The ETASV held its annual apprentice skills tournament on March 8. It took staff and volunteers months to prepare. Contestants volunteered to participate and spent countless hours outside of class and work time to practice for the big event. It was the ETASV Olympics!
The tournament took the entire day and included an opening ceremony where each contestant emerged through a smoke machine to their favorite song. Later, the judges selected the winners, followed by an award ceremony. Residential apprentices had a strong showing and won 1st and 2nd place overall, as well as three of the seven events!
Overall Winners
1st Place: Tyler Lerma | 3rd Year Residential
2nd Place: Aaron Badillo | 3rd Year Residential
3rd Place: Quinn Neto | 5th Year Inside
Event Winners
Written Exam: Francisco Gomez | 5th Year Inside
Residential Wiring: Raymundo Vallejo Serrano | 5th Year Inside
Motor Control Written: Tyler Lerma | 3rd Year Residential
Motor Control Hands-On: Mack Lewis | 3rd Year Residential
Material Identification: Francisco Gomez | 5th Year Inside
Conduit Bending 1/2”: Quinn Neto | 5th Year Inside
Conduit Bending 3/4”: Tyler Lerma | 3rd Year Residential
CONTESTANTS/PROGRAM/BIB#
Juan Alfaro (Inside) 01
Aaron Badillo (Residential) 02
Dustin Broussard (Inside) 03
Julia Ceja-Alvarado (Inside) 04
Carlos Cervantes (Inside) 05
Francisco Gomez (Inside) 06
Tyler Lerma (Residential) 07
Mack Lewis (Residential) 08
Brandon Lopez (Residential) 09
Ricardo Maldonado (Inside) 10
Omar Martinez (Residential) 11
Owen Nakagawa (Residential) 12
Quinn Neto (Inside) 13
Emmanuel Ornelas (Inside) 14
Jose Pichardo (Inside) 15
Julian Rios (Inside) 16
Stephen Stickells (Inside) 17
Raymundo Vallejo Serrano (Inside) 18
Alejandro Venegas (Inside) 20
Tyler Lerma | Overall 1st Place | Winner: Motor Controls Written & 3/4” Pipe Bending | 3rd Year Residential
Why did you sign up, and how did you train? When the opportunity came up, it wasn’t even a question. I wanted to do it because I’m a go-getter, and it was something I could do to get better to try to get into the Inside program. I trained for a month: Mondays in the pipe-bending lab, Wednesdays in motor-controls, and Fridays in residential wiring. I studied at a desk for the written, and I reviewed materials catalogues. I also took extra classes.
How did you feel during the competition? I was confident in most of the events. I made a few mistakes here and there, but I really got locked in and did my best. I was most confident in residential wiring – but man – Raymundo from Inside smoked everyone, and I have mad respect for him.
What was your reaction when you won? I thought I might have done well enough to hit the podium, but when they called second and third, I got scared. But then they called my name that I had won! So much went through my head in that one moment. I thought about how far I had come. I dropped out of college, didn’t know what I was going to do, and had a bunch of dead-end jobs. Then I decided to become an electrician. In that moment when I won, it was a total release of the emotions of everything I had been through. What meant the most to me was having my family there to witness it. I got to make my dad proud, and it was a total rush of the heart.
What message do you have for other members? There’s three aspects of education: school, the field, and just being in the union and learning from other members. I encourage apprentices to find mentors and pick their brains. Being a part of a union of amazing craftsmen is unmatched. In school, ask yourself each day, “How can you be your best?” That could be a test, doing your homework, or learning something in the field. Take advantage of every day you’re in the apprenticeship, because the time goes fast.
Aaron Badillo | Overall 2nd Place | 3rd Year Residential
Why did you sign up and how did you train? It sounded like fun and a nice challenge to push myself. It gave me an excuse to go into the labs more often and see what I’m made of. I went in three days a week to practice and work on pipe-bending and motor skills. As a residential apprentice, I don’t get to do that everyday.
How did you feel during the competition? I felt the most confident going into motor controls, and I was one of only three apprentices that finished with a working board. I kinda kicked myself because residential is obviously my bread and butter, but because I do it every day, I didn’t practice that.
What was your reaction when you won 2nd place? I knew I was up against some really great wiremen, so when they called my name I was gobsmacked! I didn’t win any of the individual events, nor did I win third, so I was thinking I was going to walk away empty-handed. But when they called my name for second, I couldn’t believe my ears! The best part was having my family there–especially my fiancée. We carpool, so she spent many long hours often at night waiting in the parking lot while I was at the training center. So it was the best feeling that she could rejoice with me. I hope this helps me get into the Inside program. That would be a bigger achievement than the competition. I want to keep going with my career and get it to the next step.
What message do you have for other members? I tell people that you get out of the apprenticeship what you put into it. My advice to other apprentices, especially in Residential, is to put yourself out there and see what you can do. You can achieve more than you think if you work at it. It’s fun to be a part of something bigger than yourself. For Tyler and me, we showed that Residential can play too. At the end of the day, we’re all Local 332 brother and sisters.
Quinn Neto | Overall 3rd Place & 1/2” Conduit-Bending Winner | 5th Year Inside
Why did you sign up, and how did you train? We had an assembly at school, and last year’s winner came and spoke. He mentioned that he didn’t get involved in many activities and
flew under the radar. That resonated with me.
What did you think of the competition? I felt like if I had more time, I could have done a little bit better in each event. But I thought I did well, and I did my best.
What was your reaction when you won 3rd place? I had no expectations of winning or even placing. I was shocked when I came in third and thought maybe they had scored me wrong!
It was a great feeling. Overall, it was a really good experience, and I met a lot of new people I never talked to before.
What message do you have for other members? I have been telling apprentices around the school to do the competition next year. It’s a good way to show your face, meet new people, and it makes you a better electrician at the end of the day. It’s important to be involved in the union for a lot of reasons. It’s not just our careers, it’s a community, and it’s our lives. I wouldn’t be here without the union.
Top: Francisco Gomez (Inside) won both the written exam & the material ID events. Bottom: Raymundo Vallejo Serrano (Inside) won the residential wiring event. Mack Lewis (Residential) won the motor controls hands-on event.
