Had the Nashville Predators hockey team fared as well June 11 as Nashville, TN, ES’ linemen did June 9-10, the Preds would’ve stayed alive in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Preds lost at home that Sunday night and had to watch the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate their second straight National Hockey League title. During the two days prior, though, the NES linemen dominated the Tennessee Valley Lineman Rodeo, contested at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
NES claimed three of the four titles awarded, including a 1-2 finish in the team competition. NES was denied only in the Senior Division, where Michael Diggs of Jackson, TN, EA prevailed.
Thomas Barksdale of NES took the Journeyman Division, finishing ahead of James Grant and defending champion Danny Crawford, both of Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, TN. Michael Shannon of NES won the Apprentice Division laurel, besting 2016 titleholder Zach Zehner of Jackson EA.
In the team competition, Josh Fuller, Cody Roberts and Timmy Sanford made it two straight titles. Their NES co-workers, Derek Pennington, Joshua Jones and Jonathan Harris, finished second.
TENNESSEE VALLEY LINEMAN RODEO
JUNE 9-10
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Huntsville, AL
FINAL STANDINGS
Individual Seniors
Michael Diggs / Jackson, TN, EA
Roger Slover / Lenoir City, TN, UB
Charles Brown / Lenoir City, TN, UB
Michael Cook / Volunteer EC, Decatur, TN
Trent Cary / Gibson EMC, Trenton, TN
Individual Journeyman
Thomas Barksdale / Nashville, TN, ES
James Grant / Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, TN
Danny Crawford / Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, TN
Ben White / Paris, TN, BPU
Nathan Neal / Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, TN
Individual Apprentice
Michael Shannon / Nashville, TN, ES
Zach Zehner / Jackson, TN, EA
Tanner Cary / Southwest Tennessee EMC, Brownsville, TN
Joshua Gilbert / Jackson, TN, EA
Jonathan Fitzpatrick / Middle Tennessee EMC, Murfreesboro, TN
Team
Nashville, TN, ES (Josh Fuller, Cody Roberts, Timmy Sanford)
Nashville, TN, ES (Derek Pennington, Joshua Jones, Jonathan Harris)
Lenoir City, TN, UB (Travis Collins, Charles Brown, Travis Adams)
Huntsville, AL, Utilities (Matt Hunter, Shannon McBride, Brian Quick)
Volunteer EC, Decatur, TN (Tony Winningham, Kenny Poore, Gabriel Durham)