“It was amazing to be a part of a competition like this and be able to work alongside some of the greatest up-and-coming talent in the world,” Goede said. “To be able to represent the USA on the world stage was an honor that I don’t know how I’ll be able to beat. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and experience.”

Image courtesy of PHCC and WorldSkill.

Preparing for the Unknown

Before heading to Shanghai, Goede knew two factors could make or break his performance: unfamiliar materials and time.

When Plumbing & Mechanical spoke with him ahead of the competition, he was preparing for the possibility of working with plumbing systems and materials that aren't as common in the United States. That meant researching what he might encounter, and getting as much hands-on practice as possible before stepping onto the competition floor.

That preparation paid off.

“I wasn’t really that surprised with anything I [saw] there,” Goede said. “We spent a lot of time doing research about the materials that might be used there, [so] I was somewhat comfortable with what I was using.”

The clock, however, proved to be every bit the challenge he anticipated.

“Time definitely wasn’t my friend,” he said. That became clear almost immediately.

A Demanding First Day

Day 1 threw Goede into an intense series of plumbing tasks. He was challenged with installing urinal and lavatory carriers, running main waste and vent stacks, mounting shower valves and installing supply lines that transitioned repeatedly between copper and multilayer PEX.

Both piping materials required custom bending, adding another layer of complexity to a module already demanding speed and precision. The challenge wasn't simply completing each individual task correctly, according to Goede.

“Day 1 was the real test,” he said. “The hardest part was managing the clock while constantly switching materials, tools and setups.” Despite his preparation, Goede wasn't able to complete the entire module before time expired.

For a competitor on an international stage, it could have been a difficult setback to shake. Instead, Goede focused on what was still ahead of him.

“I refused to let a tough first day define the rest of my competition,” he said.

As he became more comfortable working under the pressure of WorldSkills, Goede found his rhythm. The following days went much more smoothly, and he was able to work more efficiently and finish the competition strong.

That recovery ultimately helped him earn a Medal for Excellence in Plumbing and Heating.

Image courtesy of PHCC and WorldSkill.

Bringing home a Medal

For Goede, the medal represents more than his performance during a few days in Shanghai. It reflects the months of training and support that went into getting him there.

“It has been a long time coming for this moment,” he said. “It’s taken a lot of time and preparation, and for me to come home with a medal just makes it all that much better and worth it.”

Goede credited several organizations with helping him prepare, including the United Association, PHCC Educational Foundation and IAPMO. DeWalt also supplied tools for his training.

The experience hasn't fundamentally changed the way Goede feels about plumbing. If anything, it has reinforced the confidence he already had in the career he chose.

“I still have the same love for the trade that I did before I left,” he said. “But now that’s always in the back of my mind — that no matter what I’m faced with in the trade, I will be able to overcome it and succeed at the task at hand.”

Looking Beyond Shanghai

Competing alongside young tradespeople from around the world also gave Goede a rare opportunity to see just how far his own training had taken him.

While the intensity of the competition meant he couldn't spend much time watching other competitors work, many of the skills required in Shanghai (organization, time management and careful coordination of tools and equipment) were skills he and his supporters had already emphasized during training.

The biggest lesson may ultimately be less about a particular plumbing technique, and more about what Goede learned about himself.

After months spent preparing for unfamiliar materials, racing against the clock and testing his skills against some of the world's best young plumbing and heating professionals, Goede left Shanghai with international recognition — and greater confidence in what comes next. The experience has also sharpened his focus on his future in the industry.

“It has motivated me to do a lot, but mostly focus on my future in the trade and how I can make improvements for the future,” he said.

For Goede, representing the United States at WorldSkills may have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But the skills, confidence and perspective he brought home from Shanghai will follow him long after the competition clock has stopped.