WVU mine rescue team earns second place at international competition, first in Confined Space Challenge

WVU Mine Rescue Team members compete in the Confined Space Challenge alongside International teams during the 2026 North American University Mine Rescue Competition. (WVU Photo/Samantha Roark)

The West Virginia University Mine Rescue Team from the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources secured second place overall at this year’s international competition while earning a first-place finish in the Confined Space Challenge.

Story by Erik Rudolph, Marketing Strategist
Photos by Samantha Roark, and competition coordinators

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Competing at the 2026 North American University Mine Rescue Competition held Feb. 16–21 in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, WVU finished just behind overall champion Laurentian University Mine Rescue, with Colorado School of Mines placing third. Additional participating institutions included the University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Montana Tech, the University of Arizona and Queen’s University.

Throughout the competition, teams were evaluated across five categories designed to simulate real-world emergency response scenarios: First Aid Mass Casualty Incident, Technicians Challenge, Confined Space Challenge, Underground Mine Problem and Rope Rescue.

For WVU students, however, the week represented far more than final standings. Each competition category demanded precise communication, technical execution and the ability to remain composed in rapidly changing conditions.

WVU Mine Rescue Team completes the Confined Space Challenge during the 2026 North American University Mine Rescue Competition. (WVU Photo/Samantha Roark)

“As Tail Captain, I serve as the link between the underground team and the Briefing Officer on the surface,” said Dylan Shilling, an engineering technology major. “My responsibility is to maintain clear communication and ensure updates and critical information are relayed accurately so the team can operate safely and effectively.”

That responsibility was tested early in the competition when the team faced an unexpected communication breakdown.

“We lost radio communication early in the scenario,” Shilling said. “Since communication is my main responsibility, I had to adapt quickly and find alternative ways to stay connected. It challenged me to stay calm under pressure and lead through an unexpected setback.”

When the radios failed, Shilling immediately informed the team and coordinated an alternative communication method through their tablet system. Once the team reached a refuge station, he was able to reestablish direct contact with the Briefing Officer.

“It required quick thinking, but by staying composed and working together, we continued the scenario effectively,” he said.

The team’s preparation played a critical role in navigating that challenge. WVU secured first place in the Confined Space Challenge and third in High Angle Ropes, two technically demanding events that test both physical endurance and precision decision-making in high-risk environments

“Our training prepared us for moments like that,” Shilling said. “We practice different scenarios regularly, which builds trust and strong communication within the team. Because of that preparation, I was able to stay focused and help lead the team through the challenge.”

For Connor Keddie, the team’s Briefing Officer, the international competition marked his first experience competing at that level and exposed him to the intensity of real-world emergency response simulations.

“Competing at this level was a lot of fun. The challenge was tough, but I think we handled it really well as a team,” said Keddie, a mining engineering major.

Keddie described the scenarios as far more intense than anything he had experienced in training.

“The realism of the situations surprised me,” he said. “During the first aid scenario, I even slipped in fake blood. It felt very real and was unlike anything I had experienced in training.”

Despite moments that pushed him beyond his comfort zone, Keddie credited the team’s veteran members with helping him stay focused and composed.

“When we first entered the medical scenario, I felt out of my comfort zone,” Keddie said. “But the confidence of my teammates helped me focus and remember that we were prepared for anything.”

The experience has already influenced his long-term career aspirations.

“This competition helped me realize my passion for a career in safety and mine rescue,” he said.

Wayrbight competing in the Rope Rescue challenge during the 2026 North American University Mine Rescue Competition. (Photo by T'NT Work & Rescue)

Justin Waybright, Underground Captain, recent mining engineering graduate and now master’s student pursuing his M.S. in business administration, led a team of students across multiple disciplines. The 2026 WVU Mine Rescue Team included:

Waybright, Underground Captain, and MBA student; Evan Rice, Rope Captain, mechanical engineering;Alex Cavendish, Map Man, mining engineering; Tristen Kucera, Underground Team, civil and mining engineering; Cameron Speaker, Medical Captain, B.S. biomedical engineering and current nutrition and food science master’s student; Shilling;  Keddie,;
Brendan Del Coro, Confined Space Team, environmental land management; Samantha Roark, mining engineering; and Cathee Walters, mining and petroleum and natural gas engineering.

2026 WVU Mine Rescue Team group photo. (WVU Photo/Supplied) 

Preparation for the international event began months in advance, with early morning practices at the WVU Mining Extension training facility.

“We are proud of the continued success of the WVU Mine Rescue Team,” said Josh Brady, director of the Department of Mining and Industrial Extension. “They showed up every morning at 6 a.m. with a positive attitude, ready to be coached to our standard. Competing in Canada presented significant challenges, including differences in rules, judging, atmosphere and overall outcomes. Being the top team from the United States in adapting to those challenges should be encouraging to each team member.”

Beyond competition rankings, Brady emphasized the professional value of the experience.

“Providing students the opportunity to interact with one of the largest mine rescue organizations in the world, Ontario Mine Rescue, international competitors and connect with event sponsors supports their professional development at the highest level,” he said.

For students, the lessons extend far beyond the simulated emergency scenarios.

“Leadership in high-risk environments starts with staying calm under pressure,” Shilling said. “Everyone understands their responsibilities and trusts one another to carry them out. When that trust is in place, the team can adapt quickly and operate safely, even in the most difficult situations.”

Brady also credited the WVU Mining Extension agents including John Helmick, Sean Rhodes, Randy Clark, Tyler Klein, John Handy, Adam Carrico and Arron Holstead for designing practice problems and coaching the team in preparation for the event.

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