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S&T co-ed mucking team takes second in international competition, men finish sixth

ROLLA, Mo. (April 7, 2023) – Missouri University of Science and Technology students likely did their school mascot, Joe Miner, proud with their final results in the 45th Intercollegiate Mining Competition.

The university’s co-ed team earned second place honors for their division in the competition, which was held in late March at the Western Australia School of Mines (WASM), and the men’s team came in sixth.

Melodie Wilcox, a senior in mining engineering from New Madrid, Missouri, says she enjoyed competing against teams from around the world in the co-ed division.

“This year’s contest had some fierce competitors who gave Missouri S&T a run for our money,” she said. “Taking second place overall in our division was a highlight for the season and a great way to end the year.”

The international mining competition requires students to complete old-fashioned mining techniques in timed events. These techniques are typically known as “mucking.” The different areas for the competition include jackleg drilling, track standing, hand mucking, hand steeling, gold panning, surveying and Swede sawing.

The co-ed team scored in the top-three in every event and was the top co-ed team in the world in jackleg drilling.

Teams came from around the world to compete in the annual event. Schools participating this year included: Missouri S&T; WASM; University of Western Australia; the University of Queensland; South Dakota School of Mines; Montana Technological University; Colorado School of Mines; Camborne School of Mines, and the University of Nevada-Reno. Most of the schools had multiple teams competing in different divisions.

Members of the S&T co-ed team include:

  • Melodie Wilcox, a senior in mining engineering from New Madrid, Missouri
  • Harrison Hood, a senior in mining engineering from Salem, Illinois
  • Kate Johnson, a junior in mining engineering from St. Charles, Missouri
  • Jack Ryan, a junior in chemistry from St. Louis
  • Garrett Bell, a junior in mining engineering from Loogootee, Indiana
  • Julia Walker, a senior in mining engineering from Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Members of the S&T men’s team include:

  • Chase Acton, a senior in mining engineering from Kansas City, Missouri
  • Nicolo Bortolotti-Aschenbrenner, a sophomore in mining engineering from Eagle River, Wisconsin
  • Ed Christian, a senior in mining engineering from Lake St. Louis, Missouri
  • Jacob Lenz, a senior in civil engineering from Prairie Home, Missouri
  • Dustin Peterson, a senior in mining engineering from Grain Valley, Missouri
  • Jacob Meier, a Ph.D. student in explosives engineering from Robertsville, Missouri

To learn more about S&T’s mining engineering programs, visit mee.mst.edu.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System and located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top 10 universities for return on investment, according to Business Insider. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.

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Members of the Missouri S&T men’s mucking team took sixth place in the 45th Intercollegiate Mining Competition. The team is shown here participating in the hand mucking event. Photo by Melodie Wilcox.