Montana Tech Mining Teams Successful at 39th Annual International Collegiate Mining Competition

Montana Tech’s Mining Team was victorious at the 39th annual International Collegiate Mining Competition hosted by the University of Kentucky at Hamilton Hinkle Paving in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Teams displayed their skills in seven old-fashioned mining skills, including panning for gold and laying railroad track. Teams were from the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Brazil representing Montana Tech, University of Nevada-Reno, Missouri Science & Technology, University of Kentucky, University of Utah, South Dakota School of Mines, Colorado School of Mines, Virginia Tech, Queens University, University of West Australia, Queensland University, UNIFAL, University of Sao Paolo, and Camborne School of Mines. Montana Tech sent two men’s teams and two coed teams to the competition.

This year’s competition included 15 men’s teams and two all-male alumni teams, 13 co-ed teams (with at least three women), and two women’s teams. The all-day competition saw teams compete in seven skill events: hand steel, gold pan, jack leg, track stand, mucking, swede saw and survey.

Montana Tech’s co-ed team, which consisted of captain McKenzee O’Neill, Reedie Spencer, Johnniann Thompson, Dylan Haddix, Andrew Brackebusch, and David Otto placed first followed by the Colorado School of Mines second and Western Australia School of Mines third. The last time Montana Tech’s co-ed team took home first place was in 2004. The co-ed team took first in mucking, first in gold pan and placed well in the other events. Scott Rosenthal, Mining Engineering Department Head, was at the competition and said, “All four Montana Tech teams competed hard and were recognized by some of the judges as being very professional in supporting each other and the other teams during the competition. It was enjoyable to be in Kentucky with the students and to see the results of their hard work from practice pay off. These are mostly physical events that require practiced technique to beat the competition. We are excited for next year’s competition in Camborne, United Kingdom.”

Montana Tech’s men’s team placed third. The team consisted of captain Doug Peters, Jessica Scanlon, Logan Connolly, Conan Moore, Art Kukowski and Lucas McQuinn. The men’s competition saw Missouri S&T bring home first place followed by the host, University of Kentucky, taking home second. The men’s team placed first in jackleg drilling beating the competition by over 33 inches, first place in hand steel at 15.975 inches, and placed well in the other events.

The International Collegiate Mining Games began in 1978 to honor the memory of 91 miners who died on May 2, 1972, when fire broke out in the Sunshine Mine near Kellogg, Idaho, one of the world’s largest silver mines. Since then, the games have been dedicated to all miner who die on the job. Montana has participated in all 39 annual events.

For more information, please contact Scott Rosenthal at 406-496-4867.