A Solid Foundation
Senior wins big with masonry skills
By Anne Marie Kyzer annemariek@thetruecitizen.com

Carl Singleton lays brick at the state masonry competition for high school students. He brought home a third place medal. Contributed

When Carl Singleton butters a brick with his trowel, it comes as naturally as breathing.

His hands are nearly a blur as he smoothes the mortar with his right and grabs another brick with his left. He doesn't even have to think about it.

The Burke County High School senior began watching bricklayers working for his uncle, who owned a masonry company, some 10 years ago, and he didn't miss much.

Back then, he was hauling supplies for them at job sites.

"It was just fun to be out there," he said. "Then I grabbed a trowel and went to work."

Now he's as good, or better, than the masons he grew up studying.

Singleton recently won third place at state Skills USA competition, an event that lets students compete in a variety of vocational and technical areas, ranging from construction to videography. The construction competition was held at the Georgia Construction Career Expo in Lawrenceville.

To qualify, he won first place in the region competition at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro.

The state competition is judged on the student's techniques and how level, plumb and square the finished product turns out.

BCHS construction teacher Jeff Johnson said Singleton was so natural and quick in his work that industry professionals at the expo would stop to watch and comment on his ability.

"People were just stopping and talking about how good he was," Johnson said. "He had about eight blocks and one hundred bricks to lay, and he had to interpret the drawing. He finished about an hour before anybody."

Johnson explained that the students had three hours to complete the project and many were not able to finish.

Though Johnson laments that Singleton will graduate before being able to take one of his new masonry courses, he's glad the talented student had the chance to compete.

"I am really glad he did because Carl received lots of recognition and exposure to contractors. This could open up some doors for him," Johnson said.

His state finish also earned him a medal and new tools for his trade.

He'll be able to put those to work as he continues to lay brick with his uncle on weekends and during the summer.

As for the future, he's still wavering between masonry and automotive, another area where he excels.