UNR Mining Team, Including Yeringtonite Natalie Rubio, Wins Gold in Montana

April 1, 2024

University of Nevada, Reno mining team wins gold in international competition

Ten students traveled to Montana to compete

RENO, Nevada — The University of Nevada, Reno’s coed traditional mining technique team, the Mackay Muckers, have once again earned gold in the International Collegiate Mining Competition, hosted this year by Montana Tech in Butte, Montana.

The mining competition encourages students to practice traditional mining techniques, like the hand steel, track stand, gold pan, jackleg, swede saw, mucking and survey. The team of ten students, chaperoned by faculty advisor John Leland, left for Butte on March 19 and returned on March 25. The coed team placed first in gold pan, swede saw and hand steel, second in jackleg and drilling, and third in track stand.

While the men’s team didn’t return with any trophies this year, Leland said they’ve come a long way since last year and is proud of the work the team has put in since starting with a brand-new team last year.

“Between both teams everyone has shown remarkable improvement,” Natalie Rubio, president of the Mackay Muckers team, said. “This was the men’s team’s second year competing together and they faced stiff competition from twenty other men’s teams competing. They were able to get seventh overall and fourth place in track stand. This has been a huge improvement for them since last year’s competition. The coed team was brand new and was able to secure a first-place overall win. I couldn’t have been happier with the results of both teams. It will be exciting to see how well the teams do next year in England!”

The competition is hosted each year by major mining schools. Last year, the women’s Muckers team took first place overall in Australia. Next year’s competition will be hosted by the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall, England. Annie Huhta, director of the Mackay School, shared her thoughts on another Muckers victory.

“As director for the Mackay School, it is always wonderful to see student groups such as the Mackay Muckers perform so well on an international stage,” Huhta said. “What I appreciate even more is the dedication, hard work, and consistent effort these students and their advisor have put in since returning victorious from Australia last year. This is a great group of young men and women who are committed to their education, and to serving our campus and our communities. I am so very proud of their accomplishments both on and off the field as they live, work, and play the Wolf Pack Way!”

The Mackay Muckers team with their trophies: