Two mine rescue teams from the University of Missouri-Rolla competed against about a dozen teams of professionals from the mining industry this week at UMR’s Experimental Mine. UMR’s gold team took third place overall in the competition and UMR’s black team placed fourth.         

“Since I have been involved with the mine rescue teams — at least 14 years — this is the best any UMR teams have done,” says Jim Taylor, supervisor of UMR’s Experimental Mine.         

The competition was held Sept. 26-28. UMR is the only university in the nation that has mine rescue teams.        

An industry team from Doe Run in Viburnum, Mo., won the overall competition. All of the teams were presented with a simulated disaster underground. The event was set up and judged by representatives of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).         

The teams were evaluated on how well they followed the basic rules and regulations associated with the simulated rescue problem, and they were graded on a written exam. The competition also featured events involving first aid, gas testing and maintaining a complex self-contained breathing apparatus.         

Two UMR students, Adam Kresler and Margaret Howard, were recognized for their outstanding individual performances during the competition. A complete list of UMR students who participated is as follows:

– Tyler Acorn, a senior in mining engineering from Devil’s Elbow, Mo.

– Nathan Davis, a junior in mining engineering from Bucklin, Mo.

– David Floyd, a senior in mining engineering from Easley, S.C.

– Jared Harrison, a freshman in mining engineering from Fenton, Mo.

– Ivan Howard, a sophomore in mining engineering from Warrensburg, Mo.

– Margaret Howard, a sophomore in mining engineering from Warrensburg, Mo.

– Matt Kimbel, a senior in mining engineering from St. Charles, Mo.

– Adam Kresler, a senior in mining engineering from Winter Park, Colo.

– Broadus Jeffcoat-Sacco, a senior in geology and geophysics from Bismarck, S.D.

– John McWade, a sophomore in mining engineering from Pevely, Mo.

– Joe Roth, a sophomore in mining engineering from Omaha, Neb.

– Nathan Rouse, a sophomore in mining engineering from Willow Springs, Mo.

– Matt Schuckenbrock, a senior in mining engineering from Louisiana, Mo.

– Casey Slaughter, a sophomore in mining engineering from Rolla

– Darrin Smith, a sophomore in mining engineering from St. Charles, Mo.

– Alex Warren, a sophomore in mining engineering from St. Joseph, Mo.