Texas Teams Earn First in 30th Operations Challenge

December 28, 2017

Featured, Multimedia

WEF introduces the top teams in every category

TRA CReWSers team members, from left, David Brown, Dale Burrow, and Raudel Juarez, work together during the Collection Systems Event. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

TRA CReWSers team members, from left, David Brown, Dale Burrow, and Raudel Juarez, work together during the Collection Systems Event. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Members of the 44 Operations Challenge teams competing at WEFTEC 2017 entered McCormick Place in Chicago with their sights set on winning. In addition to overall Division 1 or Division 2 awards, teams vied for top spots in the competition’s five events: Process Control, Laboratory, Safety, Godwin Maintenance, and Collection Systems.

Aqua Techs team members, from left Ernesto Romero, Kevin Willey, Christian Mendez, and Ryan Brunette, compete in the Safety Event. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Aqua Techs team members, from left, Ernesto Romero, Kevin Willey, Christian Mendez, and Ryan Brunette, compete in the Safety Event. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

But there can only be one overall winner in each division, and this year, teams from Texas took home both honors. The TRA CReWSers placed first in Division 1 and the Aqua Techs placed first in Division 2; both teams represented the Water Environment Association (WEA) of Texas.

The TRA CReWSers – coach Jake Burwell, captain Dale Burrow, and members David Brown, Raudel Juarez, and Quintin Winters – placed first overall. The team also placed first in the Collection Systems event and second in the Laboratory and Safety events. The Aqua Techs – coach Edward Burrell, captain Kevin Willey, and members Ryan Brunette, Christian Mendez, and Ernesto Romero – placed first in the Godwin Maintenance and Collection Systems events and second in the Laboratory event.

The top three teams overall, and in each event, are listed here by division. Also, see highlights from the competition in a photo gallery below.


Division 1 Overall

TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas, placed first overall in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas

1. TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas: 463.51

 

 

 

L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA, placed second overall in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA

2. L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA: 442.75

 

 

OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario, placed third overall in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario

3. OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario: 436.06

 

 

 


Division 2 Overall

Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas, placed first overall in Division 2. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas

1. Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas: 446.56

 

 

Jamaica Sludge Hustlers, New York WEA, placed second overall in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Jamaica Sludge Hustlers, New York WEA

2. Jamaica Sludge Hustlers, New York WEA: 426.86

 

 

Controlled Chaos, WEA of South Carolina, placed third overall in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Controlled Chaos, WEA of South Carolina

3. Controlled Chaos, WEA of South Carolina: 417.65

 

 


Blue Ridge Brawlers, Virginia WEA, placed first in the Process Control Event in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Blue Ridge Brawlers, Virginia WEA

Division 1 Events                  

Process Control

  1. Blue Ridge Brawlers, Virginia WEA
  2. L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA
  3. Rogue Ops, Chesapeake WEA

 

L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA, placed first in the Laboratory Event in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA

Laboratory

  1. L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA
  2. TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas
  3. Rogue Ops, Chesapeake WEA

 

OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario, placed first in the Safety Event in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario, placed first in the Safety Event in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Safety

  1. OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario
  2. TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas
  3. Blackwater Bruisers, WEA of South Carolina

 

 

 

OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario, placed first in the Godwin Maintenance in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario

Godwin Maintenance

  1. OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario
  2. Elevated Ops, Rocky Mountain WEA
  3. Blackwater Bruisers, WEA of South Carolina

 

TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas, placed first in the Collection Systems Event in Division 1. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas

Collection Systems

  1. TRA CReWSers, WEA of Texas
  2. L.A. Wrecking Crew, California WEA
  3. OCWA Jets, WEA of Ontario

 


Division 2 Events

Pumpers, Central States WEA, placed first in the Process Control Event in Division 2. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Pumpers, Central States WEA                  

Process Control

  1. Pumpers, Central States WEA
  2. Heroic Hites, Rocky Mountain WEA
  3. Jamaica Sludge Hustlers, New York WEA

 

 

Pumpers, Central States WEA, placed first in the Laboratory Event in Division 2. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Pumpers, Central States WEA

Laboratory

  1. Pumpers, Central States WEA
  2. Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas
  3. Wasted Gas, WEA of Utah

 

 

DWU Central Snappers, WEA of Texas, placed first in the Safety Event in Division 2. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

DWU Central Snappers, WEA of Texas

Safety

  1. DWU Central Snappers, WEA of Texas
  2. Controlled Chaos, WEA of South Carolina
  3. Operational Hazards, North Carolina WEA

 

 

Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas, placed first in the Godwin Maintenance in Division 2. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas

Godwin Maintenance

  1. Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas
  2. Wasatch All Stars, WEA of Utah
  3. Controlled Chaos, WEA of South Carolina

 

 

Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas, placed first in the Collection Systems Event in Division 2. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas

Collection Systems

  1. Aqua Techs, WEA of Texas
  2. Lethal Concentration, WEA of South Carolina
  3. Jersey Devils, NJ WEA

 


Spirit Awards

Great Danes, Aarhus Vand (Viby J, Denmark), won the spirit award for best effort. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Great Danes, Aarhus Vand (Viby J, Denmark)

Best Effort: Great Danes, Aarhus Vand (Viby J, Denmark)

 

 

 

AySA Demonios, Asociación Interamericana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental (São Paulo, Brazil), won the spirit award for best fan support. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

AySA Demonios, Asociación Interamericana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental (São Paulo, Brazil)

Best Fan Support: AySA Demonios, Asociación Interamericana de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ambiental (São Paulo, Brazil)

 

 

 

Team HRSD, Virginia WEA, won the spirit award for best hard hat design. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Team HRSD, Virginia WEA

Best Hard Hat Design: Team HRSD, Virginia WEA

Team HRSD's hard hat won for best design. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

 

 

 

 

River Rangers, Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association, won the spirit award for best uniform. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

River Rangers, Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association

Best Uniform: River Rangers, Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association

River Rangers, Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association, won the spirit award for best uniform. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

 

 

 

 

 

Arizona Surprise, Arizona WEA, won the spirit award for most creative team photo. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Arizona Surprise, Arizona WEA

Most Creative Team Photo: Arizona Surprise, Arizona WEA

Arizona Surprise's team photo was voted as most creative. WEF photo/Jennifer Fulcher.

 

 

 

 

Sewercide Warriors, Hawaii WEA, won the spirit award for team congeniality. Photo courtesy of Kieffer Photography.

Sewercide Warriors, Hawaii WEA.

Team Congeniality: Sewercide Warriors, Hawaii WEA

 

 

 

 


Learn more about Operations Challenge 2017, the history of the competition, and the teamwork of its competitors in the December issue of Water Environment & Technology magazine.

Operations Challenge 2017 Gallery

Photos courtesy of Kieffer Photography.
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