Out of seven qualifiers in a brand new welding competition, three Cloudland High School students captured first, third and fourth places.

Josh Estes, a junior, placed first, along with junior Chris Baker in third and senior Austin Williams in fourth. The RCAM Welding Competition was held at Domtar in Kingsport on April 12, and the students’ instructor said they came prepared.

“We didn’t know what they would be tested on, so they’ve practiced and worked on different things to get ready, and we got lucky and one of the things they had, my guys really succeed in it,” said CHS welding instructor Sam Potter.

He said they always compete in the Holston Valley Competition, and they know the subject matter on which they will be tested. They were fortunate that the testing area was a subject at which they excelled — the welding of flat (T)joints.

“The competition welding was pretty complicated, but it’s something they do every day, so they were ready,” said Potter.

The machine, a new model from Lincoln Electric, graded their performance, and Potter said Estes scored a 96 percent.

“The machine points out all of their fusion, lack of fusion, and incontinuities in the weld, so the grading is extremely fair,” Potter said.

The students qualified in school to be selected for the competition, and Potter said once they arrive at the competition they are tested and the instructor can choose who will compete.

“I took my three best welders,” said Potter. “These students are very disciplined in class and very well-mannered.”

He said Williams plans to continue his education at Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Elizabethton next year and that all three are prepared to enter the workforce as skilled welders.

“I have a great level of respect and high expectations, and they exceeded my expectations,” Potter said. “We went in blind to this one. At Holston Valley, they know what to practice for, but with this, they did not have clue. They worked hard, showed up prepared and did great.”