COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (WSIL) -- A Marion, Illinois, team finished first in the International Lineman's Rodeo over the weekend.
Ameren Illinois stated a trio of journeymen linemen, as part of the Marion Operating Center, finished first overall in the 40th International Lineman's Rodeo in Overland Park, Kansas. They also placed second in a couple of individual competitions.
This event brought in more than 255 journeymen and roughly 400 apprentices this year.
The linemen are Jason Novak, Clayton Gulley and Austin Lewis. The three men competed in events and won a first-place and second-finish and earned the best-of-the-best title at the competition, Ameren Illinois reported.
"To win the title 'Best of the Best; is an amazing feeling," Novak said. "We practiced hard, but it takes a special day to win it all against the most elite competitors in the world. We developed a game plan before each event, but anything can happen, and we adjusted on the fly. I couldn't be prouder of how my teammates performed and how the other Ameren competitors did as well."
Novak, Gulley and Lewis won second in the pole climb event with a time of 1 minute and 20.11 seconds. They placed behind the first place team which consists of Jacob Carr, Patrick Rodgers and Teddy Brinkoetter with a time of 1 minute and 9.15 seconds. Coming up in third place was the team of Blake Mette, Jason Kenter and Clint Dasenbrock which had a time of 1 minute and 26.25 seconds.
The three man team from southern Illinois wasn't done as they also placed second overall in the tie change-out event.
"Congratulations to the Ameren Illinois team who performed exceptionally well at the International Lineman's Rodeo," said Luke Wollin, Vice President of Electric Operations for Ameren Illinois. "It was clear throughout the day that the four, three-journeymen teams and four apprentices from Illinois were performing at a very high level, but the results at the award ceremony that our teams achieved were extraordinary. It was exciting to close the award night by having an Illinois team win the top overall journeymen team, the most prestigious all-around award."
Other southern Illinois participants saw success as well. Apprentice lineman Clayton Tanner from Marion was awarded first place in the hurtman rescue event and third in the pole climb. Ameren Illinois says the hurtman rescue is designed to showcase speed while safely lowering a mannequin on top of the utility pole.
Apprentice lineman Cade Hoffman, of Mt. Vernon, had a fifth place finish in the obstacle course with Vincent Napolitano, of Pioneer Park, Peoria, placed fifth a re-fusing a transformer event.
"The women and men who keep the lights on for our customers have demanding jobs that require skill, physical and mental strength," said Lenny Singh, Chairman and President of Ameren Illinois. "The International Lineman’s Rodeo is the ultimate test of their ability to do this work safely, providing a quality product and leveraging their experience and training where speed becomes an advantage. I am so proud of our teams for demonstrating they are truly the best of the best.�
Novak, along with Paul Koehler of LaSalle, also raised funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at the competition. The campaign is called "Climbin' for Kids' and they raised more than $80,000 this year. This four-year total raised for St. Jude is $240,000.
"It truly was a team effort in our fundraising," Novak said. "The vendors were generous with donating items, the linemen bought tons of raffle tickets, our kids helped sell those tickets, our wives took the money and wrote down names, and our teammates helped in the booth. It's line families helping families. That’s how we’re able to give 100% of the money raised to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It was an amazing success for the fourth year in a row and I’m blessed to be part of it.�
The event was held from October 16 through October 19, at the Overland Park Convention Center.
