Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
A welder uses a grinder on a section of pipeline in one of several demonstrations during the annual welding competition Saturday at Western Welding Academy in Gillette. This year’s event drew about 250 welders from several states that competed in multiple rounds of competition including a mullet contest.
ABOVE | Welders look over a section of pipeline welds in one of several demonstrations during the annual welding competition Saturday at Western Welding Academy in Gillette.
RIGHT | Rock Springs High School student Kylar Batchelor stands outside of a welding booth as she waits for round two of competition to start Saturday during the annual welding competition at Western Welding Academy in Gillette.
A welder uses a grinder on a section of pipeline in one of several demonstrations during the annual welding competition Saturday at Western Welding Academy in Gillette. This year’s event drew about 250 welders from several states that competed in multiple rounds of competition including a mullet contest.
The 2023 Welding Competition took place Saturday at Western Welding Academy.
About 250 contestants joined in the fray, bringing in about 800 people total from across the country. The contest included two divisions: an open division and high school division. The day started early with multiple rounds of competition, along with a mullet contest and awards and photos.
“The high school event’s only for current students who aren’t graduated yet,” said James Packard, a lead instructor at the academy. “The open division’s for anybody else that can weld.”
RIGHT | Rock Springs High School student Kylar Batchelor stands outside of a welding booth as she waits for round two of competition to start Saturday during the annual welding competition at Western Welding Academy in Gillette.
News Record Photo/Ed Glazar
Packard said students tested their skill with a groove weld and open division welders took on a 6-inch diameter pipe in a horizontal fixed position. Competitors received one hour to complete the weld before being judged on what Packard said were industry standards.
“They look at the reinforcement cap and if someone’s welding outside of the weld zone, if there are grinds outside the weld zone,” he said.
The top three open division winners won a cash prize of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000, respectively. All high school students who competed received a $1,000 scholarship to the academy, while the top three finishers earned a $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000 scholarship.
ABOVE | Welders look over a section of pipeline welds in one of several demonstrations during the annual welding competition Saturday at Western Welding Academy in Gillette.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(1) comment
AWESOME !!!
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.