SEYMOUR, Ind. — At a competition powered by skill and packed with competitors, 15 Duke Energy lineworkers secured spots last weekend to compete among the most elite lineworkers in the world this fall at the International Lineman’s Rodeo.
Duke Energy’s Midwest Lineman’s Rodeo in Plainfield was one of three spring regional competitions this in Duke Energy’s service areas, displaying the talent and skills of the company’s dedicated line workers.
Lineman’s rodeos are specialized contests that test job-related skills line technicians rely on daily to restore power day and night – often in unpredictable outdoor conditions. Events take place on de-energized equipment in a simulated environment, but participants are scored based on simulations of on-the-job work, with deductions for mistakes. Competitors are judged on efficiency, agility, technique, and safety procedures.
Categories scored included equipment repair, pole climbs and hurt man rescues. Duke Energy holds three regional competitions to qualify lineworkers for the international competition – including in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.
The Midwest rodeo this year included four journeyman teams and 33 apprentices. Team divisions are based in part on tenure. An apprentice is a lineworker with less than four years of utility experience. A journeyman with Duke Energy has more than four years of utility experience.
Duke Energy Midwest regional rodeo winners will join other top lineworkers from Duke Energy rodeos in Florida and the Carolinas to compete in the International Lineman’s Rodeo in Bonner Springs, Kan., on Oct. 19, an international event that attracts the most talented lineworkers from around the world. The best lineworkers at Duke Energy and its legacy companies have showcased their talents at the International Lineman’s Rodeo for more than two decades.
Duke Energy Midwest competitors advancing from regional rodeos to the International Lineman’s Rodeo include:
Apprentice overall awards:
- First place – Oliver Huhta (Princeton, Ind.)
- Second place – Logan Pollei (Bloomington, Ind.)
- Third place – Jack Knier (Shelbyville, Ind.)
- Fourth place – Tyler Adrian (Carmel, Ind.)
- Fifth place – Isaac Caudill (Connersville, Ind.)
- Sixth place – Jesse Orr (Bloomington, Ind.)
Overall awards for Journeyman teams:
- First place – Brett Lewis (Madison, Ind.), TJ Lewis (Aurora, Ind.) and Danny Steinman (Erlanger, Ky.)
- Second place – Collin Boschert (Noblesville, Ind.), Matt Wallpe (Noblesville, Ind.), and Jason Washburn (Noblesville, Ind.)
- Third place – John Menefee (Columbus, Ind.), Josh Menefee (Seymour, Ind.), and Andrew Reinhart (Seymour, Ind.)
Duke Energy employs approximately 380 lineworkers across its Indiana service area.
