News
Joining Together to Spark a Career in Welding
Feb 28, 2025
The demand for welders is still in high demand - and South Carolina high schools and Midlands Technical College is aiming to fill the workforce. The annual high school welding competition was hosted on the Airport Campus on Friday, February 21, 2025. The competition brought together students from all around the state, including right here in Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties.
“This test will be similar to tests that these students will have to go through when it comes down to getting a career in this industry,” said MTC welding instructor Nick Legg. “It will be good to get them familiar with the pressure of these tests in the competition.”
Welders were challenged and judged in three different categories: SMAW Fillets, SMAW Groove, and GTAW Fillet. Groove welds are used to create an opening in a weld joint to achieve necessary penetration. A filet weld joins together two pieces of metal at an angle or when perpendicular.
Category One: SMAW Fillets
| PLACE | POINTS SCORED | COMPETITOR NUMBER | COMPETITOR SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 96 | 22 | Battery Creek High School |
| 2 | 95 | 26 | Swansea High School |
| 3 | 94 | 21 | J Harley Bonds Career Center |
| 4 | 93 | 25 | Sumter Career and Technology Center |
| 5 | 92 | 18 | Wagener-Salley High School |
| 6 | 86 | 28 | Fairfield Career and Technology Center |
| 6 | 86 | 27 | May River High School |
| 6 | 86 | 24 | Bamberg High School |
| 7 | 77 | 23 | Barnwell County Career Center |
| 8 | 75 | 19 | Donaldson Career Center |
| 8 | 75 | 20 | Lexington 2 Innovation Center |
| 9 | 73 | 31 | Daniel Morgan Technology Center |
| 10 | 72 | 30 | Aiken County Career and Technology Center |
Category Two: SMAW Groove
| PLACE | POINTS SCORED | COMPETITOR NUMBER | COMPETITOR SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98 | 63 | Aiken County Career and Technology Center |
| 2 | 96 | 49 | Wagener-Salley High School |
| 3 | 95 | 59 | Sumter Career and Technology Center |
| 4 | 94 | 53 | J Harley Bonds Career Center |
| 5 | 93 | 55 | Barnwell County Career Center |
| 6 | 92 | 61 | May River High School |
| 6 | 92 | 51 | Donaldson Career Center |
| 7 | 91 | 62 | Fairfield Career & Technology Center |
| 8 | 90 | 64 | Daniel Morgan Technology Center |
| 9 | 88 | 54 | Battery Creek High School |
| 10 | 87 | 56 | Bamberg High School |
| 11 | 82 | 60 | Swansea High School |
| 12 | 66 | 52 | Lexington 2 Innovation Center |
Category Three: GTAW Fillet
| PLACE | POINTS SCORED | COMPETITOR NUMBER | COMPETITOR SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 99 | 44 | Daniel Morgan Technology Center |
| 2 | 98 | 34 | Donaldson Career Center |
| 3 | 97 | 42 | Aiken County Career and Technology Center |
| 4 | 96 | 36 | J Harley Bonds Career Center |
| 5 | 95 | 33 | Wagener-Salley High School |
| 5 | 95 | 41 | May River High School |
| 5 | 95 | 38 | Barnwell County Career Center |
| 6 | 92 | 39 | Sumter Career and Technology Center |
| 6 | 92 | 40 | Swansea High School |
| 7 | 89 | 35 | Lexington 2 Innovation Center |
| 8 | 88 | 37 | Battery Creek High School |