The STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series presented by the Ram Truck Brand, the nation's premier lumberjack series, wraps up this season's qualifying events with the Collegiate and Professional Northeast Qualifiers during the 64th annual Woodsmen Weekend hosted by SUNY Cobleskill at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds (113 Sunshine Dr. Cobleskill, NY 12043) April 29-30. ESPN cameras will be on site to catch the wood-chopping, saw-screaming action as the region's top collegiate and professional lumberjacks compete to advance to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Championships at the Oregon State Fair Aug. 26-28. The Woodsmen's Weekend kicks off each day at 8 a.m. with a full schedule of physical and technical events in which the participating universities will compete.
"We're excited to bring the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series to SUNY Cobleskill for the first time," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager, STIHL Inc. "The lumberjack sports tradition is very strong in the northeast, and we think the Cobleskill campus with its excellent forestry school is the perfect venue to host one of our biggest annual competitions."
Nearly a dozen northeast colleges will compete in the annual forestry competition including Alfred State College, Colby College, Dartmouth College, Finger Lakes Community College, Paul Smith's College, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY ESF, SUNY ESF Ranger School, Unity College, University of Connecticut and University of New Hampshire will converge on Cobleskill. In the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Qualifier, ESPNU cameras will capture the action as each school selects their best lumberjack to go head-to-head in four disciplines, the single buck, standing block chop, stock saw and underhand chop to determine the region's best collegiate woodsman. The winner will earn a $1,000 scholarship from STIHL for his school and advance to the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Championship. The 2011 Collegiate Series will be televised on ESPNU later this year. Last year Cobleskill's Tyler White competed as the wildcard selection in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Championship against the best U.S. collegiate lumberjacks. Another dominant force from the Northeast was last year's Northeast Qualifier winner, Jon Preston of Paul Smith's College, who placed second in the Collegiate Championship.
STIHL will also host the third annual dedicated STIHL TIMBERSPORTS collegiate women's event Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. The participating schools will select their top lumberjill to compete in three professional disciplines, the single buck, stock saw and underhand chop to determine who will reign as queen. The top lumberjill will receive a $500 scholarship from STIHL for their school.
"SUNY Cobleskill is privileged to host the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Northeast Qualifier and continue the growth of lumberjack sports on the professional and collegiate level," said SUNY Cobleskill woodsmen team advisor Joseph Lydon. "The new professional format and the increasing number of collegiate competitors, who train and compete throughout the year, should bring even more spectators and television viewers to this unique athletic event."
The Professional Northeast Qualifier will feature former collegiate competitors and U.S. champions, as well as new and veteran faces in the competition. Corey Christians from Windsor, Conn., competed in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series advancing to the 2008 and 2009 Collegiate Championships while he attended the University of Connecticut. Christians will make his professional debut in the Northeast Qualifier. Local favorite Nathan "Bucket" Waterfield began competing in the sport while attending college. He not only competes in the Pro Series, but he also coaches the SUNY Cobleskill woodsmen team. Mike Sullivan from Winsted, Conn., will make his 26th consecutive appearance in the Series; and Dave Jewett, the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series ESPNU analyst and seasoned competitor will also compete in the Northeast Qualifier.
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Western Qualifier
Professional Competitors
Corey Christians Windsor, Conn.
Dave Engasser Cortland, NY
Matt Galambos Biddeford, Maine
Jerry Gingras Errol, NH
Chris Henning Walworth, NY
Dave Jewett Pittsford, NY
Richard Jordan Sterling, Conn.
Wally Robarge Naples, NY
Mike Sullivan Winsted, Conn.
Nathan Waterfield Cherry Valley, NY
STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series Western Qualifier
Participating Schools
Alfred State College, Alfred, NY
Colby College, Waterville, Maine
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Finger Lakes Community College, Canandaigua, NY
Paul Smith's College, Paul Smiths, NY
SUNY-Cobleskill, Cobleskill, NY
SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY
SUNY-ESF Ranger School, Wanakena, NY
Unity College, Unity, Maine
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH