Lineman competition showcases skills and knowledge
The March 1 event in Ocala, hosted by Ocala Electric Utility in partnership with the Florida Municipal Electric Association, brought in competitors from Florida and beyond.
Travis Richardson of Ocala Electric Utility is silhouetted as he competes in the Florida Lineman Competition at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Hundreds of electric utility linemen from around Florida, and even some from southern California, came to compete in Ocala on Saturday. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.
On March 1, the Florida Municipal Electric Association held its annual Florida Lineman Competition at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, in partnership with Ocala Electric Utility.
During the event, electric lineworkers from all over the state as well as outside of Florida demonstrated their skill and knowledge.
According to the FMEA’s recap report online, the competitors took on challenges such as changing out cables, disconnecting power lines, replacing arrestors and insulators and completing a simulation of rescuing an injured lineworker. Competitors earned points for completing the tasks as quickly as possible and lost points if safety standards and proper work practices were not followed. Journeyman teams, which include at least one lineworker who has been in the industry for five years or more, were made up of three lineworkers. Apprentices, or lineworkers in training, competed individually.
The 2025 Overall Journeyman Team Winners’ Cup was presented to David Hicken, Caleb Macabitas and Jonathan Cody Stokes of the Jacksonville Electric Authority. Winning the Overall Apprentice Award was Ryan Kornegay, also from JEA.
This year, electric utility workers from 18 utilities participated in the 2025 Florida Lineman Competition. This included 156 lineworkers from 15 utilities registered to compete, comprised of 77 apprentices and 79 journeyman lineworkers competing on 24 teams, and 64 judges from across the state that scored competitors, the FMEA noted the report.
“A big congratulations to all the winners, who have demonstrated exceptional expertise and skills while also showing their unwavering commitment to safety on the job and delivering the highest quality service to their communities,” said Amy Zubaly, FMEA executive director, in the report.
A city of Ocala news release after the event noted that, “The competition, a tradition since 2001, featured real-world utility challenges, including pole climbing, transformer repairs, hurt man rescue simulations and mutual aid exercises. Demonstrating their commitment to safety, efficiency and teamwork, OEU’s line workers earned multiple top honors at the awards banquet.”
The awards were:
• First Place – Apprentice Faulted Cable Swap: Kyle Kalbaugh
• Second Place – Overall Apprentice: Evan Vandeventer
• Second Place – Apprentice Replace 2-35k Insulators on Fiberglass Arm: Evan Vandeventer
• Second Place – Apprentice Pole Top Pin Insulator Change Out: Kyle Kalbaugh
• Second Place – Apprentice Phase Change – Open Close 100 AMP Disconnect: Kyle Kalbaugh
• Third Place – Mutual Aid Event: Regnaldo Butler
• Third Place – Apprentice Faulted Cable Swap: Evan Vandeventer
• Fifth Place – Overall Apprentice: Josh Earhart
“Ocala Electric Utility takes pride supporting its line workers as they train and compete at the highest level, ensuring that they remain prepared for the challenges they face in the field every day,” noted the news release.
For more information about FMEA and the Florida Lineman Competition, visit flpublicpower.com
To learn more about OEU, go to ocalafl.gov/government/electric-utility
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