GEN NXT: 2026 Skills Challenge Winners Words: Justin StengelPhotos: MCAAAfter another successful year of the Skills Challenge, the MCAA had the opportunity to speak with the three 1st Place winners of each skill level. Get to know their journeys, motivations, and the mindsets they have in order to compete in a national competition.First Year: Adrianna MaziarzMCAA: What inspired you to pursue a career in masonry, and how has participating in the Skills Challenge influenced your career path?Adrianna Maziarz: I first got into Masonry through the Building Trades class at the Bay Arenac ISD Career Center during my junior year of high school. The Skills Challenge definitely helped remind me why I enjoy what I do and why I chose masonry as a career.MCAA: What was your initial reaction when you found out you were competing at the national level, and how did you mentally prepare for the challenge?Adrianna Maziarz: At first, I was nervous, but excited. It had been a while since I competed, so my confidence level was low. I knew that if I didn’t believe I could win, then I wouldn’t have a chance. So I kept telling myself, “I got this”. The support from coworkers also helped me mentally prepare.MCAA: What skills or techniques do you believe set you apart from the other competitors in your skill level?Adrianna Maziarz: Along with skills and tricks I’ve learned from coworkers, I focused on not wasting moves. This not only helped me with speed, but it also helped me stay focused on building the project to the best of my abilities. I am pretty good at staying focused and looking past the nerves others experience during competitions.MCAA: How do you prepare for a competition like this, and what advice would you give to future participants?Adrianna Maziarz: Besides mentally preparing, it is important to practice before competing. I drive down to the Local 2 Training Center several times to practice before coming to compete. This helped me practice the little things I needed to work on under the supervision of my instructor. Practicing played an important part in me preparing for the competition.MCAA: What does winning this competition mean to you personally and professionally?Adrianna Maziarz: Winning proved to me that I am capable of performing well in this career. There is obviously still some stigma around women being in trades. And being the only girl at my company, it helps prove that I am able to do what everyone else can do. Second Year: David Hernández Herrera MCAA: What inspired you to pursue a career in masonry, and how has participating in the Skills Challenge influenced your career path?David Hernández Herrera: My dad and almost all my uncles work in construction, and I also like this profession, and I'm still learning about it. To participate in a competition at that level, you have to be well prepared because there are good competitors.MCAA: What was your initial reaction when you found out you were competing at the national level, and how did you mentally prepare for the challenge?David Hernández Herrera: I was so excited to be representing the state of North Carolina and the company I work for, Whitman Masonry. I've always maintained a positive mindset; even the day before, I told my boss I was going to win because I felt so confident.MCAA: What skills or techniques do you believe set you apart from the other competitors in your skill level?David Hernández Herrera: I feel that I am very passionate about my work, that I try to make it look good, and I pay close attention to every mistake in order to correct it.MCAA: How do you prepare for a competition like this, and what advice would you give to future participants?David Hernández Herrera: Each day of practice I put in a lot of effort to make my work look good and also to meet the time limit. The advice I want to give to the participants is to believe in themselves and always maintain a positive mindset.MCAA: What does winning this competition mean to you personally and professionally?David Hernández Herrera: It means a lot to me personally because I feel I'm on a good path in this beautiful profession of masonry. Third Year: Sam BerrymanMCAA: What inspired you to pursue a career in masonry, and how has participating in the Skills Challenge influenced your career path?Sam Berryman: My inspiration to pursue masonry comes from my great-grandfather, who was a terrific mason. His legacy motivated me to enroll in my local masonry trade school, where I had the opportunity to learn from highly skilled tradesmen who taught me everything I know today. Participating in the Skills Challenge pushed me to take being a mason even more seriously. It challenged me to better my skills and envision a future in the trade.MCAA: What was your initial reaction when you found out you were competing at the national level, and how did you mentally prepare for the challenge?Sam Berryman: I was extremely proud of myself for making it to the national level, but I was also very determined and ready for the challenge. I focused on staying disciplined, and I treated it as an opportunity to prove to myself what I was capable of.MCAA: What skills or techniques do you believe set you apart from the other competitors in your skill level?Sam Berryman: What sets me apart is my continued dedication to the trade of masonry. Over the past five years, I’ve worked on improving my skills every single day. The consistency of showing up and practicing while always trying to get better is what I believe has pushed me above the rest.MCAA: How do you prepare for a competition like this, and what advice would you give to future participants?Sam Berryman: My preparation is practice, and lots of it. Working in the trade every day, whether it’s laying brick to a line or building a block lead, has helped me develop skills beyond what I ever imagined. My advice to future participants is to stay consistent and give your best effort in everything you do, even the small and tedious tasks, because those details matter more than you realize.MCAA: What does winning this competition mean to you personally and professionally?Sam Berryman: Winning this competition proves to me that all the hard work, long hours, and dedication at school and on the job have been worth it. It’s huge, and it marks the beginning of my career. This win will motivate me to continue improving my craft and achieve even greater goals in the masonry trade. About: GEN NXT
