Last weekend on Feb. 28, the University of Connecticut Woodsmen sharpened their tools, fired up their chainsaws and put on ear protection gear to compete against other schools at their annual home meet. Located at the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena, the Jack and Jill competition meet began at 8 a.m. and ended around 4 p.m.
The UConn Woodsmen are a team of students who participate in traditional lumberjack sports, incorporating logging techniques into timed events for competition against schools across the Northeast.Schools like the University of Vermont, Colby College, Paul Smith, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and more competed against UConn during this home meet.
The full list of events included axe throw, disk stack, bowsaw, single buck, underhand chop, crosscut, log roll, standing block chop and pulp toss. Wooden carved mini axes and tiles laid across a table, serving as trophies for future champions of the meet.
One of the many events of the meet, the disk stack, took place outside of the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena. During this event, the Woodsmen are tasked with barring chainsaws and cutting through a tower of wood. The goal is to precisely cut across the tower without dropping a single disk, all while being timed. Despite being such an intricate task, the Woodsmen sliced through the wood with precision and swiftness.
Spectators and Woodsmen alumni cheered for the Huskies, but there were also students who had never witnessed timber sports in action among the audience. Second-semester student Alana Coutts recounted her experience watching the event.
“I really liked how many different events they have,” Coutts said. “There is something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a very interesting and new experience.”
Many volunteers from various organizations here at UConn lent a hand to the Woodsmen to ensure safety throughout the arena. Most of the events involve sawing away at wood, leading to an incredible pool of sawdust appearing on the ground. Volunteers like sixth-semester student Taylor Ostrosky helped sweep it up.
“Volunteering at the Woodsmen meet this past weekend really opened my eyes to a whole new level of talent that we have here at UConn,” Ostrosky recalled. “The dedication and skills these teams had was so impressive and it was extremely entertaining to watch.”
Paul Smith College took the axe-engraved prize of overall best, while UConn placed high and won second place in the crosscut and standing block chop events. The day proved to be a success, and now the Woodsmen will prepare to compete at the Colby College Mud Meet on April 12.
Students who are interested in learning and participating in lumber sports through the UConn Woodsmen team are encouraged to join, no matter what level or skillset they hold. Practice is held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Ratcliffe Hicks Arena. For more information, visit their website, join UCONNTACT or follow them on Instagram, @uconn_woodsmen.