Two Lacey Students Going to National Trades Competition

Two Lacey Township males will be traveling to Kansas City, Missouri next week for SkillsUSA, a national trades competition.

David Giberson of Lanoka Harbor and John Syers of Forked River, both students of the Ocean County Vocational Technical School, received gold medals in state competitions for plumbing and welding respectively, qualifying for nationals.

Plumbing

Giberson participated in a county contest and then state before proceeding to nationals.  He had to work on a simulated wall and floor and put together piping, drainage and water supply.

“A lot of people don’t know what we do,” instructor Lori Miceli said. “People think we just fix leaking faucets. There’s so much more.”

At nationals Giberson will have to set up a laboratory by installing a fixture and working with various materials, she said.

“It’s a very elaborate module and project,” she said. “It usually consists of a water closet, floor drain, laboratory and laundry sink.

“David is extremely smart. He picked up on things so easily,” she said. “He has a talent working with tools. It’s second nature to him.”

As a 2012 graduate of Lacey Township High School, Giberson will be looking to stay in the industry, she said. 

Welding

Syers has been at OCVTS for two years. At the state level he participated in a three-hand team event where they were given a print and had to build a welding table with a specific list of materials.

At nationals, Syers and his team will be given the list of materials and a topic but they will have to design a print and fire pit.

“They have to figure out how to use the materials in the most efficient way,” instructor Jim Mansfeld said.

There will also be a 150 question written test that the team has been preparing for months, he said.

“John is a real good kid, real smart,” he said. “I can’t speak highly enough about him.”

Syers is currently working at Millspray in Lakewood. The company sponsored him to go to nationals.

He has completed an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour safety training course, an OSHA 30-hour general construction course and has several welding certifications.