Two teams from Missouri University of Science and Technology will compete against a field of professional mine rescue teams in a simulated mine collapse rescue competition in Louisiana. In their latest competition in October, a team of S&T students earned first place.

The Gold and Black teams from Missouri S&T will be competing at the Southern Regional Mine Rescue Contest, held May 7-9, in New Iberia, La. The competition takes place over a three-day period, with each day involving different tasks. The results of all three days are totaled into a final overall score for the team.

The first day of the competition is written tests. The next day is the field competition, where the teams must explore all areas of a simulated mine disaster, rescue any survivors and suppress any fires. On the final day of the event, sub-groups from each team prepare and maintain technical equipment and perform CPR and trauma patient treatment.

“Mine Rescue is not just about the contests but learning the importance of team work and learning to trust your team,” says Katie Sewester, a junior in mining engineering from Viola, Kan. “We rely on our veteran students to train and pass down their knowledge before graduating, in order for our teams to compete against others that have been together for 10-plus years.”

C. DeWayne Phelps, a senior lab mechanic in mining and nuclear engineering at S&T, is the trainer for both teams. Sewester is the Gold Team Captain and T Galbraith, a junior in mining engineering from Steelville, Mo., is the Black Team Captain.

For more information about the competition, visit the Mine Safety and Health Administration website at http://www.msha.gov/MineRescue/CONTEST/2013MNM/LocalContests2013.asp.

The following students are part of the spring 2013 Mine Rescue teams:

Jenna Freese, a senior in mining engineering from Ozark, Mo.

T Galbraith, a junior in mining engineering from Steelville, Mo.

Andrew Hanneke, a sophomore in mining engineering from O’Fallon, Mo.

Deanna Millard, a junior in mining engineering from Peculiar, Mo.

James Nash, a sophomore in mining engineering from Rolla, Mo.

Ashley Nuhn, a senior in mining engineering from Kearney, Mo.

Ali Rader, a junior in mining engineering from Rolla, Mo.

Dana Resmini, a junior in mining engineering from Rochester, Mass.

Daykin Schnell, a junior in mining engineering from Lincoln, Neb.

Katie Sewester, a junior in mining engineering from Viola, Kan.

Casey Slaughter, a graduate student in mining engineering from Rolla, Mo.

Jordan Verslues, a junior in mining engineering from Rocheport, Mo.

Eric Wesel, a senior in mining engineering from Rolla, Mo.

Bryce Wiederholt, a sophomore in mining engineering from Maryville, Mo.

Emma Wilhite, a freshman in mining engineering from Santa Claus, Ind.