News
Fifth-Annual High School Welding Competition at Midlands Technical College
Feb 23, 2026
Midlands Technical College (MTC) held its fifth-annual High School Welding Skills Competition on Friday, February 20, 2026, at the Welding Technologies Center on the Airport Campus.
The event brought together 39 students representing 13 high schools from across the state. Participants demonstrated their abilities in three skill areas: shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), SMAW with a vertical V-groove open root joint, and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
Three industry professionals served as judges, evaluating each student’s performance. Participants competed for more than $10,000 in total prizes that were donated by local and national suppliers.
Caleb Fulwood, MTC’s welding program director, said “We were excited for this year’s competition and wanted to thank our industry partners for donating materials and prizes as well as our dedicated MTC welding faculty. Their immense efforts made this incredible opportunity possible for students across South Carolina.”
2026 SC High School Welding Competition Results
Category 1
- 1st Place – Swansea High School, Cheyenne Rosier, 95/100 score
- 2nd Place – Wagener-Salley High School, Conway Green, 93/100 score
- 3rd Place – Battery Creek High School, Gunner Rouse, 90/100 score
Category 2
- 1st Place – Wagener-Salley High School, Jaxson Barnett, 96/100 score
- 2nd Place – Sumter Career Center, Cole Denton, 91/100 score
- 3rd Place – J. Harley Bonds Career Center, Even Keller, 87/100 score
Category 3
- 1st Place – Wagener-Salley High School, Michael Chavious, 99/100 score
- 2nd Place – Aiken County Career & Technology Center, Brentyn Herzner, 94/100 score
- 3rd Place – Sumter Career Center, Trenton Brunson, 93/100 score
Coverage of the competition from WLTX 19:
Midlands Technical College offers several academic and training programs in welding technology, including an Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology, the first college degree in welding available in the state of South Carolina. Also offered are two academic certificates and five training certificates that allow students to quickly prepare for in-demand welding careers.