Preparing for Brazil

Words: Lynn NashDaniel Furr and his masonry instructor, Ryan Shaver joined in the April NC SkillsUSA Masonry Competition at Greensboro as practice for Daniel’s upcoming August International Skills Competition representing the United States in Brazil.

In previous contests, the USA Masonry team has never placed in the international competition. Daniel’s coach for the international competition is Central Cabarrus High School masonry instructor Todd Hartsell, who was named coach for the USA masonry team earlier this year.

An engineering student at NC State University, Daniel has been interning at Carolina Stalite and did apprentice work with Koontz Masonry last summer. In about a year’s time, he won the 2014 NCMCA Skills Contest, the National SkillsUSA Post-Secondary Masonry Championship, and the MCAA International Skills Contest, Second-year Division.

To aid in practicing for the contest, Taylor Clay Products has produced special-sized brick to match the materials Daniel will encounter in the international competition.
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