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LUBBOCK, Texas — About 100 Xcel Energy line workers from all over Texas, New Mexico and Colorado gathered to compete in the 33rd Lone Star Lineman’s Rodeo in Amarillo.

The competition put the line workers’ technical skills, focus and teamwork on display and highlighted the work that the crews perform everyday to maintain critical infrastructure, restore service and keep reliable power flowing to customers.


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More than 700 employees and family members attended the rodeo this year to cheer on teams and individual competitors as they completed hands-on challenges based on the work they do in the field.

Four teams and four individual competitors from Texas and New Mexico will go on to represent Southwestern Public Service Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, at the International Lineman’s Rode in Kansas City this coming fall.

Journeyman Team Standings

1st Place*: O.J. Zapata — Littlefield Service Center, Sterling Justus and Sean Williams — Lubbock SC

2nd Place: Mark Edwards, Heath Hammond, Chris Carrillo — Boulder SC, Colorado

3rd Place*: Guillermo Ramirez — Seminole SC, Stephen Byrd — Plainview SC, Eric Paredez — Levelland SC

4th Place*: Sebastian Van Slyke — Amarillo SW Service Center, Israel Gonzales and Adam Kingsley — Amarillo NE SC

5th Place*: Christopher Bonham, Dillon Licon, James Doncaster — Roswell SC

2026 Top 10 Apprentice Standings

Zachary Nicholas — Boulder Service Center, Colorado

Derek Peiffer — Arvada CS, Colorado

Kaleb Donais* — Amarillo Technical Center

Austin Taylor* — Seminole SC

Korey Moczygemba* — Seminole SC

Greg Adame* — Plainview SC

Bradley Reed — Lubbock SC

Jayson Van Meter — Mesa County Operations Center, Colorado

Jaydon Nguyen — Amarillo SW SC

Caleb Lusk — Lubbock SC


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NOTE: * Indicates competitors or teams that will represent the Southwestern Public Service Company in the International Lineman’s Rodeo.

“This is always a great day for our crews and their families,” said Brad Baldridge, interim president, Xcel Energy – Texas, New Mexico. “The rodeo gives our line workers a chance to challenge themselves, learn from one another and take pride in the work they do for our customers and communities.”