Pike Central vocational welding students participating as part of the Patoka Valley Vocational Cooperative brought home First and Second Place Team trophies and 8 individual trophies on May 2, 2025, from the 44th Annual Midwest Team Welding Tournament held at J. Everett Light Career Center. The two teams competed against twenty-one other teams.
First Place Team: Placing first in the Theory category was Northeast Dubois Senior Gavin Wagner. Placing first in the G.M.A.W. category was Southridge Senior Cohen King. Placing second in the G.T.A.W. category was Northeast Dubois Senior Owen Eichmiller. Placing second in the F.C.A.W. category was Northeast Dubois Senior Brandon Seitz. Placing fourth in the S.M.A.W. category was Forest Park Senior Wesley Contreras.
Second Place Team: Placing first in the G.T.A.W. category was Forest Park Senior Samuel Martinez. Placing second in the G.M.A.W. category was Northeast Dubois Senior Evan Mitchell. Placing third in the F.C.A.W. category was Southridge Senior Christopher Gomez.
Also participating for the team were Pike Central Senior Hayden Goins in the Theory category and Jasper Senior Caleb Patterson in the S.M.A.W. category.
Each team participating in the tournament is comprised of five members. One member of the team competes in a theory category of the contest, which includes a 200 question written test in welding knowledge, math and blueprint reading. The other members of the team participate in one of four welding processes, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (G.T.A.W.), Gas Metal Arc Welding (G.M.A.W.), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (S.M.A.W.), and Flux Core Arc Welding (F.C.A.W.) that are subjected to a guided bend test along with a second weldment from a blueprint. The members' individual scores are combined for the team score.
Every student receiving an individual trophy received a scholarship from the Kentucky Welding Institute located in Flemingsburg, Kentucky. All students received welding-related door prizes.