Started by Mr. Mulvihill, Noah Levine, and Nico Gilmer, the Metalworking Club/Forging Team has grown mightily since its inception in January 2024. Within a month, the team had applied for a grant, entered a competition, and started devoting ten or more hours each week to learning new skills and creating camaraderie. Last year’s roster included Olivia Howe, Siena Capaldo, Corbin Young, Max Frey, Henry Alexander, William ‘Bill’ Lamie, Sedona Lineback, and the founders, of course.
The team entered the 2025 FIERF Forging Competition. Making the required blacksmithing hammer, technical report, video, and presentation board was daunting for nine people who had never forged before. After making the forge and tools, the team had even less time than the other groups entered, however, they rose to the occasion.
The finalized 16-page technical report was complimented by professionals at the conference, the hammer impressed the judges, and the presentation was professional and informative. The team sported the most women out of any and was one of only three high school teams out of the 15 (mostly college) entries. With pride, gratitude, and some surprise, the team received the People’s Choice Award, one of only four awards given. The team re-entered the competition this year, this time to make a 36-inch axe.
The FIERF conference in Ohio, where the judging took place, was a great way for members of the team to gain knowledge of the industry and possible career paths within blacksmithing and metallurgy, make connections with people all around the U.S. in the metallurgic field, and to make connections within our own La Jolla Country Day community.
Beyond technical skills, though, team members gained business knowledge, grant- and report-writing skills, and skills dealing with responsibility and safety that can carry into any field. After the conference, members shared their thoughts on what they learned, both from the conference itself and about the team in general. Corbin Young commented that they “gathered information about certain products that could help not only our team get better at forging, but also to help teach others about forging.” For him, the most interesting session was run by someone in the aerospace industry who talked about the increasing demand for forged single-aisle airplane frames. Everyone who attended had an incredible time and learned so much.
