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Wellmore Coal Company Wins First Place in 38th Annual Governor’s Cup Mine Rescue; Iron Synergy Wins First Place in 3rd Annual VA Post 7 Mine Rescue

 



June 19, 2025 - Wellmore Coal Company captured first place in the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) 38th Annual Governor’s Cup Mine Rescue competition and Iron Synergy earned first place in the third annual VA Post 7 Overmountain mine rescue competition during the joint contests held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, VA, last week.

The Governor’s Cup and VA Post 7 contests, combined into one three-day event in Abingdon, also saw winners named in the Bench, Pre-Shift, Team Tech and First Aid individual skills contests.

Iron Synergy’s Mine Rescue team took second place in the Governor’s Cup; and Coronado Coal’s Buchanan Minerals Gold Mine Rescue team took third place in the Governor’s Cup. Wellmore took second place in the VA Post 7 contest; and Paramont Contura took third place in the VA Post 7 contest.

The events were hosted by MCPA, VA Post 7, Virginia Energy and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The Governor’s Cup competition was held June 10 and the VA Post 7 contest was June 11.

The Virginia Energy Bench, Pre-Shift, Team Tech and First Aid individual skills contests were held June 12.

Winners in the individual skills contests were as follows:

BG-4 Bench: first, Barry Baker, Coronado’s Buchanan Minerals Gold; second, Gary Valvsak, Jr., Iron Synergy; and third, Todd Ward, Metinvest Wellmore.

Pre-Shift: first, Joey Sykes, Paramont Contura; John Little, Metinvest Wellmore; and third, Mark Rutherford, Metinvest Affinity.

Team Tech: first, George Smith/Justin Sargent, Metinvest Affinity; second, Adam Phillips/Joey Sykes, Paramont Contura; and third, Joey Fuller/Anthony Grizzle, Metinvest Wellmore.

First Aid: first, Paramont Contura; second, Jordan Curry, Josh Diles and Johnny Branham, Metinvest Wellmore; and third, Paramont Contura B Team.

Teams competing in the contests this year were as follows:

Metinvest Affinity Mine Complex Affinity Mine Rescue: George Smith, captain; Rusty Keen; Mark Rutherford; Andrew Alfrey; Justin Sargent; Anthony Harvey; Troy Hill; and Daniel Sole. John Lewis is the team trainer.

Coronado Coal – Buchanan Minerals - (Gold Mine Rescue): Steven Vitatoe, captain; Justin Vest; Jesse Yates; Cory Viers; Zack Dye; Keith Richardson; and Ronald Blankenship. Barry Baker is the team trainer.

Wellmore Coal Company: Joey Fuller, captain; Anthony Grizzle; Travis Ramsey; Jordan Curry; John Little; Todd Ward; Johnny Branham; Gary Horn; Josh Diles; and Brett Childress. Chris Turner is the team trainer.

Iron Synergy (Cumberland Blue Mine Rescue): Dave Rice Jr., captain; Chris Hartman; Chris Harvey; Brian Jamison; Justin Brady; Lee Kozich; Adam Robbins; John Friday; Gary Valvsak, Jr.; and Ricky Estepp. Brett Balabon is the team trainer.

Alpha Metallurgical Resources (Paramont Contura Mine Rescue): Adam Phillips, captain; Franklin Moore; Joey Sykes; Robby Middleton; Eric Collins; Brad Hawkins; Casey Mooneyhan; and Justin Worley. Dave Dillon is the team trainer.

Bench, Pre-Shift, Team Tech and First Aid competitors on Thursday included:

Affinity Mine Complex: (BG-4) Troy Hill; (Pre-Shift) Mark Rutherford; (Team Tech) George Smith and Justin Sargent.

Coronado Coal (Gold Mine Rescue): (BG-4) Barry Baker.

Wellmore Coal Company: (BG-4) Todd Ward and Travis Ramsey; (Pre-Shift) John Little; (Team Tech) Anthony Grizzle and Joey Fuller; and (First Aid) Jordan Curry, Josh Diles and Johnny Branham.

Iron Synergy (Cumberland Blue): (BG-4) Justin Brady and Gary Valusak, Jr.; and (First Aid) Chris Harvey, Chris Hartman and Adam Robbins.

Alpha Metallurgical Resources (Paramont Contura): (BG-4) Casey Mooneyhan; Robby Middleton and Brad Hawkins; (Pre-Shift) Joey Sykes; and (Team Tech) Adam Phillips and Joey Sykes.

Sponsors of this year’s contest included Drager, Simmons Equipment Company, Biomarine – A CSE Company, West River Conveyors, Team Life and Wellmore Coal Company.

Next year’s mine rescue contests will be held April 28-30, 2026.

About MCPA

The Metallurgical Coal Producers Association is a non-profit trade organization comprised of metallurgical coal producers in Appalachia and those who support its producing members’ operations.  The seven coal producers are: Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Coronado Global, United Coal Company LLC (a subsidiary of Metinvest Group), Ramaco Resources, Inc., Robindale Energy, Blackhawk Mining and Allegheny Met. Together, MCPA members make up the majority of met coal produced in the U.S. Its mission is to advance the opportunities of the metallurgical coal industry through advocacy, education and outreach. Learn more at www.metcoalproducers.com.

 

 

 

Wellmore Coal Company won first place in the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association (MCPA) 38th Annual Governor’s Cup Mine Rescue competition during last week’s mine rescue competition in Abingdon, VA. Members of the Wellmore team included Joey Fuller, captain; Anthony Grizzle; Travis Ramsey; Jordan Curry; John Little; Todd Ward; Johnny Branham; Gary Horn; Josh Diles; Brett Childress; and Chris Turner, who is the team trainer. They are pictured here with J.P. Richardson, MCPA; and Gwen Jessee, VA Post 7, left; and Chris Whitt, Virginia Energy, right.

 

Iron Synergy (Cumberland Blue Mine Rescue) earned first place in the third annual VA Post 7 Overmountain mine rescue competition mine rescue competition in Abingdon, VA. Members of the Iron Synergy team included Dave Rice Jr., captain; Chris Hartman; Chris Harvey; Brian Jamison; Justin Brady; Lee Kozich; Adam Robbins; John Friday; Gary Valvsak, Jr.; Ricky Estepp; and Brett Balabon, who is the team trainer. They are pictured here with J.P. Richardson, MCPA; and Gwen Jessee, VA Post 7, left; and Chris Whitt, Virginia Energy, right.