Campbell County High School welding students earned two 1st place awards and three 2nd place awards at this year’s Top Wrench Competition held at Crown College last week in Knoxville. Pictured from left to right is Ethan Kidd, Malachi Miesel, Jackson Stanfill, Ashlyn Bowling, Eli Whaley, Samuel Myers, Ethan Nelson and Landon Lowe.

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County High School Welding crew took a couple of first place finishes and three second place awards at the Knoxville TCAT Top Wrench Competition held at Crown College last week!

The team of students won a total cash value prize of $1,900, several Tennessee College of Applied Technology Scholarships, as well as tools. They were competing against more than 20 other East Tennessee Schools.

Campbell County High School Welding Instructor Chris Ralston said he was proud of the students for representing CCHS so well.

CCHS welding students win big at Top Wrench competition in Knoxville, earning $1,900, trophies and scholarships! Left to right is Laycee Jones and Ashlyn Bowling who took second place in the welding creative art competition, CCHS welding instructor Chris Ralston, Ethan Kidd won second place in live welding and Landon Lowe took first place in technical welding, Samuel Myers won second in technical welding and Ethan Nelson took first place in live welding.

“Not only do the students win cash prizes, but they also get scholarships to TCAT for furthering their welding education after high school; a lot of these kids are going to pursue careers in welding and those scholarships are a big help to them,” Ralston said.

The Top Wrench Competition was held April 4th and is an annual event in Knoxville each year.

Laycee Jones and Ashlyn Bowling won second place in the creative art welding (photo below) competition on April 4 with their creation. 

Some areas in the competition are in welding techniques that were performed in the classroom/shop prior to the competition, while others were live competitions.

According to Ralston, the school was allowed to enter two students into each competition.

“These kids are a tight knit group, and they work so well together,” Ralston said.

Landon Lowe took first place in technical welding and Samuel Myers won second in technical welding.  Ethan Nelson won first place in live welding and Ethan Kidd earned second place in live welding. Ashlyn Bowling and Laycee Jones won second place in the creative welding art competition.

The Campbell County High School welding students won big at the Top Wrench welding competition held on April 4 in Knoxville. Left to right is Eli Whaley, Malachi Miesel, Landon Lowe, Ashlyn Bowling, Jackson Stanfill, Laycee Jones, Ethan Kidd and Ethan Nelson.

First place wins garner the student $500 in cash prize, while second place gets them $300. Students also won in the welding art competition as well with

Students said they love to go to the competitions and participate and not just for the cash prizes.

“There’s a lot of stuff to look at and see, cars, giveaways, raffles; it’s a lot of fun,” Landon Lowe said. Lowe is among the students who said he plans to go into a welding career and is already looking at doing his apprenticeship. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/10/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILLIE JO RALSTON AND CHARLOTTE UNDERWOOD)

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