OUC Climbs to Victory at Rigorous Lineman Competition

OUC line technicians clinched several wins during the 2025 Florida Municipal Electric Association Lineman Competition on March 1 in Ocala.

Three journeyman teams, made up of three team members, and eight apprentices trained for weeks at Pershing, for the state competition or “rodeo” as it is popularly known. The competition featured five events for journeyman teams, six apprentice events and a written exam. Journeymen and apprentices competed together for a separate, special Mutual Aid event.

The competition was hosted by Ocala Electric Utility at the beautiful World Equestrian Center. Family and friends cheered on loved ones as they climbed 40-foot utility poles while carrying 20 pounds of gear.

Eli Venn (left), and team members from Fort Pierce Utilities Authority and Kissimmee Utility Authority, brought home first place for the Mutual Aid event.

Eli Venn, Line Tech II, and Zac Rochester, Line Tech I, earned first- and second-place trophies, respectively, in the Mutual Aid event. Each was paired with two-line techs from other utilities in a contest meant to simulate power restoration work they would face while helping mutual aid partners recover from a devastating incident like a hurricane or tornado.

Zac Rochester (right), and team members from Kissimmee Utility Authority and City of Tallahassee, secure second place in the Mutual Aid event.

The journeyman team of Austin Houk, Line Tech I; Nelson Rodriguez, Distribution Operator; and Evan Englert, Line Tech II, placed third against 24 teams in the Armor Rod Install and Tie In event, with zero faults, and in the top placings coming down strictly to time.

Austin Houk (left), Nelson Rodriguez (center) and Evan Englert (right), earn third place in the Armor Rod Install and Tie In event.

James Alexander, Senior Technical Trainer, served as the competition’s master chief judge and as a member of the competition’s committee, along with Richard Boley, Lead Line Technician.