{"id":11688,"date":"2023-01-14T08:58:12","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T16:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/cat-north-american-regional-champions-are-set\/"},"modified":"2023-01-14T08:58:14","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T16:58:14","slug":"cat-north-american-regional-champions-are-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/cat-north-american-regional-champions-are-set\/","title":{"rendered":"Cat North American regional champions are set"},"content":{"rendered":"

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(Photo courtesy of Caterpillar)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The crowning of the Cat Global Operator Challenge (GOC) champion is one step closer. North America\u2019s eastern and western regional champions have been determined.<\/p>\n

Thirty-five dealer event winners from across North America gathered in Clayton, N.C., to prove their mastery of both equipment and efficiency-boosting technology, with two emerging victorious and earning the right to advance to the final round in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Besting the field in the eastern region semi-final, John Schiedeck of Schiedeck Construction in Texas, and representing dealer Holt Cat, finished the three GOC events in an overall time of 25:30.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was in the seat, I had to calm myself. Six minutes in the backhoe seemed like 30,\u201d commented Schiedeck. \u201cI\u2019m humbled and blessed to be able to win this in front of my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two days later, Matt Ferris of Kinkaid Civil Construction in Arizona, and representing dealer Empire Cat, completed the same three challenge events in a time of 32:15 to be named western region semi-final champion for North America.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think every little boy always dreamed of digging trenches and digging holes. So, I grew up doing that,\u201d explained Ferris. \u201cI feel very proud and excited and happy to move on to the next competition and see how we do there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Held on Caterpillar grounds at the Edward J. Rapp Customer & Training Center in Clayton, GOC officials divided the 35 best operators from Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico into eastern and western regions for the semi-final competitions. All competitors completed the same three events using Cat equipment and technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur challenge team went to great lengths to ensure a level playing field for all participants, so no one had an advantage,\u201d said Matt Smith, global marketing manager for Caterpillar. \u201cThey even tarped the large excavator challenge area so the rain we had the night before the eastern semi-finals to ensure that didn\u2019t affect any section of that challenge event.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201ctrench run\u201d\u00a0saw all operators use a Cat 315 excavator with Cat Grade with 2D technology to dig a 20-foot trench. Depth transitioned from two feet to one foot midway through the trench, which had marked areas with pipes that the operators had to avoid. \u201cI like the excavator,\u201d commented Ryan Totton of Gulf Operators in New Brunswick. The operator, who was representing Toromont Cat, added, \u201cYou can do almost anything with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLocked & Loaded\u201d\u00a0had operators maneuvering a Cat 950 wheel loader through an obstacle course where any slight deviation from the path resulted in the machine knocking balls off cones for costly time penalties. The operator then exchanged the bucket attachment used for loading material for a forklift attachment to pick up a sports utility vehicle.<\/p>\n

Featuring the Cat 420 XE backhoe loader, the\u00a0\u201cBackhoe Bonanza\u201d\u00a0station tested operators\u2019 machine mastery with multiple challenges. They first picked up an I-beam with the loader bucket, place it on a rack and then return it before maneuvering across a trench where they could not touch bungy cords without facing a penalty. Operators also maneuvered through cones with tennis balls, placed a square beam in a cylinder with the backhoe bucket and finally scooped up balls from pylons and deposited them inside an oil drum.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we set up the course and went through it with our own operators, we knew it was going to be tough, so we raise the time limit from 15 to 20 minutes due to the difficulty,\u201d said Dustin Adams, marketing manager for small dozers and mini hydraulic excavators for Caterpillar. \u201cMost completed the course in under 10 minutes and some under seven. That\u2019s a testament to the quality of the competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

The regional GOC semi-finals were a culmination of months of competitions held worldwide at the dealer level.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe experienced amazing participation in this year\u2019s challenge,\u201d said Jessica Nunley, global marketing manager for Caterpillar. \u201cFrom more than 10,000 registrants, 3,500 machine operators competed in the first round at the dealer level, and only 84 of the best operators in the world made it to the regional semi-finals.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the overall winners advancing to the finals, the following participants were recognized by Caterpillar with awards.<\/p>\n

Eastern Region:<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n