Local high schools compete at the 2025 RLC Welding Contest
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Local high schools compete at the 2025 RLC Welding Contest

May 15, 2025

INA, Ill. (May 15, 2025) — High school students from Christopher, Mt. Vernon and Hamilton County put their welding skills on display last month at Rend Lake College's 2025 Welding Contest.

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Students competed to win prizes donated by local vendors and community members including Stumpf Welding Supplies, ILMO Products Company, Big R, Scott Kreiger from Lay's Mining Service, Sam Thompson from APL, RLC Welding Professor Mike Meinert, Dustin Brandon from Brandon Welding and Tom Medina from St. Louis AWS. The first place prize was a welder, second place received a welding hood, and third and fourth place winners received a grinder.

Taking the top prize as the 2025 champion was Alex Payton from Christopher High School. The runner-up spot went to fellow Bearcat Bradden Mays. Rounding out the top four placements were Conner Spero (Mt. Vernon) in third place and Jeffrey Furlow (Christopher) in fourth place.

Other top 10 finishers include: 5th place — Andrew Webb (Hamilton County), 6th place — Jake Lucke (Hamilton County), 7th place — Jesse Fenoglio (Christopher), 8th place — Caden Dean (Hamilton County), 9th place — Dylan Petrie ( Mt. Vernon) and 10th place — Eric Sheridan (Mt. Vernon).

Alex Peyton — 1st Place Winner
Alex Peyton — 1st Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Bradden Mays — 2nd Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Conner Spero — 3rd Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Jeffrey Furlow — 4th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Andrew Webb — 5th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Jake Lucke — 6th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Jesse Fenoglio — 7th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Caden Dean — 8th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Dylan Petrie — 9th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert
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Eric Sheridan — 10th Place Winner & RLC Welding Professor, Mike Meinert

Interested in the RLC welding program? Visit rlc.edu/welding-technology to learn more!

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