Justin Waybright, a mining engineering student from Wood County, West Virginia, knew he wanted to make a difference when he came to West Virginia University. As a freshman, he was introduced to the university’s Mine Rescue Team.
“We kind of represent everyone in the state, all the coal miners that put their lives on the line every day and being hard-working individuals,” Waybright said.
That’s why when Waybright came to WVU he says he joined the WVU Mine Rescue team.
The team, composed entirely of students, practices three times per week at 6 a.m. to prepare for the most challenging rescue scenarios. Their training involves simulating the rescue of crisis actors or dummies in dangerous and confined spaces, all while wearing heavy gear.
They train at a facility in Core, West Virginia, where the university has built a simulated underground coal mine. In this realistic setting, students practice life-saving skills to prepare for real-life emergencies.
“The number one thing we’re looking for is to make sure any individual that ever comes through this building learns the skills here in a training session, so that they’re not trying to learn how to do it during the emergency,” said Josh Brady, Mine Rescue Team coach.
During these intense exercises, team members face extreme temperatures, malfunctioning equipment, and simulated fires. Despite the tough conditions, the students remain committed to their goal: being ready to respond if disaster strikes.
“You hope nothing happens, but you want to be prepared for if it does and you’re going to be the people that go in and help them,” Waybright said.
The WVU Mine Rescue Team competes at least twice a year against teams from across the country and around the world.
“We set ourselves apart from everybody because we simply outwork them. We understand what it is to be a West Virginian and what it’s like to be blue-collar workers,” Brady said.
The team will compete in its first major event of the year, the 2025 competition, in February.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI then edited by human journalists for accuracy and clarity. WVU News leverages AI to enhance efficiency and accuracy while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical reporting and human oversight.