The 33rd Annual National Apprentice Competition at the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s AFSA45: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition in San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 27-30, 2026, was a showcase of top apprentice talent in the fire sprinkler industry. Nearly 1,600 spectators gathered in a crowded exhibit hall to watch the apprentices construct and pressure-test a mini fire sprinkler system.

Skylar Gregor of The Hiller Companies LLC, Los Angeles, Calif., won first place at this year’s competition, receiving a $10,000 cash prize and a custom silver belt buckle. Jimmy Griggs, Brendle Sprinkler Co., Montgomery, Ala., won second place and a $7,500 cash prize. Mason Castle, Castle Sprinkler & Alarm, Inc., College Park, Md., took home third place along with a cash prize of $5,000. Milwaukee Tools also donated a Packout System to the top three winners.

“It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Gregor said. “The whole [convention] means something, and I'm glad to be a part of it. ... The most exciting part about the competition is having all my friends, family, and bosses there watching me. Hard work pays off.”

Honorable mentions and $2,500 cash prizes were awarded to: Robert Barry, Impact Fire Services, LLC, Southborough, Mass.; Anthony Castillo, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, Pleasanton, Calif.; Evan Larson, Total Fire Protection, Inc., Brandon, S.D.; and Trevor Sweet, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, Denver, Colo. All competition winners also received a commemorative award and tools.

“I would like to thank the apprentices, volunteers, sponsors, judges, in-kind donors, apprentice competition subcommittee, and everyone from AFSA who dedicated their time and efforts to help ensure the competition was a success and something worth remembering,” said NAC Committee Chair Brett Heinrich, president, Bamford Fire Sprinkler in Salina, Kan. “We had another great group of apprentices competing this year.  I always enjoy the different personalities from across the country, and this year was no different. Thank you, apprentices, for working hard and diligently throughout the week. Well done!”

Over 130 apprentices throughout the United States entered the competition by taking a proctored Phase I exam in June 2026. The online exam was available to all apprentices currently enrolled in AFSA’s Sprinkler Fitting courses.

The top seven scoring apprentices won expense-paid trips to compete in the national competition, held at AFSA45. During the competition finals, participants took another, more thorough written examination and installed a steel-and-CPVC sprinkler system with pendent and sidewall heads. The systems were pressure-tested, and participants were graded on accuracy, craftsmanship, and safety.

Started in 1994 by the late Robert L. (Bob) McCullough, then chair of AFSA's Apprenticeship & Education Committee, the Annual National Apprentice Competition was created to promote apprentice training and recognize apprentices actively enrolled in the AFSA Apprenticeship Program. The competition continues to bring together fire sprinkler apprentices from AFSA local chapters and member training programs from across the United States in the association's foremost showcase of excellence in training for future industry leaders.

Core & Main Fire Protection was the lead organizer for this year’s event. Tools, materials, and support for this year's competition were provided by 900 Industries, Inc.; A-Com Fire Solutions; AFSA Florida Chapter; ARGCO; Allsouth Sprinkler Company; Alwest Fire Protection; Bamford Fire Sprinkler Co., Inc.; Brecco Water Solutions; Brendle Sprinkler Co.; Bull Moose Tube; C B Partners, LLC; Carolina Fire Protection, Inc.; Castle Sprinkler & Alarm, Inc.; Cen-Cal Fire Systems; Crawford Sprinkler Company of SC, Inc.; Driven Fire Consultants; Eastern Fire & Safety, LLC; Ember Software; Fayette Pipe Company; Fire Tech Systems, Inc.; FireAway, LLC; Geo-Systems USA; Hampshire Fire Protection Co., LLC; IPEX USA LLC; JFV Engineering, LLC; Knight Fire Protection, Inc.; Korsmeyer Fire Protection; M and M Fire Protection, Inc.; Milwaukee Valve Company, LLC; Milwaukee Tool; NICET; North East Fire Protection Systems, Inc.; Randal Stutzman Advisors, LLC; Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.; Rudd Fire Protection, Inc.; Security Fire Sprinkler; South-Tek Systems; Telgian Corporation; Titan Fire Protection, Inc.; U.S. Sprinkler, Inc.; VSC Fire & Security, Inc.; Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc.; Winsupply, Inc.; and Xcel Fire Protection, Inc.

Judges for this year’s event were Scott Kemp, AFP Systems; David Koopman, VSC Fire & Security; Bernie Parsons, Wayne Automatic Fire Sprinklers, Inc.; and Jeremy Traham, Travis County, Texas, Fire Rescue.

“Planning for this competition started the moment last year's competition ended,” Heinrich said. “It’s a continual process, but it’s worth the effort and hard work. We’re already talking about next year and looking forward to San Diego.”

Think you or someone you know has what it takes to be the next AFSA National Apprentice Competition champion? Entry forms for next year's competition at AFSA46: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, Calif., Sept. 8-11, 2027, will be available in the spring of 2027 at www.firesprinkler.org/competition.