Two mine rescue teams from Missouri S&T will compete in the 48th Annual Southern Regional Mine Rescue Contest in New Iberia, Louisiana.
The competition, which is designed to simulate a mine emergency, will take place April 30-May 3. Two Missouri S&T teams will compete against multiple teams from the professional mining industry, such as Doe Run, Vulcan Materials Co. and Morton Salt. There are approximately 25 teams competing this year.
The competition consists of a written skills test; two hands-on simulated underground mine disasters; a first-aid portion with a written test, hands-on CPR and a first-responder scenario; and a team technician portion with a written test and technical troubleshooting of breathing apparatuses and gas instruments.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Missouri Department of Labor Cave and Mine Safety will judge the competition.
Missouri S&T Black and Missouri S&T Gold will both compete at the event. Both teams are trained by DeWayne Phelps, senior lab mechanic in the mining and nuclear engineering department at S&T.
The following S&T students are members of the Black Team:
Ethan Kerr, captain, a senior in mining engineering from Union, Missouri
Adam Reiter, gas man, a junior in mining engineering from Fenton, Missouri
Zack Griffie, map man, a sophomore in mining engineering from St. Louis
Meena Lahiri, first aid, a junior in mining engineering from Chesterfield, Missouri
Dan Heidrick, co-captain, a senior in mining engineering from Fenton, Missouri
Ben Hall, fresh air base, a senior in mining engineering from Rolla, Missouri
Creighton Miles, fresh air base assistant, a sophomore in mining engineering from Advance, Missouri
Rob Wymore, cable puller, a junior in mining engineering from Imperial, Missouri.
The following S&T students are members of the Gold Team:
Tanner Eliuk, captain, a senior in mining engineering from Fulton, Missouri
Joshua Miller, gas man, a senior in mining engineering from Rolla, Missouri
Jared Proctor, map man, a senior in mining engineering from Collinsville, Illinois
Suzanne Taylor, first aid, a senior in mining engineering from Maryland Heights, Missouri
Holden McComb, co-captain, a senior in mining engineering from Littleton, Colorado
Caroline Dziak, fresh air base, a senior in mining engineering from Bridgewater, New Jersey
Botlhe Masedi, fresh air base assistant, a senior in mining engineering and economics from Maun, Botswana
Joshua Schoonover, cable puller, a sophomore in mining engineering from Cainsville, Missouri.
Great to see that the Missouri S&T Mine Rescue teams attending the New Iberia Louisiana Mine Rescue contest. The New Iberia contest is one of the best. Was there 2 years ago. Joe Main