Representing SCTE Region 9 and the SCTE Central Florida Chapter, James Simmons of Bright House Networks and of Tampa topped a field of 28 competitors to win the 22nd Annual SCTE International Cable-Tec Games overall title Oct. 18 in Orlando.
The International Games – sponsored by Corning Gilbert, PCT International and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers – comprised competitors from the United States and Canada who had qualified to compete after winning their local competitions.
SCTE conducts the International Games – where technical professionals demonstrate precise workmanship, refined skills and proper technique – each year as part of SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, SCTE’s flagship event. Expo 2012 began Oct. 17 and concluded Oct. 19 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Defending champion Greg Brakefield of Comporium, the SCTE Piedmont Chapter, and Rock Hill, S.C., took second place overall. He was representing SCTE Region 10. Justin Sanders, also of Comporium, the SCTE Piedmont Chapter and Rock Hill, S.C., took third place overall. Like his colleague Brakefield, Sanders was representing SCTE Region 10.
Doug Nolan of Comcast Cable Communications gained the distinction of being named the recipient of the second annual Spirit of the Games Award, sponsored and awarded by CommScope. Presented in memory of David Jones, this award recognizes an individual who best exhibits sportsmanship and embraces the learning environment of the SCTE Cable-Tec Games. Nolan is chairman of the SCTE Cable-Tec Games Subcommittee and regional director of construction for Comcast in Livermore, Calif.
The first place winners of the International Games’ seven contests were:
- Cable splicing – Brakefield
- Fiber splicing – Patrick Nobbman, Time Warner Cable, Lincoln, Neb., Great Plains Chapter, Region 5
- MTDR – Brakefield
- Meter reading – Brakefield
- Drop connection – Sanders
- Cable Jeopardy – Christopher Gray, Comcast, Beverly, Mass., New England Chapter, Region 12
- OTDR – Simmons.
The hosts of the evening’s seven contests were AFL Telecommunications, Corning Cable Systems, Corning Gilbert, Exfo, Greenlee Communications, JDSU, Jones/NCTI, Megger, PPC, Radiodetection, Times Fiber Amphenol and Trilithic.
