills Challenge First Year winner.

First Year Apprentices

First Place
Darren Tolbolt
Studer Obringer, Inc.
New Washington, Ohio

Second Place
Jerrod Beheler
Lucia, Inc.
Houston, Texas

Third Place
Bradley Lovin
Wasco, Inc.
Knoxville, Tenn.

/Public/News/20100210063000-3.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Daniel Sapp, 2010 International Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.">
Daniel Sapp, 2010 International Masonry Skills Challenge Second Year winner.

Second Year Apprentices

First Place
Daniel Sapp
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Second Place
Rhett Hallman
McGee Bros., Co., Inc.
Monroe, N.C.

Third Place
Joshua Moss
Valentine Contractors, Inc.
North Canton, Ohio

/Public/News/20100210063000-4.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Michael Sapp, 2010 International Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.">
Michael Sapp, 2010 International Masonry Skills Challenge Third Year winner.

Third Year Apprentices

First Place
Michael Sapp
Adams Masonry, Inc.
Chattanooga, Tenn.

Second Place
Todd Terwilliger
Giambrone Masonry, Inc.
Hudson, Ohio

Third Place
Eric Cambrom
Artisan Masonry, Inc.
Garland, Texas

All winners received trophies, cash prizes, and Marshalltown tool bags and tools. First place winners also received concrete calculators from Calculated Industries.

The Mason Contractors Association of America would like to thank the judges from across the country for donating their time and expertise and the sponsors and service/material donors for their contributions including:


  • Lafarge

  • EZ Scaffold

  • Mortar Net USA, Ltd.

  • Non-Stop Scaffolding

  • QUIKRETE

  • SPEC MIX

  • Angelus Block Co.

  • Calculated Industries

  • EZ Grout Corporation

  • Gatorback

  • Grout Grunt

  • Marshalltown

  • Masonry Construction

  • MK Diamond Products, Inc.
About: Convention
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe