June 3, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Walter Mark
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
805-756-5028; wmark@calpoly.edu
Cal Poly Loggers Chop to theTop in Western Finals
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly Logging Team finished the season in the top five at the Western Forestry Conclave in Montana, an annual competition including log splitting, single and double buck sawing, log rolling and more.
The Cal Poly team took fourth place overall in the 69th Association of Western Forestry Conclave. Twenty-two student teams from 11 colleges and universities west of the Mississippi took the field in 40-degree temperatures at the event, which was held in at the University of Montana at Missoula.
Senior Erin Costelloe brought home a third place finish in the women’s overall competition, after competing with her hair temporarily dyed green and gold – Cal Poly colors. Costello took first place in the horizontal hard hit competition and the double buck contest, paired with teammate Nicole Bonnema. She also placed third in the women’s horizontal speed chop.
Bonnema was featured in an ESPN write-up of the conclave, available online at:
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/timbersports/news/story?id=3369620.
“Cal Poly had an exceptionally strong women’s team this year,” said faculty advisor Walter Mark.
Conclave events included the choker race, timber cruise, pole climbing, caber toss and axe throw; sawing events include single- and double buck, and the co-ed Jack-and-Jill contest; and a birling competition, where two contenders must balance on floating logs rolling in water.
Cal Poly’s logging team is already practicing for the 2008-09 Regional Conclave, set to be held at Humboldt State University.
(Scroll down for more photos.)
The 2008 Logging Team
Erin Costelloe and teammate Mike Collins in the Jack and Jill
double buck competition.
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