Brick Layers Compete For Cash, Prizes

Rick Wells, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Could you build a brick wall that is both level and plumb while you're racing through the project? Some brick masons were doing just that in a big competition.

The South Central Region Bricklayer Competition was off running Thursday. There were ten two-man teams -- the brick mason actually laying the bricks and the tender who is backing him up.

"The idea is build the highest wall with the most brick. And they have to follow a bunch of quality standards," said Nick Blohowiak of SPEC MIX Concrete.

It has to look good.

"The final count, following the rules, the final adjusted brick count is the winner," Blohowiak said.

There were half a dozen judges watching to make sure the competitors follow the rules during the one hour time limit.

The teams will handle as much as a ton and a half of material--that's bricks and mortar--during the competition. What they're shooting for is a trip to Vegas to compete for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.

"We have competitors from Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas," Blohowiak said.

Janna Followill and her husband James are here from Arkansas. Heather Vernor is cheering her fiancé Robert Ramos.

"He came last year and took 2nd, so we're hoping for first this year," Heather said.

She says he hasn't worked with brick much since the competition last year. He's been doing mostly stone work.

The winner this year is Leif Reint from Huntsville Texas. He gets $500 for winning, plus the trip to Vegas and a shot at a new Ford truck and $100,000.